| Successful performance improvement efforts are closely tied to the strength and integrity of the performance analysis process. During a time where higher education institutions are facing increasing budget cuts, the ability to recruit and retain students is extremely important. For some institutions, web-based courses have been viewed as a way to attract new students as well as to provide more convenient education options for those students currently enrolled. While the occurrence of e-learning has continued to increase, concerns with the quality and availability of faculty support to design and deliver such programs still exist. This descriptive study attempts to explain the extent and nature of faculty support services in a major United States region. The study surveyed chief academic officers to gather information about institutional priorities and practices that relate to web-based learning with the goal of identifying opportunities for further performance enhancement. The findings include evidence that institutions are currently offering a variety of means of instructional supports however, there are specific areas where institutions are consistently delinquent. While performance improvement often requires a systemic and systematic approach to performance analysis, the current findings articulate the extent to which institutions are supporting faculty performance. |
