Philosophy

Seventh-day Adventist education is deliberate in providing a Christ-centered curriculum. The policies, standards, and guidelines for distance education courses support this premise. Distance education courses actively engage students in a manner that strengthens their relationship with Christ.

Adventist distance education is student-focused and utilizes principles of best practice. Students are engaged in active learning enabled by instructors who select a variety of appropriate teaching strategies, modes, media, and assessment.

Rationale

Distance education finds its place in the Adventist educational system by providing access to quality Christ-centered education, regardless of time or geographical boundaries, and by supplementing existing school programs.

Implementation

* Schools planning to offer a distance education component must, according to NAD policy, apply for a “substantive change in program”. This process involves a reevalution of the school in order to maintain accreditation.

* Schools offering distance education to students outside of their union must be evaluated periodically by the NAD Office of Education.

* Schools offering courses to students within their own conference or union are subject to the evaluation procedure and accreditation by these entities.

Publications

The NAD policies and guidelines document for distance education offer further information.