Collaborative Degrees for Adult Students

1. Collaborative Degrees for Adult Students Emily Johnson, M.A. x2 Frank Waterstraat, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Extension, CEOEL Adult Student Recruitment and Retention Conference, Madison, WI March 10, 2014

2. Who We Are • Emily Johnson – Program manager • Bachelor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership and Communication program • Frank Waterstraat – Program manager • Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology program

3. Agenda History of the unique collaborative programs offered by UW-System campuses and UW-Extension Basic mechanics of partnerships between System campuses and Extension Benefits of the collaborative programs for the campuses and students Challenges faced and solutions Questions

4. History of Collaborative Programs

5. Genesis of the Collaborative Programs The mission of the university is to increase the number of bachelor’s degree holders in Wisconsin Wisconsin is middle of the pack in the nation in Bachelor’s degree holders and at the top in Associate degree holders The number of non-traditional students is rapidly growing Students who have previously attended college are more likely to finish a degree program

6. Sustainable Management: The First Collaborative • Development of Sustainable Management (SMGT) began in 2008 as a result of market research • Dean David Schejbal served as project manager • Contributed to curriculum development • Engaged with industry, which informed curriculum • Development took 1 year from conception to offering • Curriculum was developed over the summer • Campuses moved the program through governance through the Fall • Board of Regents okayed the degree in May, HLC approval followed shortly thereafter • Courses offered Fall 2009

7. Timeline of Collaborative Programs 2009 – Launch of the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Management 2011 – Launch of the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership and Communication Jan. 2012 – Launch of the Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Management Sept. 2012 – Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology 2013 – Launch of the Masters of Science in Sustainable Management Currently developing a Master of Science in Data Science

8. Collaborative Partnership Model

9. Partnership model: The Basics, part 1 Through market research CEOEL discovers the need to fill gaps in the educational market CEOEL proposes an idea for degree-completion programs based on research CEOEL presents ideas to 4-year campuses to gauge level of interest in participation Campuses join program based on a number of factors:

10. Some factors in campuses’ decision to join collaborative programs • Academic programs on the campus – do those programs dovetail with the proposed collaborative idea? • Staffing levels – will the program be administratively supported on campus? • Redundancy – is there a similar/the same program that will be competition for the collaborative model?

11. Partnership model: The Basics, part 2 • Up front funding provided by CEOEL, includes: • Course development • Academic director position(s) • Marketing • Course instruction • Student services

12. Partnership model: The Basics, part 3 • Administrative and Academic supports provided by CEOEL: • Program manager – liaison between CEOEL and campus entities • Instructional Designer – assisting faculty to develop online courses • Marketing – to a statewide and national audience • Student Services – both in recruitment and retention

13. Partnership model: The Basics, part 4 • Uniformity • Students admitted to a “home campus” but take courses from all campuses • All courses in CEOEL’s instance of Desire2Learn (D2L) • Equity • Campuses are compensated equally; once net revenue is generated, that is split equally among the partners • Quality • Courses are taught by UW faculty and evaluated on a semester basis • Interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary

14. Benefits and Challenges to the Collaborative Degree Model

15. New Paradigm Collaborative Traditional

16. Flexible Structure • Collaborative • Traditional

17. Cross-Disciplinary Cross/Interdisciplinary Management Information Tech Human Resources Discipline Focused/Structured Healthcare Legal Systems Analysis

18. New Approach to Thinking • Non-Traditional • Traditional

19. Rapid Implementation Recruit Create and Staff

20. Academic Director/Program Manager Coordinator Director

21. Adaptable • New Content New Search New Faculty

22. No waiting Facility Limitations Limitless Growth

23. Cost Infrastructure Costs Incremental Cost

24. Challenges 17th Century AdministrativeStructure • 21st Century Instructional Model

25. Policies and Procedures • Institutionalized • Universal

26. Student Perspective • Clear • Confusing

27. How the student wins • Cross-disciplinary university education in a non-traditional model • Dynamic curriculum both in content and delivery • Online – limits physical, geographical and cost barriers • No waiting lists for “hot” degrees • Asynchronous – no need to be online at the same time as the professor • No segregated fees – don’t have to pay for infrastructure

28. Questions?

29. Contact us! Emily Johnson: emily.johnson@uwex.edu Frank Waterstraat: frank.waterstraat@uwex.edu