Decisions Decisions Decisions: Program Discovery in a New Environment

1. Decisions Decisions Decisions: Program Discovery in a New Environment Presentation at ALN College Park, MD October 1999

2. The Penn State World Campus has developed a comprehensive process for identifying and selecting programs proposed by academic units for delivery at a distance. The values underlying the process are: the value of knowing and learning, the importance of timely consultation, and collaboration with stakeholders. The presentation will describe the process and participants' views of the experience. A significant element of the process is building awareness of the opportunities afforded by ALNs and the World Campus, working with administrative and faculty governance committees, and providing an array of faculty development opportunities (also for administrators) helping them understand ALN, distance learning, and the operation of the World Campus through workshops, presentations, meetings, and training.

3. A second element is clarifying our expectations for programs that we anticipate will be viable programs in terms of match between program and delivery mode(s), reputation of program, sustainable audience, faculty and administrative support and commitment, and sufficient resources.

4. Context--the World Campus • Established to create new Penn State students • Delivery unity for the University • Be a model for excellence in the on-line delivery of courses and programs • Enrich faculty opportunities in teaching and learning • Generate revenue for the University • Expand outreach opportunities for academic units

5. The values underlying the process are • the value of knowing and learning • the importance of timely consultation • collaboration with stakeholders

6. Internal Marketing Initiatives:Sharing the Benefits of World Campus Participation with Internal Stakeholders

7. Message: The Penn State World Campus will deliver universal Penn State quality education.

8. Benefits to Faculty • voice heard worldwide • potential opportunities for consulting • recruitment of new students to Penn State • teach both distance and residential students • teach motivated students from diverse backgrounds • enhance and extend reputation

9. Benefits to Academic Units • eventual increased revenues • additional faculty lines to address growing student enrollments • enhance and extend reputation • potential contacts that may benefit residential students, e.g., internships

10. Audiences FACULTY Governance groups 1. Graduate Council 2. Senate Committees Academic Units 1. College Councils 2. Departments 3. Programs

11. ADMINISTRATORS(based on groups that meet routinely) • Council of Academic Deans • Academic Council on Undergraduate Education • Association of Associate Deans for Graduate Education • Campus College Academic Administrators’ groups

12. How does the World Campus initiate and review ideas for programs?

13. Sources of Program Ideas • Marketing research • Faculty at the University • Administrators at the University • Academic College Support Teams • Prospective and continuing clients

14. The Procedure Idea proposed informally or formally to the Director of Academic Programs • Confer with Marketing Research • Confer with Instructional Design and Development • Ascertain departmental readiness

15. Criterion for Selection:long term viability • academic reputation of the program--”signature programs” • inclusion in the college’s and department’s strategic plans (departmental commitment) • faculty availability and commitment • sustainable market • sufficient resources • match of the technology and program content • approval through academic governance procedures

16. Proposal submitted to Distance Education Management Team (DEMT) A. Recommendation referred to original proposers for • Refinement • Development • Reconsideration B. Rejection of proposal (rare)

17. Program Planning Process • Prepare an instructional design plan • Design marketing plan • Secure academic program approvals • Faculty participate in faculty development programs • Plan learner support services appropriate for students in the program • Develop budget projections • Identify sources of funds • Prepare an integrated work plan • Sign a Program Agreement

18. We implement the marketing plan • market research, e.g., • competition • audience(s) • pricing • content • advertising and promotion • general and programmatic • multiple media including radio, TV, WWW, print • client development • partnerships • contract clients • Forming partnerships

19. Criteria For Program QualityPenn State Graduate School • positive working relationships through a shared vision • joint responsibility of faculty, student and staff • understanding of the work environment • academic honesty, professional integrity, and confidentiality

20. a clear course of study • Plan to sustain the program • an atmosphere of openness • acknowledgment of intellectual rights and property • Appropriate learner support services • opportunities for evaluation

21. We seek a positive working relationships through a shared vision with academic unit. • program team is formed to plan the course/program • WC Program Manager • Faculty Member • Instructional Designer • Learner Support Staff Member • Marketing Staff Member

22. Program Team WC Academic Affairs Program Mgr Instructional Design Unit Academic Unit(s) PIC/Faculty Lead Instr. Designer Marketing Manager Learner Support Manager Learner Support Outreach and Cooperative Marketing

23. Academic units’ views of the experience of Program Selection • Comprehensiveness • Slowness • Complexity

24. Issues for Program Selection and Planning Process 1. Communication 2. Integrating perspectives 3. Complexity 4. Balancing different needs

25. Thank you for your interest. For more information, please feel free to contact Elizabeth M. Hawthorne emh7@psu.edu or visit our website at http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu