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The VCU Project:

The VCU Project:. Virtual Colleges and Universities in Transition. NLII Annual Meeting New Orleans, Louisiana -- January 28, 2003. Pew Symposium.

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The VCU Project:

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  1. The VCU Project: Virtual Colleges and Universities in Transition NLII Annual Meeting New Orleans, Louisiana -- January 28, 2003

  2. Pew Symposium “At a certain point in history, they may have been the lubricant needed for a massive shifting of the gears in higher education. For state virtual universities, the moment may be passing.” The notion that VCUs are not needed is “likely to be a ‘cover argument’ by individual campuses to avoid collaboration. . . Following this path would lead to destructive competition, poorly served students, and very unhappy stakeholders and funders.” “Expanding Access to Learning: The Role of Virtual Universities,” July 18-19, 2002, Aspen, Colorado

  3. “The system should provide for new pilot or demonstration sites to be established within the system that are separate, preferably isolated from, other units so as to increase the chances for innovation and improvement.” Terrence J. MacTaggart (1996) Restructuring Higher Education Venture Units

  4. The Growth of VCUs

  5. The Growth of VCUs

  6. VCU Project Goals • Identify and describe the types of VCU models in use by states • Determine and understand statewide goals for VCUs • Discover and describe major successes, barriers, and unexpected outcomes

  7. Principle Investigators • Rhonda M. Epper Director of Online Program Development, Community College of Denver • Myk Garn Chief Academic Officer, Kentucky Virtual University Research assistance provided by: Susan Winter, SHEEO Webmaster/Policy Analyst

  8. Advisory Team • Fred Hurst Dean of Distance Learning, Northern Arizona University • Sally Johnstone Executive Director, WCET • Val Lewis Commissioner, Connecticut Dept. of Higher Education • Paul Lingenfelter Executive Director, SHEEO • Tad Perry Executive Director, South Dakota Board of Regents

  9. VCU Project Phases • VCU Literature Review • 2002 SHEEO/WCET VCU Survey • Follow-up interviews • SHEEO Report • WCET – Hewlett Edutools Policy Page

  10. Research Questions • Are virtual universities meeting statewide goals for which they were created? • What are the different VCU organizational models? • How have VCUs transitioned themselves since founding to meet current demands? • What are the major successes, barriers, and unexpected outcomes of virtual universities?

  11. Literature Review • 100+ studies, articles, state reports • 15-20 core resources • Goals, mission, organizational structure, financial models, collaboration models, policies that enable VCU to operate effectively in a state • Ways to describe VCUs: Taxonomies

  12. VCU Definitions Wolf/Johnstone Taxonomy • Change Magazine, July/August 1999 • Three types of non-consortia VCUs • Four types of consortia VCUs • VCU-1: Degree-granting • VCU-2: Mutual services & formal articulation • VCU-3: Linked services & informal articulation • VCU-4: Independent services & little articulation

  13. VCU Models Investigated • The VCU Project is focused on entities and endeavors that operate primarily within single states and that were founded by, or comprise membership of, the state's public higher education institutions. • These models appear to occur in two VCU forms - systemwide and statewide.

  14. How VCUs Define Themselves * Preliminary data

  15. Preliminary Findings • VCU Goals • Funding Models • Services • Enabling Policies

  16. VCU Goals in Transition • Expanding access • Serving underserved populations Increasing Goals • Reducing costs / Centralizing resources • Increase communication/collaboration • Better educated workforce Declining Goals

  17. Funding Models of VCUs • Direct state appropriation • Fees from services to provider institutions • Tuition/fees charged by VCU • Partial tuition (e.g., split with provider) • FTE funding from state • Membership fees • Donations/partnerships with private sector

  18. Funding Models of VCUs Percentage of VCUs noting funding source as “major” or “primary”

  19. Initial Capitalization of VCU Average: $976,359 Median: $600,000

  20. Operating Budget of VCU Average: $1,169,513 Median: $500,000

  21. VCU Funding Plans Is your VCU currently self-supporting? If not, is the VCU planning to become self-supporting in the future? 23% Currently Self-supporting 23% Plan to be Self-supporting 50% No plans to be Self-supporting

  22. Library services Online catalog Online application Online registration E-commerce Bookstore Technical help desk Academic help desk (e.g., tutoring) Online financial aid Coordination of test sites and proctoring Marketing Faculty/staff training and development Course hosting Internet Service Provider (ISP) Services Provided

  23. Enabling Policies • “Home College” model • Common course numbering • Policy development including: quality assurance, tuition, development, transfer/articulation, property rights, fees, revenue sharing • Standardization & scalability • Statewide or systemwide articulation

  24. Future Analysis • Audience • Sector/Credential influences • Primary/Emerging Disciplines • External Competition • Barriers • Unexpected Outcomes • Examples of Best Practice

  25. For More Information Contact: • Rhonda Epper rmepper@msn.com • Myk Garn myk.garn@kyvu.org

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