Video 4: Institutional Policy in Support of Open Initiatives
Channel: Washington SBCTC
Date: 2016-04-11

In this segment, DeMarte gives a quick background and description of the Z-degree program and jumps right to Tidewater Community College (TCC)’s policy framework on the use of OER. He illustrates the detailed process of establishing the policy from the initial conception to the implementation. He first introduces the purpose statements of the Z-degree program which include 1) to improve student success through increased access and affordability, and 2) to improve teaching efficiency and effectiveness through the course materials directly aligned with course learning outcomes. He goes on to explain the Z-degree procedures which start with an OER Pathways course and finalize with Z course authorization. In explaining the role policy played in their Z-degree course implementation, DeMarte emphasizes the importance of having faculty involved in writing the policy. Then DeMarte and Jenkins move to discuss the impact of the Z-Degree and the associated policy framework at Tidewater. As an example, he reports that they had 2,500 students who completed a Z-course and collectively they saved roughly $250,000 in textbook cost. They conclude the conversation by describing how this Z-degree program is being replicated across the Virginia community college system.

This video is also available at: http://www.openwa.org/z-degree-at-tidewater-cc-open-policy-video/