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The University of Baltimore eduprise.com and the Common Platform Group. U B. Ronald Legon, Provost University of Baltimore Fifth International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks. The University of Baltimore -- U B Who Are We?. Founded in 1925 Private until 1975
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The University of Baltimoreeduprise.com and the Common Platform Group UB Ronald Legon, Provost University of Baltimore Fifth International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks
The University of Baltimore -- UBWho Are We? • Founded in 1925 • Private until 1975 • Member of University System of Maryland • Law, Business and (Applied) Liberal Arts • ABA, AACSB Accredited
The University of Baltimore -- UBWho Are We? • Upper Division Undergraduate (30%) • Graduate, and Professional Education (70%) • Downtown Location • Working Adult Students • Average Age 32 • Evening and Weekend Schedule (60+%) • 75% of Students Commute from Suburbs
UB Imperative:Develop Capacity for Web-Based Education • UB markets convenience for adult learners... • Asynchronous learning may be more convenient than face-to-face instruction • Asynchronous learning is gaining acceptability • New competitiors are emerging and recruiting UB’s core customers (students)
UB’s Strategic Response:A Fully Web-Based MBAwith Other Programs to Follow • Most popular program (product) • Most UB business faculty already using Web • MBA client base matches web student profile • Delivery mode aligned with trends in business • Market opportunity for fully web-based MBA • First to market • Low cost • AACSB Accredited
The Timetable:A webMBA by January, 1999 • 5/99- 7/98 Selected technology vendor Developed faculty contract • 8/98- 10/98 Selected faculty & coordinator Developed marketing plan Trained faculty & staff participants • 10/98- 1/99 Developed first 2 courses Developed Ubonline website Developed online application Implemented marketing plan Screened & admitted first students • 1/15/99 Launched webMBA
The Business Plan • Costs • Development - Instruction • Marketing - Support Services • Administration • Start-up funding from University reserves • Anticipated revenues from • Tuition - Contract Programs • Grants - Licensing Fees • Goal: Three year breakeven
Role of Technology Partner:eduprise.com • Provide software platform • competitive - robust • standards-based - continuously enhanced • Win confidence of mainstream faculty • technical and pedagogy experts • on-site project manager • Reduce burden on University infrastructure • Remote Servers (hosting) - 7 x 24 support • Build capacity for future independence
How Are We Doing? • webMBA launched on schedule in Jan. 99 • Course quality exceeds expectations • High faculty and student satisfaction • Small, but expanding, enrollment • On target to recoup costs within three years • New opportunities and spin-offs… • Where do we go from here?
Common Platform GroupConcept • Emergence of university consortia based on • geography • common jurisdiction • Potential for consortium based on adoption of a common software platform • UB willing to take the lead for eduprise.com clients • eduprise.com willing to play supportive role
Advantages of a CPG • Institutional commitment to web development • Diversity of institution level, type & location • A common language in which to • engage faculty and staff in higher order training • jointly develop courses and programs • exchange courses and course elements • develop cross-institutional evaluation projects • Common hosting and tracking • Potential to attract public and private funding
Responses to CPG Initiative • Initial high interest with prospect of external funding • Subsequent discussions among several institutions regarding bilateral collaboration • No specific results after six months
Why Hasn’t CPG Moved Faster? • Senior management commitments may not reflect institutional consensus • Widespread faculty skepticism about fully asynchronous courses and programs • Each campus must work through the issues at its own pace: • pedagogy - intellectual property • financing - faculty workload • (…unless web development is relegated to Continuing Education)