New Technologies, AI, Course Quality and Standards
Regular and Substantial Interaction (RSI) is a federal requirement that distinguishes distance education from correspondence courses. This distinction is critical because only distance education courses that meet RSI standards are eligible for federal financial aid.
Failure to comply with RSI requirements can have serious consequences. If an institution is found noncompliant during a review by the U.S. Department of Education—either through an audit by the Office of Inspector General or a routine financial aid program review — it risks losing access to federal student aid.
To support compliance and ensure high-quality online learning, SUNY uses the OSCQR rubric, which aligns with RSI standards and promotes meaningful student engagement. These tools can be useful for both online or face-to-face courses.