Opportunities and Challenges: Institutional Models of Distance Education Panel: Alexandra M. Pickett, Associate Director, SUNY Learning Network, State University of New York Shari McCurdy, Associate Director, Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning, University of Illinois at Springfield Pete Rubba, Director of Academic Affairs for Graduate Programs, Penn State World Campu s

Overview Each iteration of distance education in higher education is designed uniquely to fit the strategic goals the institution has for its distance education initiative. We will contrast the inherent opportunities and challenges afforded by the structural and functional profiles of three long-standing online providers: SUNY Learning Network University of Illinois at Springfield Penn State World Campus In each profile, we hope to expose enabled exemplary practices as well as accompanying pitfalls -- opportunities and limitations. The profiles will be about 15 minutes each followed by an opportunity for a few quick clarifying questions. Following the profiles, there will be time for questions of the panel and sharing by audience members.

Each iteration of distance education in higher education is designed uniquely to fit the strategic goals the institution has for its distance education initiative.

We will contrast the inherent opportunities and challenges afforded by the structural and functional profiles of three long-standing online providers:

SUNY Learning Network

University of Illinois at Springfield

Penn State World Campus

In each profile, we hope to expose enabled exemplary practices as well as accompanying pitfalls -- opportunities and limitations. The profiles will be about 15 minutes each followed by an opportunity for a few quick clarifying questions.

Following the profiles, there will be time for questions of the panel and sharing by audience members.

SUNY Learning Network Alexandra M. Pickett Associate Director SUNY Learning Network State University of New York

Alexandra M. Pickett

Associate Director

SUNY Learning Network

State University of New York

Mission of the SUNY Learning Network is to advance the mission of the office of the Provost by providing leadership, promoting collaboration, and supporting SUNY campuses in the pursuit of excellence in online education.

Defining Features of the SUNY Learning Network SLN is an opt-in program offering a menu of services open for membership to any SUNY institution. The primary function of SLN is to train effective online faculty and to inform and influence the quality of online courses and instruction. SLN strives to cultivate communities of practice among its membership (faculty, instructional designers, DL directors) SLN is a SUNY-wide program under the office of the Provost with 65% of our program expenditures covered by state allocation funds through that office.

SLN is an opt-in program offering a menu of services open for membership to any SUNY institution.

The primary function of SLN is to train effective online faculty and to inform and influence the quality of online courses and instruction.

SLN strives to cultivate communities of practice among its membership (faculty, instructional designers, DL directors)

SLN is a SUNY-wide program under the office of the Provost with 65% of our program expenditures covered by state allocation funds through that office.

SLN is an opt-in program offering a menu of services open for membership to any SUNY institution. Advantages We provide economies of scale with centralized supports and services. - we seek only cost recovery for 35% of our budget. Campuses pay only for what they need. - Education, Marketing, HD, Hosting & Apps. Limitations We are membership driven. Must be everything to everyone. Campus autonomy and independence. We have no authority. Difficult to manage internally with a small staff. - Services intertwine.

Advantages

We provide economies of scale with centralized supports and services. - we seek only cost recovery for 35% of our budget.

Campuses pay only for what they need. - Education, Marketing, HD, Hosting & Apps.

Limitations

We are membership driven.

Must be everything to everyone.

Campus autonomy and independence.

We have no authority.

Difficult to manage internally with a small staff. - Services intertwine.

The primary function of SLN is to train effective online faculty and to inform and influence the quality of online courses and instruction. Advantages We provide award-winning online faculty development and instructional design. Focus on pedagogy, quality, satisfaction, effectiveness, learning, and research. Limitations Complex and evolving campus, faculty, and course needs. We struggle keeping a long-term business model.

Advantages

We provide award-winning online faculty development and instructional design.

Focus on pedagogy, quality, satisfaction, effectiveness, learning, and research.

Limitations

Complex and evolving campus, faculty, and course needs.

We struggle keeping a long-term business model.

SLN strives to cultivate communities of practice among its membership (faculty, instructional designers, DL directors) Advantages Large-scale strength in numbers. Not alone. No need to reinvent wheel. Share lessons learned at faculty, course design, and programmatic levels . Limitations Complexities in collaboration and consensus building.

Advantages

Large-scale strength in numbers.

Not alone.

No need to reinvent wheel. Share lessons learned at faculty, course design, and programmatic levels .

Limitations

Complexities in collaboration and consensus building.

SLN is a SUNY-wide program under the office of the Provost with 65% of our program expenditures covered by state allocation funds through that office. Advantages We strive to advance the academic mission of the university. Limitations Parochial interests vs. university system-wide. Program survival is dependant on state funding. We are at the mercy of politics of the system.

Advantages

We strive to advance the academic mission of the university.

Limitations

Parochial interests vs. university system-wide.

Program survival is dependant on state funding.

We are at the mercy of politics of the system.

University of Illinois at Springfield Online Shari McCurdy Smith Associate Director, Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning, University of Illinois at Springfield

Shari McCurdy Smith

Associate Director, Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning, University of Illinois at Springfield

UIS Mission The University of Illinois at Springfield provides an intellectually rich, collaborative, and intimate learning environment for students, faculty, and staff, while serving local, regional, state, national, and international communities. http://www.uis.edu/strategicplan/plan/sectionOne/mission.html

UIS Mission

The University of Illinois at Springfield provides an intellectually rich, collaborative, and intimate learning environment for students, faculty, and staff, while serving local, regional, state, national, and international communities. http://www.uis.edu/strategicplan/plan/sectionOne/mission.html

Four Unique and Defining Features of UIS Organic process mainstreamed within the academic structure. Often a “reflection of the campus”. UIS Faculty teach online on load. Programmatic adoption.

