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eCampusAlberta
eCampusAlberta is a consortium of 26 publicly-funded post-secondary institutions across the province of Alberta, Canada. The consortium worked to facilitate, extend the reach, and enhance the quality of online higher education in Alberta, increase distance learning opportunities, and respond to learning needs across the province. [1] [8] Alberta Advanced Education recognizes online education delivery as a critical component of Alberta’s post-secondary system, and provided some financial resources to support eCampusAlberta’s work with partner institutions to advance this objective.[4] eCampusAlberta works closely with the provincial government to secure funds for online curricula development, core operations, and raising awareness of educational opportunities available online. [12]

History and Significance:

In 2001, the presidents of Alberta’s colleges and technical institutions approved the creation of a provincial system in Alberta, Canada, to coordinate online course delivery within a consortium framework in order to foster collaboration and increase learner access. [12] The presidents established a task team of Academic Vice Presidents (AVPs), now referred to as Senior Academic Officers (SAOs), from their institutions who had experience in distance education. In November 2002, the Alberta On-Line Learning Association was created and rebranded with the operating name eCampusAlberta. [12]

eCampusAlberta has been in operation for 14 years, and is governed and managed by a Board of Directors, which consisted of the presidents of the member institutions. eCampusAlberta member institutions paid an annual membership fee. The Board was supported by a number of steering committees and an administrative team. The roles and responsibilities of the committees were informed by the Membership Charter, which was approved by the Board of Directors in May, 2008. [3]

The advent of the consortium served as a catalyst for conversation and collaboration at a system-wide level. With eCampusAlberta, the immediate and growing demand for increased access had a transformative effect both system-wide and within institutions. [12]

Through eCampusAlberta, students were able to register in more than 900 online courses and 70 provincially-approved online certificate, diploma and applied degree programs offered by member institutions. [5] In just eight years of operating, annual course registrations grew from an initial intake of 460 in 2003-04 (course registrations began in 2003-04) to 13,107 in 2009-10. [12] From the time of inception in 2002 until 2014, eCampusAlberta reached 100,000 online learners. [6] By 2017 more than 167,623 registrations took place through eCampusAlberta. [2] With learners ranging in age from 15 to 80, eCampusAlberta had a wide reach— helping to connect institutions with learners in 541 Alberta communities, all Canadian provinces and territories, and 54 countries. [2]

On November 10, 2016, the eCampusAlberta Board of Directors and institutional delegates voted to pass a Special Resolution to cease operations on March 31, 2017. After examining the value propositions and business models within the context of competing budget priorities for institutions, it was evident that eCampusAlberta was no longer viable due to disproportionate support from member institutions and the level of funding then available from the Alberta Government. [2] eCampusAlberta Member Institutions: [3]

Founding eCampusAlberta Members: Most recent members: ACAD (Calgary) Ambrose University (Calgary) Athabasca University Banff Centre Burman University (Lacombe) Concordia University College of Edmonton King’s University (Edmonton) St. Mary’s University (Calgary) University of Alberta (Edmonton) University of Calgary University of Lethbridge
 * Bow Valley College (Calgary)
 * Grande Prairie Regional College
 * MacEwan University (Edmonton)
 * Keyano College(Fort McMurray)
 * Lakeland College (Lloydminster and Vermilion)
 * Lethbridge College
 * Medicine Hat College
 * Mount Royal University(Calgary)
 * Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (Edmonton)
 * NorQuest College (Edmonton)
 * Northern Lakes College (Slave Lake and Grouard)
 * Olds College Portage College (Lac La Biche),
 * Red Deer College
 * Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (Calgary)

Services & Initiatives:
Many of eCampusAlberta online services and supports were transitioned to member institutions to ensure Alberta learners continue their studies in an uninterrupted and supported fashion. [2]

eCampusAlberta services and initiatives consisted of: [3]

An Online Portal – Through the eCampusAlberta website (which is no longer available) learners from across the province accessed the online courses and programs offered by member institutions. The website served over 220,000 visitors per year. [3]

A Lead and Partner Model – eCampusAlberta’s lead and partner model enabled students to take online courses offered by member institutions across the province. The advantage of this model was that learners had access to student support services offered by other member institutions close to home. [1] [3]

Resources to Enhance Course Quality – The eCampusAlberta Quality Team supported member institutions in developing and delivering high quality learning opportunities and in encouraging course design with greater accessibility for all learners.

