Ensuring Quality and Consistency at Regional Centers

1. Ensuring Quality and Consistency atRegional Centers • Anita Fitzgerald Henck, PhD • Dean, School of Education, Azusa Pacific University • Christine Zeppos, PhD • Dean, School of Education, Brandman University • Gary Railsback, PhD • Assessment Consultant, TaskStream • Former Dean, School of Education, Point Loma Nazarene University • Mark Goor, PhD • Dean, College of Education & Organizational Leadership, University of LaVerne WASC ARC Conference – San Diego – April 2013

2. Guiding Question With the proliferation of regional campuses across California, how do universities ensure the quality of learning is consistently high across sites and that the programs are coherent?

3. Guiding Principles • Organizational structures vary greatly between universities • Ideas shared today need to be adapted to each institution’s culture • We’re all still learning!

4. Four Institutions

5. Azusa Pacific University • Based in Azusa, CA. 7 CA Regional Centers + Online • Directors of Regional Centers oversee facilities, on-site support staff, recruiting; provide localized student services • Deans provide programs, faculty, and student admissions. Most programs have on-site fulltime faculty assigned to centers, plus local adjuncts • Deans and chairs develop faculty training modules, in addition to University orientation and training. • Chairs and program directors oversee regular systems of collaboration and calibration

6. Brandman University • Formerly Chapman University College; Now Brandman University, based in Irvine, CA since 2009 • 26 CA & WA campuses; 14 primary education campuses • Campus Director—business manager for all University programs on that campus • Fulltime faculty and adjuncts assigned to each campus • Core faculty serve as curricular team chairs and course developers • Twice yearly all-faculty meeting via Adobe Connect, with adjunct and core faculty meeting face-to-face 3x per year • LiveText provides weekly report of faculty engagement; adjuncts not rehired if not engaged

7. Point Loma Nazarene University • Based in San Diego, CA. 4 CA Regional Centers • Associate Dean at each Regional Center. Each has three roles -- oversight of a curricular area, individual associate dean assignment, and center director • On-site fulltime faculty assigned to centers, plus local adjuncts

8. University of LaVerne • Based in LaVerne, CA. 11 sites plus special contract sites • Regional campus directors provide facilities, on-site support staff, recruiting; provide localized student services • Dean and department chairs oversee academics and make admissions and hiring decisions • Chairs ensure consistent course delivery and address student and faculty issues

9. Institutional Challenges & Responses

10. Azusa Pacific University Challenge • Silo-ed departmental practices and resultant adjunct autonomy vs. NCATE call for operating as a “Unit” Response • Increased adjunct participation in All School Faculty Days to enhance larger vision • Clarity of expectations within departments • Enhanced mentoring of adjuncts

11. Brandman University Challenge • Adjunct engagement with signature assignments, use of rubrics, etc. Response • All relevant materials placed in LiveText • System provides regular reporting of faculty participation • Adjuncts not rehired if not fully engaged

12. Point Loma Nazarene University Challenge • Each center had developed autonomous systems, including software Response • Migrated all data to a common portal • Developed cross-functional Associate Dean/Regional Center assignments that led to collaborative systems and processes

13. University of LaVerne Challenge • “Dance” between academics and administration Response • Continuous discussion between academic and regional campus deans

14. Best Practices for Regional Center Programs

15. Assigning fulltime faculty as lead faculty at regional centers • Use of technology for departmental and school meetings • Cross-functional administrative assignments – location plus curriculum/program duties • Lead faculty responsible for common curriculum and syllabi

16. Questions?

17. Contact Information Anita Henck – ahenck@apu.edu Christine Zeppos – zeppos@brandman.edu Gary Railsback – grailsback@taskstream.com Mark Goor – mgoor@laverne.edu