Organic process mainstreamed within the academic structure.

Often a “reflection of the campus”.

UIS Faculty teach online on load.

Programmatic adoption.

Organic and mainstreamed process Advantages Policy wise, operates in the best interest of the institution Brings online students to the table Stable and perhaps less political Faculty centric model; locating control, even in course design, in hands of faculty Limitations Shared funding Innovative programming/collaboration

Advantages

Policy wise, operates in the best interest of the institution

Brings online students to the table

Stable and perhaps less political

Faculty centric model; locating control, even in course design, in hands of faculty

Limitations

Shared funding

Innovative programming/collaboration

Often a reflection of the Campus Advantages Synergy in instructional content and practices Technology adoption on ground “ Gold Course” Limitations Assessment Registration; forced choice for some students

Advantages

Synergy in instructional content and practices

Technology adoption on ground

“ Gold Course”

Limitations

Assessment

Registration; forced choice for some students

UIS Faculty teach online on load Advantages Community Training Research Built in quality Limitations Scaling requires administrative and departmental commitment Tenure Review Prep time

Advantages

Community

Training

Research

Built in quality

Limitations

Scaling requires administrative and departmental commitment

Tenure Review

Prep time

Programmatic Adoption Advantages Marketing Course improvement Retention/Recruitment 3 courses start up Training Limitations Requires 3 course commitment upfront Dual constraints on growth; faculty commitment/funding lines Individual use of funds

Advantages

Marketing

Course improvement

Retention/Recruitment

3 courses start up

Training

Limitations

Requires 3 course commitment upfront

Dual constraints on growth; faculty commitment/funding lines

Individual use of funds

World Campus Pete Rubba Director of Academic Affairs for Graduate Programs, Penn State World Campu s http://worldcampus.psu.edu

Pete Rubba

Director of Academic Affairs for Graduate Programs, Penn State World Campu s

http://worldcampus.psu.edu

Mission of the World Campus is to extend Penn State undergraduate and graduate certificate and degree programs to adult learner who otherwise do not have access to another campus of the University. From a business perspective, that means generate net new enrollments and revenue.

Mission of the World Campus is to extend Penn State undergraduate and graduate certificate and degree programs to adult learner who otherwise do not have access to another campus of the University.

From a business perspective, that means generate net new enrollments and revenue.

Four Defining Features of World Campus World Campus is a delivery unit without academic authority – we must partner with Penn State academic units Residential online enrollments are a secondary consideration for World Campus World Campus strives to maximize revenue shared with academic units World Campus’ domain is University policy

World Campus is a delivery unit without academic authority – we must partner with Penn State academic units

Residential online enrollments are a secondary consideration for World Campus

World Campus strives to maximize revenue shared with academic units

World Campus’ domain is University policy

World Campus is a delivery unit without academic authority – we must partner with Penn State academic units Advantages Programs offered online are available in residence We are Penn State Online Facilitates buy-in by academic units Creates blended possibilities for resident students Few accreditation issues Limitations Limits programs offered Collaborative complications Time to market is long

Advantages

Programs offered online are available in residence

We are Penn State Online

Facilitates buy-in by academic units

Creates blended possibilities for resident students

Few accreditation issues

Limitations

Limits programs offered

Collaborative complications

Time to market is long

Residential online enrollments are a secondary consideration to World Campus Advantages Well defined domain of responsibility, though we have been a helpful partner, e.g., eLearning Cooperative, Blended Learning Initiative Limitations Results in very complex financial arrangements, e.g., when a full-time residential student wants to enroll in a World Campus offered course World Campus looks undersized

Advantages

Well defined domain of responsibility, though we have been a helpful partner, e.g., eLearning Cooperative, Blended Learning Initiative

Limitations

Results in very complex financial arrangements, e.g., when a full-time residential student wants to enroll in a World Campus offered course

World Campus looks undersized

World Campus strives to maximize revenue shared with academic units Advantages Revenue sharing is a significant incentive, especially in hard budget times Limitations Revenue sharing can create greed Revenue sharing can create internal competitors

Advantages

Revenue sharing is a significant incentive, especially in hard budget times

Limitations

Revenue sharing can create greed

Revenue sharing can create internal competitors

World Campus’ domain is University policy Advantages Policy wise, clearly delineates resident instruction and distance education domains Limitations The policy should not be thought of as a protective shield Technology has clouded whether or when a students is a resident student or distance student

Advantages

Policy wise, clearly delineates resident instruction and distance education domains

Limitations

The policy should not be thought of as a protective shield

Technology has clouded whether or when a students is a resident student or distance student

Questions for panel? Sharing by audience.

Questions for panel?

Sharing by audience.

Thank You and Enjoy the rest of the conference. Alexandra M. Pickett Shari McCurdy Pete Rubba

Thank You and

Enjoy the rest of the conference.

Alexandra M. Pickett

Shari McCurdy

Pete Rubba