Department of Electronic and Distance Learning
Rules Regulating E-Learning at PNU1
Objectives
The rules regulating e-learning at PNU aim to achieve the following:
 Realizing PNU’s vision in implementing the plans of the Ministry of Higher
Education to develop higher education.
 Finding a systemic reference for e-learning at PNU.
 Establishing a system of standards and finding the suitable mechanisms that facilitate
the application of e-learning at the university with all concerned administrations,
colleges, departments, faculty members, and students.
 Providing the opportunity to offer diverse courses at the university.
 Developing the academic courses in cooperation with the academic departments at the
university.
 Setting the necessary regulations for quality assurance in all offered academic
programs.
Rules Regulating E-learning
Definitions
University: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
Department: The E-learning Department at PNU.
College: One of the PNU colleges.
E-learning: It is a style of learning in which the Internet and other educational technology
are used to complete the process of education, and manage interaction between faculty
members and students, between students themselves, and between students and the learning
resources. This is considered e-education with attendance.
Student: A university student registered with the Deanship of Admissions and Registration,
and recognized in the e-learning system with a user name and password linked to the users’
system affiliated with the General Administration for Information Technology.
Faculty Member: One of the faculty members, lecturers, or instructors listed in the academic
system as the provider of one of the courses, and identified in the e-learning system with a
user name and password.
Supported E-learning: One of the levels of using e-learning at the university, where there is
full attendance in the lecture halls, while using e-learning systems, tools, and environment to
support and facilitate the learning process.
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These rules were formulated with the help of King Khalid Univeristy; bylaws of distance learning from the Ministry of Higher Eductation.
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Department of Electronic and Distance Learning
Blended E-learning: One of the levels of using e-learning at the university, where a specific
percentage of attendance is exchanged with e-attendance and activities on the course website,
using e-learning systems, tools, and environment.
Complete e-learning: One of the levels if using e-learning at the university, where all
attendance is replaced by e-activities through the course website, using e-learning systems,
tools, and environment, with the exception of the final test and specific face-to-face meetings
determined by the university and the faculty member.
E-attendance: It is divided into two sections; synchronous and asynchronous. It is
considered an alternative to attendance in lecture halls, using e-learning systems, tools, and
environment. Attendance can be measured by the extent of the student’s participation in
learning activities and completion of tasks, in addition to login records. The application of
this system is limited to blended and complete e-learning.
Synchronous Attendance: A style of learning that involves the simultaneous communication
between the faculty member and the student through the Internet or any other form of ecommunication.
Asynchronous Participation (E-activities): A learning style in which students participate in
the learning process by interacting with the content, with the faculty member, or with other
students, through the employment of suitable applications for managing the educational
process to allow for communication and performance of course-related activities (in the form
of assignments, discussions, research, applications, and other activities using the available
tools, whether individually or collectively).
E-course: A course that the university places on the learning management system, including
information on faculty members, students registered with the Deanship of Admissions and
Registration, participation requirements, in addition to activities, content, evaluation, and
tools, whether part of the learning management system or added to it.
Open Course: Course from PNU or other universities published in a specific website and
that can be accessed by all without passwords. These materials are available to all those who
want to use them within copyright policies that are made clear through the website.
Learning Management System: A central system on the Internet that includes all the
courses provided by the university, and is linked with other tools for educational use. The
system allows authorized people only, using the login information provided by the university.
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Department of Electronic and Distance Learning
Regulating Rules at Department Level
1. E-learning at the university has three levels:
• Supported e-learning
• Blended e-learning
• Complete e-learning
2. The implementation of supported e-learning is mandatory in all (current) courses without
exception.
3. Blended and complete e-learning are implemented in courses and programs according to
the department and with the approval of the university. The university, represented by the
E-Learning Department, has the right to ask for the implementation of blended and
complete e-learning as deemed suitable.
First: Supported E-learning
1. The course in the learning management system has a minimum of the following:
• Course schedule, including description, objectives, division, activities, and evaluation.
• Information on faculty member.
