Extended Learning at WVU aims to provide greater educational access through technology and innovative opportunities in order to improve economic outcomes for West Virginia citizens. As the student population ages and demands online options, Extended Learning seeks to expand its degree and certificate programs online as well as develop new initiatives like a virtual charter school to serve lifelong learners. Competition is increasing both within and outside of West Virginia as more institutions recognize the potential for growth in serving adult and online students.
1. Extended Learning Dr. Sue Day-Perroots, Dean July 2007 Mission is to provide seamless access to academic courses, lifelong learning opportunities, and student services through a personalized yet convenient process. Through investments in technology and innovative intellectual opportunities, WVU Extended Learning promotes greater educational access to improve the economic health and well-being of the citizens of West Virginia and our global society.
2. A View of 2020 The location of a college, and the geographic spread of its influence and recruiting area, will be the most significant factor in determining its flow of enrollees in the next decade. * The Northeastern states will see a consistent decline in graduates of about 1% per year. The South will consistently increase and there will be 9.4% more grads in 2020-21 than in 08-09.
9. Adult Learners Fastest growing student population The student body is getting older (25-44) Will be even more heavily weighted toward women Part time students Working full-time While the enrollment is projected to grow faster at private institutions, that is probably because for-profit colleges are private.
10. Adult Learners Want sequential degree steps: certificate, AA, BA/BS, Masters Continuous enrollment, year-round Flexible scheduling and services Advising upfront and as needed Flexible payment and financial aid opportunities From 2007 to 2016, the population of college students ages 18 to 24 will increase by 11.1 percent, but the population of students ages 25 to 34 will increase by 26.8 percent (US Dept of Ed -Center for Ed Statistics)
11. Online Learners Nothing is as likely to change the face of higher education over the next decade as the switch to more online learning. The enrollment in distance-education courses nearly quadrupled, from 3,077,000 to 12,153,000 from 2000 - 2007. Students (digital natives) AND adult learners (convenience) are demanding online courses. Greater than 20% of students are enrolled in at least 1 online course (Fall, 2007).
12. Online Learning Associate’s institutions teach over ½ of all online students Community Colleges entered online later, but identified as central to mission Colleges serving working adults are most positive about enrollment potential 85% online enrollments w/in 50 mile radius of campus – beginning to see change with for-profit private marketing 1 in 5 institutions offered 1st online courses in 2007. WVU began in 1999.
13. Why is this important? Adult student programs will more than likely be called upon even more heavily to generate revenue to add to the institution’s bottom line Programs focused on serving adult students are the largest potential growth market, according to demographics, in higher education Adult student programs able to serve minority students well will be better positioned to compete (particularly in the South)
14. Importance– continued Online addresses flexibility in schedules & lives Online addresses access during commute, or from workplace, home Online addresses career focus and advancement Increases revenue w/o increasing physical infrastructure
15. Who is our competition (really)? In West Virginia? Out of West Virginia?
16.
17. 3 Common Characteristics of Schools Successful at Serving Adults/Online Students Entrepreneurial Spirit University Leadership allows units like Extended Learning to try new things Commitment to Adult Student Population
18.
19.
20. Not dependent on State dollars or central fundingAdult – centered programming http://elearn.wvu.edu
21. WVU Extended LearningYour source for online and off-campus Extended Learning = 62,634 credit hours (77% distance ed); Over 3,200 student per term + 1,300 enrolled in “both” online & on-campus. Continuing and Professional Education served 2,747 adult learners. Collaboration with Forensics and its numerous online opportunities accounted for much of this 68% annual increase. Over 647 high school students enrolled in WVU courses in their high schools
28. Start with STEM – physics, math, engineering Build WVU Charter School ~ Currently hiring a Director/ grant writer Virtual Schools on the Rise (video) Enrollment in online courses in high schools is still relatively small (it reached the one million mark in 2007), but it is growing even faster than enrollment in college online courses. WVU OnlineVirtual School
36. WVU OnlineLifelong Learning Contracted new eCommerce portal & Student Information System Aggregate multitude of providers across the campus – CME, Social Work, Lifetime Activities, Extension, etc. Forensic Courses Substitute Teacher & Renewal http://elearn.wvu.edu/Continuing/
37. Show & Tell Instructional Technology Resource Center (ITRC) https://ecampus.wvu.edu/ A Vision of K-12 Students Today (video) A Vision of Students Today (video) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/college/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/collegeinc/view/
