Panel updates IPDE review workflow; subcommittees to finalize exemplar criteria

Dr. Lofters and staff reported on the coordinating board’s Institutional Plans for Distance Education (IPDE) review cycle, the letter templates to be sent to institutions and the need to define exemplar criteria. The operations and quality assurance subcommittees discussed how to document the IPDE review process, including producing a handbook to record procedures for future reviewers, and how to distinguish an "exemplary" IPDE submission. The group debated whether an exemplary letter should be a separate recognition beyond a routine recommendation for approval to the commissioner. Staff said the current review queue included submissions with one approved extension, one submission awaiting revision to pare down supplemental documents, and three items in the queue from a June 12 deadline. Committee members set a review timeline: internal reviews completed by Sept. 26, committee review on Oct. 3 and then forwarding recommendations to LTAC and the commissioner as the rules and schedule permit. Subcommittee members also discussed recruiting additional reviewers, including non-LTAC external reviewers, and agreed staff would prepare a formal request for that change so governing procedures and public‑meeting rules are followed. No final approvals were taken during the meeting; subcommittees will finalize exemplar criteria and letters and present recommendations to the full committee in a future meeting.