Policies surrounding MAO and attendance at MCCCD
Attendance Policy
There are two key policies created to support Multiple Attendance Options (MAO):
- MAO is not a course modality, but a course tag within Find-A-Class and is therefore an add-on to the primary course modality.
- All students must participate in the primary modality for at least one class session in order to avoid potential violations of various regulatory requirements. We strongly recommend that students are required to participate in the primary modality for the first week of classes.
The reason why it is not a stand-alone modality such as in-person, live online, hybrid, etc. is that it could trigger additional regulatory requirements. The two areas we have identified as being potentially an issue are 1. students receiving Veterans Affairs benefits, and 2. International students.
It should also be noted that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accredits programs and does not look at individual courses and their modalities. However, if a degree program has a majority of its courses offered with MAOs, then it is possible that a review team might want to review the program as a potential online program.
Supporting Evidence for Policy Based on VA Benefits
Some veteran students receive a housing allowance that is calculated based on the location of their class. If a class is in-person, then the housing rate for the zip code of the school is used; however, if a class is online the national average for the housing rate is used. This can be a substantial amount of money for our students.
We based our policy on the December 2019 letter regarding “Updated AC&L Procedural Advisory: Resident Training vs. Distance Learning and Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.”
“A Hybrid course must have at least one “standard class session” (i.e. at least 50 minutes, etc. per 38 CFR 21.4200(g)) BUT does not have to meet each week as required by 38 CFR 21.4200(g). Before the August 2019 procedural change to certifying hybrid training was released, the common requirement was to request students satisfy the “resident training” standard listed in 38 CFR 21.4267, which required students meet at least once every two weeks.
In summary, hybrid training must have at least one session that meets the definition of a standard class session (i.e. one 50-minute class) but it does not have to meet weekly.
If a school is currently not approved for distance learning, they will continue to be unable to certify “hybrid” modality courses. Approval related questions should be submitted to the State Approving Agency (SAA) of jurisdiction for clarification.”
Through discussion with various College and District Office experts on this topic, we agree that having students attend the primary modality for the first week of classes is sufficient to protect our qualified students’ benefits.
