Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance

Colorado State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Texas Tech University Michigan State University, University of Missouri, Montana State University, University of Nebraska North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University

The Great Plains IDEA Model for
Inter-institutional Distance Education Program Alliances

Model Documents

A program alliance is a joint project of member institutions to support inter-institutional Internet-based programs.

Academic programs are the core of the Alliance. Academic credit and degrees are awarded by each member institution. Curricula are developed by inter-institutional faculty teams.

• Although the curriculum is the same, the program name, course titles, and course numbers are similar, but may be unique to each member institution.
• All courses and curricula receive full institutional review prior to implementation and meet institutional academic standards.
• Program faculty who meet the qualifications for teaching at their employing institution are granted de facto teaching credentials at other member institutions.
• Students seek admission to the institution of their choice and institutional admissions standards and processes prevail.
• Assessment of instructional program quality and student learning outcomes are institutional responsibilities.

The Alliance culture is egalitarian and participatory and accommodates differences in institutional cultures. Alliance leadership is vested in a Board of Directors, and Alliance management is coordinated by a lead institution chosen by the board.

• The program alliance is formed and led by an inter-institutional board of college level academic administrators who elect officers from among their members.
• Operational policies and procedures are recommended by experts representing registrars, institutional finance, continuing education, and graduate schools at member institutions.
• Central Alliance functions (financial and data transaction oversight; Alliance website maintenance; communications, governance, and program management support) are managed by a “lead institution.”
• Alliance information is available at the Alliance website and program information is available at both the Alliance website and institutional websites.

Alliance financial support comes from student enrollments in courses and from in-kind contributions from partner institutions. No membership fees are assessed. The Alliance holds no property.

• Students pay a negotiated common price/credit hour to the institution at which they matriculate. Of this price, 75% supports costs at the teaching institution, 12.5% supports costs at the admitting and enrolling institution, and 12.5% supports Alliance costs.
• Course development and delivery costs and faculty workload assignments are institutional responsibilities.

Copyright 2003, Kansas State University on behalf of Great Plains IDEA. All rights reserved. For permission to use this document, please contact alliance@ksu.edu