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Jeremy D. Brown December 2006

Current Issues in Education in the United States: Quality Control, Internationalisation and Distance Learning. Jeremy D. Brown December 2006. Profile of Higher Education in the US. Number of universities and colleges in US: 4,385 Number of public: 1,734 Number of private: 2,651

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Jeremy D. Brown December 2006

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  1. Current Issues in Education in the United States: Quality Control, Internationalisation and Distance Learning. Jeremy D. Brown December 2006

  2. Profile of Higher Education in the US • Number of universities and colleges in US: 4,385 • Number of public: 1,734 • Number of private: 2,651 • Number of undergraduate and graduate students: 17,568,233 • Number of international students: 564,766 • Cost of undergraduate study at a private 4-year school: $26,489/year • Cost of undergraduate study at an Ivy League Institution: $43,566/year • Cost of undergraduate study at a public 4-year school: $11,441/year • % of International Students who are graduate students: 47% Sources: Carnegie Foundation Undergraduate Instructional Program Tables (2005), National Center for Education Statistics – Digest of Education Statistics (2005), Institute for International Education Open Doors Report 2005.

  3. Change in International Student Enrollment at Schools in USA

  4. State University of New York (SUNY) • 64 Campuses • Total Headcount Enrollment: 414,171 • 5 year growth in Enrollment: 10.6% • International Students at SUNY campuses: 15,477 • SUNY Student enrollment overseas: 4,033* • Graduation Rates (1998 Cohort) • 6-Year SUNY 60.1% • National Public Universities 45% • National Private Universities 57% Sources: SUNY FAST FACTS 2005-06 Academic Year & *SUNY System Report on Overseas Enrollment for Summer 2004, Fall 2004 and Spring 2005

  5. The Campuses of the State University of New York

  6. Quality Control • Regional Accrediting Bodies • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) • Professional Accrediting Bodies, for example: • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) • National League of Nursing (NLN) • American Chemical Society • New York State Review • Assessment in the Major • General Education Assessment

  7. Federal Oversight – Spellings Commission Report • Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education, created the Commission in 2005. • Goal: To look at the system of higher education and see if it adequately prepared our students for the future workforce and the changing, global society. • Areas of specific interest: Accessibility, Affordability and Accountability. Source: A TEST OF LEADERSHIP: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, 2006

  8. Spellings Commission Report - Accessibility • Finding: “Access to American higher education is unduly limited by…inadequate preparation, lack of information about college opportunities, and persistent financial barriers.” • Goal: “A system that is accessible to all Americans, throughout their lives.” Source: A TEST OF LEADERSHIP: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, 2006 & U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, “Action Plan for Higher Education: Improving Accessibility, Affordability and Accountability”, September 26, 2006

  9. Spellings Commission Report -Affordability • Finding: “Too many students are either discouraged from attending college by rising costs, or take on worrisome debt burdens in order to do so.” • Goal: “Postsecondary institutions…provide high-quality instruction while improving their efficiency in order to be more affordable to the students, taxpayers, and donors who sustain them.” Source: A TEST OF LEADERSHIP: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, 2006 & U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, “Action Plan for Higher Education: Improving Accessibility, Affordability and Accountability”, September 26, 2006

  10. Spellings Commission Report - Accountability • Finding: “Because data systems are so limited and inadequate, it is hard for policymakers to obtain reliable information on students’ progress through the educational pipeline.” • Goal: “In the Information Age, it is essential that clear, comprehensive and comparative data about colleges and universities be collected and made available to students, parents, and policymakers.” Source: A TEST OF LEADERSHIP: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, 2006 & U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, “Action Plan for Higher Education: Improving Accessibility, Affordability and Accountability”, September 26, 2006

  11. Spellings Commission Report - Accountability Action Plan: • “Work with a consortium of states to build on and link together the 40 existing, privacy-protected higher education information systems.” • “Explore incentives for states and institutions that collect and report student learning outcome data.” • “Convene members of the accreditation community to recommend changes to the standards for recognition that will place a greater emphasis on results.” • “Redesign the Department of Education’s college search website to allow consumers to weigh and compare institutions based on their individual interests and needs.” Source: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, “Action Plan for Higher Education: Improving Accessibility, Affordability and Accountability”, September 26, 2006