• Activation of the course notification board.
• Activation of the discussion forum.
• Course materials, including references, slides, documents, recordings, and all other
materials or tools that support the learning process.
2. 15% of the total course grades are allocated to e-activities.
3. The course website in the learning management system is a center for communication and
activities. Using the website, the accompanying tools, the assignments and all other
activities that can be done through the website, are considered mandatory to the faculty
member.
4. This is applicable to all university courses, with the exception of blended and complete ecourses.
Second: Blended E-learning
1. Courses are offered through blended e-learning upon the approval of the department chair
and the college dean, or in coordination with the university or the department.
2. A faculty member completes the form for teaching a course in the blended e-learning
level and submits it to the department chair. If approved, the form is submitted to the
Dean for approval, and it is taken into consideration when preparing the academic
schedule, in coordination with the Deanship of Admissions and Registration.
3. The faculty member nominated for the course must have enough technical and teaching
experience to handle the course at the blended level. The college is responsible for the
nomination and can request advice from the department if necessary.
4. The electronic attendance schedule is prepared in agreement with the faculty member and
the students in the course, without violating the rules regulating electronic attendance.
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Department of Electronic and Distance Learning
5. The percentage of actual teaching hours previously specified for e-learning is specified as
25%, 50%, or 75%. The percentage agreed upon in the blended course form must be
maintained.
6. Electronic activities’ grades are calculated as 25% of the total course grades.
7. The faculty member commits to adding e-activities to the course at least once a week to
ensure students interaction and participation.
8. The standards, rules, and regulations that apply to the supported e-learning level
automatically also apply to blended e-learning, unless there is conflict with another
course of that type.
Third: Complete e-learning
1. Courses are offered through complete e-learning upon the approval of the department
chair and the college dean, or in coordination with the university or the department.
2. A faculty member completes the form for teaching a course in the complete e-learning
level and submits it to the department chair. If approved, the form is submitted to the
Dean for approval, and it is taken into consideration when preparing the academic
schedule, in coordination with the Deanship of Admissions and Registration.
3. The faculty member nominated for the course must have enough technical and teaching
experience to handle the course at the full level. The college is responsible for the
nomination and can request advice from the department if necessary.
4. A meeting is held between the students and the faculty member with the purpose of
clarifying the course plan and how it works.
5. The first two weeks of the academic semester involve ensuring that the students have the
skills necessary to complete the course and establish communication between students
and faculty members.
6. Grades for e-activities are calculated as 50% of the total course grades.
7. Not less than 25% of the e-course is synchronously studied.
8. Not less than 50% of the e-course is designated as e-activities.
9. Teaching a course in the full level cannot be canceled after students’ registration. The
college is responsible for providing another faculty member in case the main faculty
member cannot carry out his/her duties.
10. The faculty member commits to adding two e-activities to the course on a weekly basis,
and specifying the time for completing each activity, with the purpose of ensuring
students’ participation and interaction.
11. The standards, rules, and regulations that apply to the supported e-learning level
automatically also apply to complete e-learning, unless there is conflict with another
course of that type.
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Department of Electronic and Distance Learning
Fourth: Technical Support
1. The Information Technology Department provides faculty members and students with
system-related technical support, every day of the week, including weekends during
semesters.
2. Direct support is provided through the department’s website on the Internet.
3. Phone and personal support is provided in case of emergency.
Rules and Regulations for Faculty Members
First: E-teaching
1. The faculty member commits to designing e-courses according to the accredited quality
standards at the university.
2. The faculty member commits to motivating and activating students to participate in
establishing the educational process, and to become the focus of this process.
3. The faculty member commits to motivating and facilitating interaction and
communication with students and between students.
4. Students participate in evaluating the e-course to enhance the educational process through
continuous development.
5. The faculty member commits to providing the environment that motivates critical and
constructive thinking, analysis, and problem-solving in the e-course.
6. The faculty member commits to the continuous review and update of courses, while
adopting and inventing new practices in e-learning for the betterment of learning outputs.
