Directives

ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY

DISTANCE EDUCATION DIRECTIVE

(Senate Date: May 27, 2013; Senate Number: 2013/8)

PART ONE

Purpose, Scope, Basis and Definitions

Purpose

ARTICLE 1 – (1) The purpose of this Directive is to regulate the common principles to be applied in the instruction and examinations of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University's distance education programs and of certain courses delivered through distance education.

Scope

ARTICLE 2 – (1) This Directive covers the provisions relating to student admission to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University's distance education programs, and to the instruction, examination and assessment principles of these programs and of certain courses delivered through distance education, as well as other educational activities.

Legal Basis

ARTICLE 3 – (1) This Directive has been prepared based on Articles 14 and 44 of Higher Education Law No. 2547, dated 4/11/1981.

Definitions

ARTICLE 4 – (1) As used in this Directive,

a) Relevant unit: refers to the Faculties, Colleges, and Institutes affiliated with Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University that provide distance education,
b) Relevant unit board: refers to the boards of the Faculties, Colleges, and Institutes affiliated with Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University that provide distance education,
c) Relevant unit board of directors: refers to the boards of directors of the Faculties, Colleges, and Institutes affiliated with Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University that provide distance education,
ç) Rector: refers to the Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
d) Senate: refers to the Senate of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
e) University: refers to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.

PART TWO

Principles Regarding Student Admission and Registration Procedures

Determination of quotas for distance education programs

ARTICLE 5 – (1) For matters relating to student registration and admission procedures, the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation and the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Graduate Education and Instruction Regulation shall apply.

(2) The quotas for scholarship and non-scholarship students, as well as horizontal and vertical transfer quotas, to be admitted to the University's distance education programs are determined by the Senate for each semester/year, taking into account the opinions of the relevant units, and are proposed to the Council of Higher Education after approval by the Board of Trustees.

Student admission and registration procedures for distance education programs

ARTICLE 6 – (1) In order to apply to undergraduate programs offering distance education, Turkish citizen students who have graduated from high schools or equivalent institutions in Turkey must have obtained the YGS/LYS score specified in the ÖSYS guidelines and announced each year. Turkish citizens who have completed all of their secondary education abroad must hold an equivalency certificate from the Ministry of National Education confirming that their diploma is equivalent to a Turkish high school diploma.

(2) A candidate who has earned the right to become a student in one of the University's distance education programs applies, in person or through a proxy, within the period determined by the Presidency of ÖSYM, to the registration center previously announced by the University, with the specified documents, in order to complete final registration.

(3) Students who wish to apply to graduate programs offering distance education must hold at least a four-year undergraduate diploma and meet the other requirements specified in the relevant legislation. For Turkish citizen students who have obtained their four-year undergraduate diploma from foreign universities abroad — with the exception of state universities established under international agreements — the equivalence of their diplomas must be approved by the Council of Higher Education.

(4) The list of principal and substitute candidates who have earned the right to register for graduate programs is finalized by decision of the institute's board of directors. The results are announced by the institute directorate. Registrations are carried out on the days specified in the academic calendar. Successful candidates complete their final registration within the specified period. Candidates who fail to complete their final registration within the specified period lose their registration rights. Successful substitute candidates may be admitted in their place, based on the general success ranking order.

(5) Turkish and foreign national candidates who have earned the right to graduate student status complete their final registration by submitting the documents required for registration on the dates announced by the institute. The registration of persons found to have used forged or falsified documents for registration, or to have committed fraud in the entrance examinations, is cancelled.

Registration renewal procedures in distance education programs

ARTICLE 7 – (1) Students enrolled in distance education programs complete their course registrations through the distance education system within the periods specified in the academic calendar at the beginning of each semester.

(2) A student who fails to complete course registration within the period specified in the academic calendar, but whose excuse is accepted by the relevant board of directors, may complete course registration within the specified additional period.

(3) Students who fail to renew their registration within the periods announced by the University may not take examinations during that academic term and may not benefit from student rights. In order for these students to continue their education, they must renew their registration in the following academic semester/year.

(4) Students may not attend, or take the examinations of, courses for which they have not registered within the specified period and in due form. The grade of a student who takes the examination of a course for which they are not registered is cancelled.

(5) Courses that were not taken in the semester in which they should have been taken, or that were taken but failed, are retaken in the first semester in which the course is offered again.

Tuition fee

ARTICLE 8 – (1) Education at the University is subject to tuition fees, which are assessed annually. Annual tuition fees and tuition fees per course/credit are determined each year by the Board of Trustees and announced together with the payment method.

(2) Students who do not renew their registration within the dates announced by the University pay their tuition fee in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation.

(3) Students who cannot graduate within the normal study period, special students, and students taking courses in summer school pay a fee per course or credit, as determined by the Board of Trustees, for each course in which they are enrolled.

(4) Students who fail to graduate by successfully completing their enrolled program within the maximum study period may register to continue their education, starting from the semester in which the courses for their enrolled program are offered, regardless of whether they registered for each semester, provided that they pay the tuition fee determined by the Board of Trustees for the relevant semester, or the course or credit fee for the courses in which they are enrolled. In this case, their student status continues, without benefiting from the other rights granted to students, except for attending courses and examinations and preparing a thesis.
 

