Per SWC policy and procedure 4107, Correspondence Education is defined as instruction in which the institution provides instructional materials, by mail or electronic transmission, including examinations on the materials, to students who are separated from the instructor. Interaction between the instructor and student is limited and is not regular and substantive. Faculty are responsible to establish a learning environment that supports independent student work and as well as expectations of student performance. A regular cycle of assignment submissions and delivery of feedback should be established for facilitated learning. In addition, instruction provided as Correspondence Education is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §12100 et seq.) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. §794d).

This type of instruction has become essential in recent years with the expansion of programs for special populations, such as older adult populations and incarcerated student populations. Correspondence education has also been utilized in situations where, by natural disaster, Students and faculty are unable to meet face-to-face or electronically. SWC is only just beginning to explore the potential of Correspondence Education with various student populations.

The Distance Education Review Committee

Although Correspondence Education is NOT considered distance education, the Curriculum Committee's Distance Education Review Committee (DERC) provides support for faculty to create Correspondence Education Addenda and reviews completed addenda in order to provide a recommendation for approval to the Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee approves CE addenda, upon recommendation from DERC, on its Consent agenda.

The Correspondence Education Addendum

Per California Code of Regulations Title 5, §55260-§55265, If any portion of the instruction in a new or existing course is to be provided through correspondence education, an addendum to the official course outline of record shall be required. In addition to addressing how course outcomes will be achieved in a correspondence education mode, the addendum shall at a minimum specify how the portion of instruction delivered via correspondence education meets:

(a) Regular and effective contact between instructors and students constructed to document and facilitate the progression of learning as referenced in section 55262, and
(b) Requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.) and section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (29 U.S.C. § 749d) The addendum shall be separately approved according to the district's adopted curriculum approval procedures.

A Microsoft Word version and a PDF version of the most CE addendum is below (5/6/2021). These are for demonstration purposes only. The official CE addendum is submitted using Adobe Sign.

Correspondence Education Addendum for Canvas.docx

Correspondence Education Addendum for Adobe Sign with Fields.pdf