7. The faculty member commits to the continuous monitoring of all course levels
(supported, blended, and full), and answering all student questions and queries in a
maximum of 48 hours for the full level, and 72 hours for the blended level.
Second: Intellectual Property Rights
1. The university officially owns the copyrights for all e-content it develops, unless the
content is used for commercial purpose. In this case, the copyrights will be according to
the agreement between the university and the developer.
2. When developing and using the e-content, the faculty member commits to all copyright
laws. This article is a disclaimer of the university’s responsibility to any legal
ramifications resulting from violation of copyrights.
Rules and Regulations for Students
First: Students’ Privacy
1. Students’ personal information, such as phone numbers and emails, are secure, and
cannot be published without their consent or used except for academic purposes.
2. Publishing students’ works or discussions outside the course requires their consent on the
relevant form that is included on the course and completed by the students.
Second: Behavior Rules
1. Students commit to the university’s instructions and regulations concerning e-learning. In
case of violations, university penalties apply.
2. Students are responsible for protecting their login information.
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Department of Electronic and Distance Learning
3. Disciplinary bylaws are applied on all types of e-courses (supported, blended, and full).
4. Students comply to the rules regulating e-learning in the university, and to the other
bylaws in place. In the case of cheating, plagiarism, or penetration of electronic systems,
sanctions are applied as per university bylaws, and government bylaws regulating
information security.
Rules and Regulations at Course Level
First: Course Design
1. Course design and development must be according to the university accredited quality
specifications for e-courses.
2. Students are considered the focus of the educational process in all activities, materials,
and evaluations.
3. Special needs students must be taken into consideration, especially the blind, by
providing supporting equipment and programs in cooperation with the Department of
Electronic and Distance Learning.
Second: Electronic Attendance
1. In case of blended courses
a. The electronic attendance percentage is determined and made clear on the first
meeting with students during first two weeks of the semester.
b. The percentage of absence is calculated by the Deanship of Admissions and
Registration.
c. The student is considered absent if she does not conduct any e-activities in the course
in the specified duration.
d. In case of absence with an excuse, the faculty member decides the alternative for eactivities after consulting with the Department of Electronic and Distance Learning.
e. Students are denied entrance to the final test if the absence is 25% of the number of
hours of the original course.
2. In case of full courses
a. The study unit in full courses is weekly, despite the credit hours and number of the
face-to-face lectures.
b. The student is considered absent if she does not conduct any e-activities in the course
in the specified duration. Login is not considered attendance.
c. In case of absence with an excuse, the faculty member decides the alternative for eactivities after consulting with the Department of Electronic and Distance Learning.
d. Students are denied entrance to the final test if the absence is 25% of the number of
hours of the original course.
3. E-attendance is as follows:
a. Synchronous attendance.
b. Asynchronous participation (interaction through course).
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Department of Electronic and Distance Learning
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The synchronous attendance schedule must be clearly listed in the course description.
Attendance must be emphasized through board announcements at least 36 hours before
actual schedule.
Students must come in person for term and final tests, and must have some accepted proof
their ID.
Third: E-tests
1. To conduct final e-tests, faculty members must receive approval from college dean and
department chair.
2. Faculty members must apply the test on a sample group of students before the actual test
to avoid errors.
3. Faculty members must coordinate with the e-tests coordinator to schedule tests and find
suitable laboratories at least one week before the actual test.
4. Invigilators are assigned for the test according to the number of students and reserved
laboratories.
5. The faculty member or invigilator must check students’ ID, and their logins and logouts.
6. The faculty member is responsible for delivering the test grades according to university
rules and regulations.
7. The faculty member is responsible for any errors that occur during test preparation, such
as the wrong choice, or unacceptable results.
8. The responsibility of the E-learning Department during e-tests is limited to providing
technical support.
9. The faculty member must have at least one printed copy of the test to use in emergencies.
Applying the Rules and Regulations
The rules regulating e-learning will be applied for one year on a trial basis and are subject to
further evaluation.
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