PART THREE

Principles Regarding Distance Education

Academic calendar

ARTICLE 9 – (1) Instruction in units providing distance education at the University is carried out according to the academic calendar determined by the Senate. The academic year consists of the fall and spring semesters; when necessary, the Senate may, in addition to these semesters, offer summer instruction with the approval of the Council of Higher Education.

(2) Each semester consists of at least seventy working days. The days of final, make-up, and excuse examinations are not included in this period.

Language of instruction

ARTICLE 10 – (1) The language of instruction in the University's distance education programs is Turkish. In some distance education programs, instruction may be given in a foreign language with the approval of the Council of Higher Education.

Education and instruction methods

ARTICLE 11 – (1) Instruction in the University's distance education programs is based on communication and information technologies and is conducted over the internet. In addition, instruction is supported by video-teleconferencing systems, educational CD-ROMs when needed, digital libraries, reference books, and other similar distance education tools.

Curricula and crediting

ARTICLE 12 – (1) All educational activities that meet the minimum requirements of distance education programs and that, when fully completed, entitle the student to receive a diploma, are indicated in the curriculum. The curricula indicate the names, codes, weekly credit hours, and ECTS credit values of the courses to be taught each semester.

(2) Distance education programs must be consistent with on-campus (formal) education programs in terms of course names, curriculum, and credits.

(3) In distance education programs, courses are delivered as "synchronous" and "asynchronous." The credit load of a course consists of the sum of these two components, delivered "synchronously" and "asynchronously," and is indicated in the curricula of the departments/programs and disciplines providing distance education.

(4) The asynchronous instruction component consists of approximately one hour of material that the student may review independently at a computer as many times as desired. The synchronous instruction component consists of a live video connection, conducted within a previously announced schedule and program, covering topic explanations, question-and-answer sessions, review, and similar activities.

Course attendance requirement

ARTICLE 13 – (1) Students' course attendance status is determined based on student activity in the distance education system. With respect to the course attendance requirement, the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation and the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Graduate Education and Instruction Regulation shall apply.

Advising

ARTICLE 14 – (1) An academic advisor is appointed for each program, and a course advisor is appointed for each course, by the relevant unit's board of directors. Course advisors are required to communicate with students over the internet, both synchronously and asynchronously, in the formats determined by the relevant unit's board of directors.

Examinations, Assessment, and Grades

ARTICLE 15 – (1) For all examinations to be held in distance education programs, the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation and the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Graduate Education and Instruction Regulation shall apply.

(2) The student's interest and knowledge acquired in the course during the semester, as well as their participation in midterm exams, assignments, and discussions, are continuously monitored and recorded by the distance education system. The in-semester activities for each course and their weighting are announced to students in advance by the faculty member responsible for the course.

(3) Examinations are usually conducted using classical examination methods, that is, by gathering at specific days and times. Although online applications may be used for midterm exams, classical face-to-face methods are preferred for final exams.

(4) At least one midterm exam and one final exam are held each semester. The dates and location of examinations are announced by the relevant unit at least two weeks in advance. At the end of each semester, students who have failed the final exam, as well as students who, for any reason, did not take the final exam, are granted the right to take a proctored make-up exam at previously determined and announced locations and centers. The success grade calculation method applicable to the final exam is applied identically to the make-up exam, and the make-up exam grade replaces the final exam grade.

PART FOUR

Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Delivery of common courses through distance education

ARTICLE 16 – (1) The common courses of Atatürk's Principles and History of the Turkish Revolution, Turkish Language, Foreign Language, and Information Technologies, as well as some elective courses taught in the University's on-campus (formal) education programs, may be delivered through distance education. Which of these will be delivered through distance education is determined by the Senate.

(2) Students' registration for these courses is carried out by the Student Affairs Department through the student information system and the distance education system.

Courses to be taken from other universities' distance education programs

ARTICLE 17 – (1) Some of the courses offered in the University's on-campus and distance education programs may also be taken from among the courses offered in another university's distance education programs. A protocol shall be concluded with the relevant university for this practice, in accordance with the principles determined by the Council of Higher Education. Payments to be made to the other university for this purpose are specified in this protocol.

Courses to be taken from institutions and organizations abroad

ARTICLE 18 – (1) Cooperation may be established for this purpose between the University and institutions and organizations that provide education based on advanced communication and information technologies and whose equivalence is recognized by the Council of Higher Education. Protocols and agreements covering such cooperation enter into force upon approval by the Council of Higher Education.

Copyright of distance education materials

ARTICLE 19 – (1) Courses included in distance education programs are considered original works and are subject to copyright fees. The amount of the copyright fee is determined by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the relevant unit.

Notification and address declaration

ARTICLE 20 - (1) Any notification is deemed complete when sent by registered mail with return receipt to the permanent address the student provided at the time of registration with the University. A student who provides an electronic address suitable for notification and requests that notifications be sent to that address may also be notified electronically.

(2) For students who provided an incorrect or incomplete address at the time of registration with the University, or who changed their address without notifying the Student Affairs Department in writing, notifications sent to the address they provided are valid.

Cases not covered by this Directive

ARTICLE 21 – (1) In cases not covered by this Directive, the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation, the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Graduate Education and Instruction Regulation, other relevant legislation, and the decisions of the Board of Trustees, the Senate, and the boards of directors of the relevant units shall apply.

Entry into force

ARTICLE 22 – (1) This directive enters into force following the decision of the University Senate and the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Execution

ARTICLE 23 – (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector.