1. Programs, Curriculum and Student Learning The Higher Education Landscape Mel Netzhammer February 14, 2011
2. Higher Education Landscape Approach and Attitude of Feds National Movements and Responses State and USNH Priorities February 14, 2011
3. Two Emerging National Themes Quality Assurance (The current state of the accountability movement and continuous self improvement) Student Portability (The ability of students to move seamlessly from one college to another as they complete their degrees) February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
5. Student Portability For the first time, a majority of students complete a degree by attending more than one institution, many by attending more than two (swirl). Institutions, governments, parents are looking for assurances that what students learn at one institution provides the foundation at another institution. Pressure for consistency across programs February 14, 2011 To customize: Choose Insert Menu >> Header & Footer
6. What’s Behind This? Trust (The public, our funders, legislators are no longer willing to take our word that students are learning) Economy (The funding isn’t there, legislators are looking for efficiencies in higher education) February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
7. What’s Behind This? Expense (When the cost of a college education was close to zero, if a student failed everyone accepted it was the student’s fault. When the cost of a college education is $100,000 at a state school, if a student fails people believe it’s the institution’s fault.) February 14, 2011 To customize: Choose Insert Menu >> Header & Footer
11. Federal Reg on Credit Hours Federal regulation defines a credit hour as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutional established equivalence that reasonably approximates not less than (1) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week…; or (2) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition… February 14, 2011 To customize: Choose Insert Menu >> Header & Footer
12. The National Landscape Improving Student Learning Measuring Student Learning Collaboration Openness February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
13. The National Landscape …beyond what graduates know, what they can do with what they know is the ultimate benchmark of learning. --Lumina Foundation February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
14. Academically Adrift “Large numbers of college students report that they experience only limited academic demands and invest only limited effort in their academic endeavors.” “Over four years of college coursework, 50 percent of students reported that they had taken five or fewer courses that required 20 pages of writing over the course of the semester, and 20 percent of students reported that they had taken five or fewer courses that required 40 pages of reading per week.” February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
15. Academically Adrift 12-14 hours studying 16% of time doing academic things (studying or in class) 45% did not demonstrate any improvement in learning over 2 years as measured by the CLA; 36% over 4 years. CLA results correlate positively to reading and writing expectations in classes. http://highered.ssrc.org/files/SSRC_Report.pdf February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
16. The National Landscape Texas, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia all have statewide standards for student learning and some tie higher education funding to performance. Measures include national standardized tests, state examinations, specific reporting requirements. NGA February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
17. The National Landscape Governors can help restrain college costs—while extending a quality postsecondary education to a larger segment of the population—by insisting that student learning outcomes become an integral part of state higher education accountability systems. --National Governors Association February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
18. Lumina Foundation Degree Qualifications Profile Sets standards for student learning at the associate, baccalaureate and master levels in five basic areas of learning: Broad, Integrative Knowledge; Specialized Knowledge; Intellectual Skills; Applied Learning, and Civic Learning. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
19. Lumina “What students should know and be able to do once they earn their degrees.” Not intended to make degrees uniform, rather an attempt to describe concretely what each of these degrees means. Does not define what should be taught or how instructors should teach it. http://www.luminafoundation.org/publications/The_Degree_Qualifications_Profile.pdf February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
20.
21. demonstrates fluency in the use of tools, technologies and methods common to the field.February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
22. Lumina Examples Analytic Inquiry: Differentiates and evaluates theories and approaches to complex standard and non-standard problems within his or her major field and at least one other academic field. Quantitative Fluency: Translates verbal problems into mathematical algorithms and constructs valid mathematical arguments using the accepted symbolic system of mathematical reasoning. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
23. The National Landscape What would the curriculum look like if the course weren’t the basis of curriculum design? --David Carr February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
24.
25. We will need to collaborate across institutions.
27. Red Balloon Examples Collaboration: Creating a foundation for a common algebra course that can be adapted to every institution. Openness: Increased use of Open Educational Resources, shared materials, and the development of electronic course materials given to students. Technology: greater use of tech in course delivery (blended, online, co-curricular) http://www.aascu.org/programs/redballoon/index.htm February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
28. The State Landscape We face the potential of unprecedented cuts in state funding. State interest is not just in our finances but in educational quality. We are expected to find ways to keep costs to students down: tuition, fees and other expenses (e.g., textbooks). February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
29. USNH Interests Promoting 4-year graduation rates by, for example, capping degrees at 120 credits, except in rare circumstances. Developing metrics for determining program viability. More serious and advanced documentation of student learning. Textbook costs. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
30. USNH Landscape New programs Translocated programs Increased scrutiny of policies and procedures Academic Technology February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
31. Promoting 4-year Grad Rates Assumption: Campuses will take steps to improve 4-year graduation rates. Assumption: All degrees will be capped at 120 credits, including 12-16 credits of free electives. The college will establish clear criteria for when a degree might exceed 120 credits. We have until June to develop this process. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
32. Program Viability Metrics Components of program viability: number of graduates, number of majors, number of low-enrolled courses. We have the opportunity to develop a template for Keene State College. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
33. Documenting Student Learning NEASC looks at annual reports on assessment. The Site Team recognized that we have a firm foundation for assessment, but that we need to be more intentional and serious about that work. The USNH Board has been taking greater interest in how we measure student learning. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
34. Textbook Costs Textbooks can be 20 percent of the cost of tuition. Top priority of student trustees. Interested in greater availability of electronic textbooks. Interested in greater availability of open educational resources and open textbooks. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
35. New Programs The governor and trustees want more programs that meet state workforce needs, and they want them offered throughout the state. Nursing is the first example. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
36. Translocated/Articulated Programs Significant pressure to develop articulation agreements. We currently have two articulation agreements, the fewest of any institution in the state by far. Discussions of translocating management, a liberal studies B.A., and master’s education programs. February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
37. Policies & Procedures Student insurance Travel abroad/faculty led trips Automobile policies Travel with students Collecting money from students February 14, 2011 Higher Education Landscape
38. Academic Technology Major focus of Board of Trustees Special USNH allocation of $500,000 to support integration of technology to support student learning. 2011 Summer Institute for Faculty February 14, 2011 To customize: Choose Insert Menu >> Header & Footer
Editor's Notes
For the first time, a majority of students complete a degree by attending more than one institution, many by attending more than two.This is called “swirl”Institutions, governments, parents are looking for assurances that what students learn at one institution provides the foundation at another institution.There’s pressure for more consistency in programs and courses across institutions. If needed:1005 graduates· 751 (75%) were scheduled to be completed and of those, 17 (2%) didn’t earn the grades they needed to graduate· 98 (10%) of those who graduated expected to finish their requirements in August and of those, 19 (20%) did not complete their requirements as planned/scheduled· 156 (16%) of those who graduated expected to finish their requirements in December and of those, 56 (33%) did not complete their requirements as planned/scheduled