  12. Spellings Commission Report – Other • Goal: “We want a world-class higher-education system that creates new knowledge, contributes to economic prosperity and global competitiveness, and empowers citizens.” • Goal: “We want a higher-education system that gives Americans the workplace skills they need to adapt to a rapidly changing economy.” • Goal: “We want postsecondary institutions to adapt to a world altered by technology, changing demographics and globalization, in which the higher-education landscape includes new providers and new paradigms, from for-profit universities to distance learning.” Source: A TEST OF LEADERSHIP: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, 2006

  13. Spellings Commission Report – Distance Learning • “We recommend the development of a national strategy for lifelong learning that helps all citizens understand the importance of preparing for and participating in higher education throughout their lives.” • “The commission encourages institutions to expand their reach to adults through technology such as distance learning, workplace learning, and alternative scheduling programs.” • “Effective use of information technology can improve student learning, reduce instructional costs, and meet critical workforce needs.” Source: A TEST OF LEADERSHIP: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, 2006

  14. Spellings Commission Report – Internationalisation • “We recommend increased federal investment in areas critical to our nation’s global competitiveness and a renewed commitment to attract the best and brightest minds from across the nation and around the world to lead the next wave of American innovation.” • “Higher education, too, must put greater emphasis on international education, including foreign language instruction and study abroad, in order to ensure that graduates have the skills necessary to function effectively in the global workforce.” Source: A TEST OF LEADERSHIP: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, 2006

  15. Internationalisation • What are Institutions in USA doing? • Internationalisation of Curriculum • Study Abroad • Summer programs in US and overseas • Exchanges • Dual Degrees

  16. Internationalisation – SUNY Canton • Distance Learning to Canton and from Canton • Study Abroad • Dual Degree Programme

  17. Internationalisation – SUNY Canton Dual Degree Programme: • Degree from SUNY Canton and Overseas University • Distance Learning in hybrid format • Local Liaison • Greatly Reduced Costs

  18. Distance Learning – Growth of SUNY Learning Network Enrollments

  19. Distance Learning – Growth of Enrollment in SUNY Canton Online Courses 1412 students

  20. Distance Learning – Advantages and Disadvantages • Advantages: • Flexibility • Accessibility • Economics • Disadvantages: • Learning curve for different style of education • Initial information technology infrastructure • Lack of physical presence

  21. Distance Learning – To Be Successful • Provide high quality content • Use advantages that technology permits • Not directly translate classroom to internet • Not blind with technology • Realise differences • Learning style and curve • What can and cannot do as easily (e.g. labs, groups) • Size of class • Invest appropriate Level of Resources • Not overestimate revenue • Not underestimate cost • Provide similar support services • Library • Tutors • Access to faculty • Student Systems • Have reliable systems • Network • Platform • Provide support for faculty developing courses

  22. Distance Learning – Future Directions • There will be more sophisticated learners who will have increased expectations for personalised experiences. • Content will be less important as open source opportunities increase; subsequently the social experience & the social presence of the teacher will become more important. • It will be more of an m-learning (media –rich learning) environment than an e-learning one; the online learning space will evolve into a rich tapestry of learning tools & activities. • We will move away from what we are doing in the classroom and do it differently in the online classroom (the online learning experience will likely be different from the traditional classroom experience)

  23. Distance Learning – Future Directions - Cont’d • Scale, velocity, and collaboration in online learning will dramatically increase in the next 5 years. According to the 2006 report by A-HEC (Alliance for Higher Education Competitiveness) on Best Practices in Internet-Supported Learning in Higher Education, the following trends were noted: • More interest in hybrid/blended delivery. The focus on hybrid over the next 12 months is projected to increase by approximately 30%. • Increased multimedia use. Adding greater interactivity to online courses is a predominant trend.

  24. Summary: Written Word => Printed Word => Electronic Word Reach much broader audience – Earth is getting flatter Assure Quality Control & Appropriate Use of Technology Exciting Times

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