TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToRs)

The VLE Academic Council shall be the competent academic body responsible for the oversight, regulation, and governance of online and virtual learning activities of the University. In matters relating to online and virtual education, the VLE Academic Council shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as are vested in the Academic Council under the provisions of the CUST Act, and the relevant statutes, regulations, and policies of the University.

The VLE Academic Council shall authorize the online delivery of courses and programmes and shall adjudicate any dispute or disagreement arising in relation to such courses or programmes. It shall approve policies, procedures, and guidelines governing the planning, execution, and assessment of online courses and programmes. The Council shall also ensure the academic, administrative, and technological readiness of courses and the University for effective online delivery. Furthermore, it shall ensure that appropriate technological infrastructure and systems are in place to facilitate synchronous, asynchronous, or blended modes of communication between teachers and students in order to support effective teaching and learning.

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, and subject to the provisions of the CUST Act and the statutes of the University, the VLE Academic Council, in respect of online and virtual learning activities of the University, shall have the power to:

(a) approve the policies and procedures pertaining to the quality of online and virtual academic programmes;

(b) approve online and virtual academic programmes and courses offered by the University;

(c) approve the policies and procedures pertaining to student-related functions in online programmes, including admissions, expulsions, disciplinary actions, examinations, and certification;

(d) approve the policies and procedures ensuring the quality of online teaching, learning, and research activities;

(e) propose to the Executive Committee schemes for the constitution and organization of faculties, teaching departments, boards of studies, or academic units involved in online and virtual learning;

(f) appoint paper setters, moderators, and examiners for examinations related to online and virtual programmes of the University after receiving panels of names from the relevant authorities;

(g) institute programmes for the continued professional development and training of University teachers in online teaching methodologies and technologies;

(h) recognize the examinations of other universities or examining bodies, including those conducted through online or blended modes, as equivalent to the corresponding examinations of the University;

(i) regulate the award of studentships, scholarships, exhibitions, medals, and prizes for students enrolled in online and virtual programmes;

(j) frame regulations, policies, and guidelines related to online and virtual learning for submission to the Board;

(k) prepare an annual report on the academic performance and quality of online and virtual programmes of the University; and

(l) perform such other functions in relation to online and virtual learning as may be prescribed by the statutes, regulations, or policies of the University.