Guidance for Online and Hybrid Course Design
Lakeland Community College is committed to delivering high-quality online and hybrid learning experiences. A key part of this commitment is ensuring Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) between instructors and students, as required by the U.S. Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
RSI is more than just a regulatory requirement—it reflects best practices for fostering student engagement, academic success, and retention in distance education environments.
Substantive Interaction involves engaging students in teaching, learning, and assessment activities related to course content. To meet federal definitions, courses must include at least two of the following activities:
- Providing direct instruction;
- Assessing or providing feedback on a student's coursework;
- Providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course or competency;
- Facilitating a group discussion regarding the content of a course or competency; or
- Other instructional activities approved by the institution's or program's accrediting agency.
Regular Interaction requires that these engagements occur on a scheduled and predictable basis, are initiated by the instructor, and are consistent with the duration and format of the course.
(source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-600/subpart-A/section-600.2)
Ensuring Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) is present in every online course is essential not only for meeting federal and accreditation standards, but also for delivering a high-quality student experience. Courses that do not meet RSI standards may be classified as Correspondence Education, which can jeopardize financial aid eligibility and accreditation status.
The benefits of incorporating RSI include:
- Improved academic outcomes
- Stronger course quality and student satisfaction
- Institutional compliance with federal and HLC standards
- Students' access to federal financial aid
Lakeland Community College is committed to aligning online course design with Quality Matters (QM) standards. QM promotes evidence-based, student-centered best practices, and many of its principles directly support RSI.
As we transition from Blackboard Original to Blackboard Ultra, we are embedding RSI expectations and QM alignment into the course conversion process. Ultra's modern interface and enhanced tools—such as streamlined discussion boards, integrated feedback, and visibility into instructor presence—make it easier to implement and demonstrate RSI practices.
| Activity | Meets RSI? | Notes |
| Weekly custom/feedback announcements with course updates | ✅ | Demonstrates instructor-initiated, regular interaction |
| Weekly Auto Announcements | ❌ | Needs follow-up or interactive component |
| Personalized grading with individual feedback on written assignments. | ✅ | Meets both RSI and QM best practices |
| Auto-graded quizzes with no instructor follow-up | ❌ | Needs feedback or instructional response |
| Instructor-hosted synchronous video lecture or discussions | ✅ | Strong example of direct instruction and group facilitation |
| Pre-recorded lecture with no opportunity for engagement | ❌ | Needs follow-up or interactive component |
| Discussion Forums where Faculty initiate and participate | ✅ | Meets both RSI and QM best practices |
| Discussion Forums that are only student based | ❌ | Needs feedback or instructional response |
- Include RSI expectations in your syllabus (e.g., communication frequency, feedback turnaround)
- Proactively reach out to students via announcements, messages, or video conferencing
- Use Blackboard tools for initiating discussion, feedback, and clarification
- Provide timely, constructive feedback to support learning and engagement
- Track interactions for accreditation readiness and continuous improvement
