3. BACKGROUND
SUNY Oswego’s online learning efforts to date were a result of organic growth,
opportunity, and internal cooperation
Stable processes and policies are in place (ID/course development process,
enrollment management, development and delivery funding)
BUT there was no strategic planning guiding future growth and sustainability
FAQ: “How much online growth is enough?”
4. PROCESS
Formation of steering group
Agreement on project goal: strategic plan as the output
Focus group sessions (37 sessions, 400+ participants)
Qualitative coding of data to develop themes
Key goals linked to themes
Circulation of draft plan for comment
Finalization/publication of plan (TBD)
5. ADVANCING ONLINE LEARNING FORTOMORROW:
EDUCATIONTHAT IS POWERFUL, PERSONAL, & DISTINCTLY OSWEGO
An innovative past driving our bright future
Grounded
Inclusive
Responsive
Aligned with SUNY Oswego‘s Strategic Plan
Tomorrow - Greater Impact and Success Plan
SUNY Chancellor’s priorities
Taking advantage of today’s opportunities for tomorrow’s success
Increased demand for online courses & programs
Means of completion
Lifelong skill building
6. GOALS
1. Online and blended programs are sustainably created, offered and
grown, effectively preparing and advancing students for tomorrow.
2. Education delivered online remains distinctly Oswego, reflecting core
values of academic rigor, student success and curricular engagement.
3. Students learning online succeed in the pursuit and attainment of their
unique educational goals and are actively engaged participants in the
SUNY Oswego community.
4. Faculty and staff succeed in their efforts to design and implement
educational experiences and engage with online students in virtual
settings.
5. Students, faculty and staff have access to intuitive technology enabling
them to collaboratively succeed.
7. NEXT STEPS AND LESSONS LEARNED
Next Steps:
Prioritization of implementation plan
Formation of working groups to address plans
Lessons:
Student Affairs is key to supporting students and need to be engaged in plan
development
Select outcomes wisely to ensure that the plan is achievable
An innovative past driving our bright future
– Successful Track Record (Early Adopter, Visionary Leadership, Open SUNY+ campus, 300+ courses in rotation)
– Steering Committee (12), Online Enrollment Roundtable (23 Attendees), Listening Tour (37 Groups, 401 Individuals incl. Faculty, Staff, Students)
– 3 Year Timespan, nimble design, tool to guide decision making & prioritization
Aligned with SUNY Oswego‘s Strategic Plan
-imperative to create / deliver innovative, rigorous academic programs that match society / student need
-commitment to scale online learning to prepare students w/ skills / experience for the future of work
Taking advantage of today’s opportunities for tomorrow’s success
over 3M students earning excl online degrees, another 3.5M taking at least 1 course online=over 30% of all college students taking at least 1 course/year online, 6.9 million New Yorkers have at least a high school ed 3.3M have an associates or some college but no college degree. professionals need to take new courses & learn new skills to stay current, get ahead or change their careers. In Onondaga & Oswego counties, 29% adults (117K) have completed either an associate degree or some college which represents a substantial target market. This percentage is 24% (3.3M) statewide. Over ¼ of both first-time students (30%) & non-first-time students (27%) who enrolled at SUNY Oswego in 2008 enrolled at a different institution within 8 years, suggesting that these “stop out students” are seeking a place to finish their studies, or aren’t finding a pathway at SUNY Oswego currently. Nationally, nearly a third (31.4%) of students who enrolled in college in the fall of 2011 were no longer enrolled & had not completed a degree after 6 years, reflecting a clear market for online completion programs. # of students seeking higher education exclusively online or in hybrid modalities continues to grow which creates the opportunity to expand & cultivate lifelong relationships with students.
Continual research into emerging workplace needs, innovative best practices in online learning and close financial stewardship ensures the ability to reinvest in and sustain efforts to refine the online portfolio.