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

Great Plains IDEA Model Documents

Background - History - Graduate Deans Agreement
Financial Officers' Common Price Distribution Model - Registrars' Course Enrollment Process
Academic Deans' Alliance and Program Management

These documents were created through an interactive, collaborative process establishing mutual respect and trust among institutional peers. The process was as important as the documents. To realize the full value of the model documents, please email alliance@ksu.edu for consultation information about the utilization of the model documents.

In 2000, eight Great Plains IDEA universities received a three-year U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education Learning Anytime Any Place (FIPSE LAAP) grant. The grant allowed the Great Plains IDEA to bring together finance officers, registrars, continuing education deans, graduate deans, academic deans and faculty at participating universities. This interaction resulted in amazing breakthroughs. These collaborative achievements gave birth to the Great Plains IDEA model.

On behalf of their respective graduate faculties, the graduate deans agreed on principles and procedures to facilitate inter-institutional graduate programs. For example, graduate faculty status at any Great Plains IDEA institution is honored by all Great Plains IDEA institutions, and Great Plains IDEA courses are not subject to residency or transfer credit rules.

• Graduate Deans Agreement
• A Model for Collaboration in Multi-Institutional Graduate Programs by David Hilderbrand and Bruce McLeod, Council of Graduate Schools Communicator; p. 9, March 2003.

The finance officers agreed that students would pay a common price for Great Plains IDEA program course credits at all Great Plains IDEA institutions. The price is subject to annual review and adjustment. The fees collected are dispersed to support teaching (75%), program administration and advising (12.5%), and Alliance central services (12.5%).

• Common Price Principles

Great Plains IDEA students enroll in all Alliance courses through their home/admitting institution and pay the common price to their home institution. All Great Plains IDEA courses are listed in the course catalogs of all participating Alliance institutions regardless of whether the institution actually teaches the course, so Alliance courses are not “transfer” courses. A campus coordinator at each institution and a Great Plains IDEA database facilitate the exchange of course enrollment information, grades, and money transfer among Alliance institutions.

• Campus Coordinator Responsibilities

Binding legal agreements were approved by all ten universities. Yes, ten university attorneys actually agreed!

• Alliance Memoranda of Agreement
• Program Memoranda of Agreement
• Alliance By-laws
• Alliance Policies and Procedures Manual
• Lead Institution Responsibilities and RFP
• Steps for Great Plains IDEA Board Approval of an Inter-Institutional Academic Program
• Steps for Institutional Approval and Implementation of Inter-Institutional Programs
• Student Acknowledgement Form
• Intent to Plan Form

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