Developing a Cooperative Online Degree Program The Practical Mechanics

1. Developing a Cooperative Online Degree ProgramThe Practical Mechanics Dr. Roger Von Holzen Ms Darla Runyon Northwest Missouri State University

2. Masters in Education in Teaching and Learning: Elementary • Thirty-three hour program • Designed to meet the special needs of elementary teachers who are in their early career years • Major goals of the program: • assist these teachers to improve their practice • fully equip them to persist in the profession • which is critical during this time of significant teacher shortages*

3. Masters in Education in Teaching and Learning: Elementary • Third goal: • enable the participating institutions to offer a new online degree program while minimizing staffing issues • Goals achieved through the cooperative sharing of program courses*

4. Program Curriculum • Developed by university faculty from across the state of Missouri • Met over a three year period • Program based around the work of the National Board for Professional Teaching standards*

5. Core Science Reading Math Program Description • Twelve-hour core of education coursework • Three emphasis area options: • Reading • Math • Science • Must complete the introductory course in both of the options not selected • Three hours of elective course(s) to round out the program*

6. Program Description • Program draws on what has been learned in recent years on the various campuses and through the literature about web-based delivery • Design of this 33-hour program targets those who wish to pursue graduate programming… but are limited due to their geographic location and work requirements*

7. Program Evolution • Initially, eight universities were interested in developing the program • Difficult and expensive to bring groups together*

8. Program Evolution • Strong state coordinating board and administrative support for development of the program • Limit duplication of programs • Get some institutions to begin offering online courses • Save development time and resources*

9. Program Evolution • One by one, five universities dropped out of the program for various reasons • Lack of faculty support for online programs • Lack of faculty support to work with other institutions • “Why don’t we develop our own online program?” • Lack of faculty collegiality toward faculty members from other institutions • “Are their faculty members as good as ours?”*

10. Dead Men Walking • The surviving three Missouri state institutions have joined forces to fully develop the cooperative online degree program • Lincoln University • Northwest Missouri State University • Southeast Missouri State University*

11. Program Mechanics

12. Memorandum of Understanding • Agreement between the three institutions • Formally signed at a state-wide meeting • Outlines the working relationship behind the program*

13. Program Accountability • Program supervised by an Oversight Team • Composed of an equal number of deans-level representatives from each institution • Oversees the program director • Directs the development and implementation of the online masters degree program and its policies • Convenes on a quarterly basis*

14. Program Accountability • Program collaboratively developed by faculty • Initial focus determined by Oversight Team • Curriculum changes may be proposed by faculty • Meet annually to review program and for professional development • Changes must be approved by the faculty and the Oversight Team*

15. Program Web Site • Developed, hosted and maintained by Northwest Missouri State University • URL identified with the state of Missouri--not any particular institution • www.MOHEC.org • Missouri Online Higher Education Consortium*

17. Common Criteria • Each institution will follow a common admission policy • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 • Alternative admission minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and 3.25 on the first nine hours of graduate coursework in the program • Graduate record exam: 475 minimum on the verbal or quantitative score and a minimum of 400 on the other section • Letter of support from the student’s employer (supervisor) if the student works in a school or educational institution • A cover letter briefly discussing the student's teaching background and the emphasis (cohort) area that the student is interested in (reading, math or science)*

18. Common Criteria • Students must designate which campus is his/her “home” campus • The university of record will grant the degree • Students will function under the rules and regulations of their home institution • All advising and in-depth mentoring will be conducted by the faculty at the student's home university*

19. Course Management Software • System needed to cover online registration, campus quotas, wait lists, and course hosting • eCollege selected as course management software • Courses hosted on eCollege servers • Backup systems • System security • Online and telephone 24/7 tech support*

21. Registration • Each campus initially allocated 7 “seats” per course • Overprescribed courses are wait listed • Available “seats” from other campuses reallocated prior to start of classes • Student admissions requirements verified prior to finalization of course registration • Drop/adds handled by web site*

22. Registration • Registration information and updates sent to each institution • Processed through each campus’ Registrars’ Office*

23. Grade Reporting • Standard letter grades used--A, B, C, D, and F • Grades reported through secure web site by faculty • Only a student’s home institution can view that student’s grades • Submission of grades to the Registrars’ office on each campus is made in the format as designated by each office • direct viewing and printing of grade reports • download of files containing grade reports • e-mail receipt of grade reports*

24. Graduate Faculty • Participating faculty must qualify as graduate faculty at their respective home institutions • Each university will have responsibility for its participating faculty with respect to: • employment decisions • work assignments • annual work evaluations • termination decisions*

25. Course Development • Courses assigned for development and initial delivery to each campus • Core and content strands split across all three campuses (no one campus controls a strand) • Faculty course developers paid $5,000 • Deficit funded by Northwest • Course materials developed is considered to be jointly owned by the participating institutions and the faculty member(s) involved in the course development process*

26. Cooperative Training of Online Faculty • Northwest provided technical and pedagogical assistance with the design and development of the courses • Additional assistance provided by local campus faculty support offices*

27. Course Delivery • Each course must be offered on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Oversight Team • Courses may be moved among the institutions • Multiple sections of course may be taught from multiple campuses • Course web site duplicated*

28. Financial Considerations • Tuition determined by the Oversight Team • Common tuition across the participating universities • The student's university of record assess all tuition and fees • $250 per credit hour for Missouri residents • $350 per credit hour for out-of-state residents • Each institution may add on additional fees*

29. Financial Considerations • Program Director invoices the institutions at the rate of $200 per credit hour for their students enrolled in program courses • Enrolling institution retains $50 per credit (for in-state and $150 per credit out-of-state)*

30. Financial Considerations • Payment to each institution teaching an online course • based on the following formula: • Payment Amount = $100 X number of credit hours X number of students enrolled in the course • $6,000 = $100 X 3 X 20 • The institution is responsible for the payment of faculty member's salary and other related expenses*

31. Continued Participation • Any institution may discontinue participation in this program • Subject to the approval of the Oversight Team and the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education • Contingencies must be made for all admitted students to be able to complete their programs*

32. Course Schedules • Courses delivered within the academic calendars of all campuses • The start date for a semester is set for the latest start date among the three campuses • The end date for a semester is set for the earliest end date among the three campuses • Fall and spring semesters—15 weeks • Summer sessions—8 1/2 weeks*

33. Program Marketing • Web site developed and maintained by Northwest • Housed at distinguishing web address • Internal marketing with each campus’ bureaucracy • Provide background information about program • Provide key information needed for each area • Graduate office • Admissions • Registrars’ • Financial Aid and Student Financial Accounts • Library • Lack of overlap in market areas*

34. Northwest Lincoln Southeast

35. Program Marketing • Brochures and other marketing materials centrally developed and produced • Mailings conducted by each campus with costs covered by Program Director • Major marketing effort conducted through the Regional Professional Development Centers across the state • Search engine data uploaded by Program Director*

36. Reality Check • State drops requirement for masters-level credit for recertification • CEUs are sufficient • Budget cuts on state and local levels • No money for professional development • No money for movement on salary scale • Reality---only 7 students enrolled • Program currently on hold*

37. The Experience • So what has this experience been like? • A bit frustrating at times…

39. www.MOHEC.org Ms Darla Runyon drunyon@mail.nwmissouri.edu Dr. Roger Von Holzen rvh@mail.nwmissouri.edu