The Essential Quality Standards (EQS) were launched in 2006, revised in 2013 (EQS 2.0) and the new release from July 2014 has updated measures that recognize exemplary course design and a new Quality eRubric approach to course reviews.[6] [11] The standards are part of a Quality eToolkit that includes FAQs, examples of quality course design, a citation preparation guide, and online self-assessment tools.[7] [11] The Quality Team also provided support to member institutions through an online quality review system (EQRS) and professional development and guidance in course design. [11] In total, the Quality Team conducted nearly 1,500 quality reviews on more than 800 courses offered through the portal. [3]

Online Course Development Funds (OCDF) eCampusAlberta worked with Ministry officials to develop incentives for participation in the consortium. eCampusAlberta introduced a series of online curriculum development competitions with funds available from Ministry to expand capacity in online learning at member institutions. [13]

Through eCampusAlberta, $4.5 million was made available to member institutions for online course development, resulting in 15 member institutions developing a total of 452 new online courses. Alberta Advanced Education provided $3.5 million through direct grants, with member institutions providing an additional $1 million. Courses were developed in the subject areas of business, academic upgrading, health care, and community and protective services, as well as agriculture, administrative studies, communications, environmental studies, languages, technology, and trades.

In 2008, Lethbridge College received $266,000 from eCampusAlberta’s Online Curriculum Development Fund, and the College was able to add 22 courses to the 13 it already had. [10]

eToolkits – In addition to the Quality eToolkit, eCampusAlberta provided member institutions with access to other online resources, including an eLearning and Policy Toolkit and a Community eToolkit. [3] The Community Toolkit, helped facilitators assist adult learners with accessing learning opportunities in their communities; and the eLearning and Policy Toolkits is designed to support effective online learning practice and policies. [7]

In 2014, eCampusAlberta launched the eCampusAlberta Quality Suite 2.0, which was comprised of the Essential Quality Standards, the eLearning Rubric, the Quality eToolkit, and online review and database system, and many quality-related professional development resources and opportunities. eCampusAlberta also introduced three levels of achievement beyond Essential to include Excellent and Exemplary. [11]

Student Resources –
eCampusAlberta provided students with access to the eLearning Café (www.elearningcafe.ca), a learner support website. Resources included information on eLearning, study skills, writing and research, and other topics. eCampusAlberta was also instrumental in the launch of eTutor Alberta. [3]

Professional Development – eCampusAlberta coordinated and provided frequent professional development and training sessions online for educators at member institutions. [11] Sessions focused on various topics including online course quality, educational technology, Aboriginal awareness, project management, and approaches to teaching. [3] eCampusAlberta’s Quality Manager provided consultation with institutions as requested and customized sessions which were delivered as needed. [11]

Marketing – eCampusAlberta coordinated advertising and marketing initiatives (through print, radio, online, out of home and television formats) across the province of Alberta to promote online programs and courses offered by member institutions. [3]

Communications – To keep stakeholders connected with eCampusAlberta initiatives, member institution events and announcements, feature programs and student successes, eCampusAlberta developed and distributed a monthly electronic newsletter, the eCampusAlberta eZine, to over 800 administrators, faculty, course developers and staff at member institutions. [3] A section titled “Quality Corner” was included in the eZine which promoted dialogue and awareness of online course quality standards and approaches. [11]

eTutorAlberta – eCampusAlberta funded the administrative costs for the eTutor Alberta, a collaborative student service that provides online synchronous and asynchronous supports in writing and math.

=== References: 1. “Collaboration and Partnerships, Alberta Advanced Education 2. eCampusAlberta to cease operations on or before March 31, 2017 letter from eCampusAlberta Board of Directors 3. Annual Report, eCampusAlberta 4. “eCampusAlberta Celebrates Collaboration, Not Competition, the insider Page 6, Athabasca University website” 5. eCampusAlberta reaches 100,000 online learners, Academica Group 6. “eCampusAlberta’s eLearning rubic helps instructors create better online courses, BCcampus website” 7. “Want to create an online course? eCampusAlberta’s eToolkit can help, BCcampus website” 8. “Roles and Mandates Policy Framework for Alberta’s Publicly Funded Advanced Education System, Page 5, 2.3.6. The System Responds to Economic and Social Needs, Alberta Advanced Education 9. “Roles and Mandates Policy Framework for Alberta’s Publicly Funded Advanced Education System, Page 6, 2.3.7. Technology is Leveraged to Foster Learning & Research Success, Alberta Advanced Education 10. eCampusAlberta: Right to Your Door, Wider Horizons {A Publication of Lethbridge College} 11. eCampusAlberta Quality Rubric for Online Courses, WCET 12. Global Challenges and Perspectives in Blended and Distance Learning, Chapter 10: eCampusAlberta: A Story of Strategic Partnership and Collaboration Success in Distance Education 13. Global Challenges and Perspectives in Blended and Distance Learning, Chapter 10: eCampusAlberta: A Story of Strategic Partnership and Collaboration Success in Distance Education, page 133 ===

External links: Need to determine what links go here Sidebar content Name	eCampusAlberta Motto in English	Where life and learning click Type	Online education consortium Established	2002 - 2017 Co-Board Chair Board of Directors 	Don Gnatiuk and Jodi Abbott 26 Presidents from each member institution Executive Director	Tricia Donovan Location	Calgary, Alberta, Canada