Policy on Undergraduate Online Education

August 3, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to inform you that the Undergraduate Council has approved UC Santa Barbara’s first policy on Undergraduate Online Education. The Council developed it over the Winter and Spring 2026 quarters and adopted it unanimously on May 14th; the Council’s transmittal memo of July 1st and the policy are appended. The policy has taken effect on issuance. Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean Michael Miller will provide detailed guidance as the Senate and administration work together on implementation.

The policy sets out in advance what an online course proposal must show, so that faculty know what will be asked of them and reviewers can hold every proposal to the same requirements. Online courses must meet the standards this campus already expects of its teaching. This policy streamlines the approval process for all online courses, while also clarifying expectations for in-person teaching.

We share the Council’s conclusion that although the campus should not pursue a dramatic expansion of online courses during the regular academic year, it should offer more online courses through Summer Sessions, which often meets different needs. The new policy retires the W designation, previously used by departments to identify online offerings; it also eliminates the practice of Summer “one-time” online approvals and allows permanent ones. Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Summer Sessions James Ford will be in touch with departments about opportunities and needs for online curricula in summer.

Our thanks go to the Undergraduate Council, particularly Chair Giuliana Perrone, for the care and the considerable time they gave this work. The Council adopted a broadly consultative process, balancing educational quality, the capacities of current technology, and the flexibility different disciplines require. The policy they produced will guide undergraduate online education at UCSB well beyond the present year.

With appreciation,

David Marshall, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Rita Raley, Chair, UCSB Division of the Academic Senate

Attachment