Academic Coordinator Answers the Question: What’s the Big Deal About Christian Higher Education? PART 3

In this three-part article series, senior academic advisor Wayne Clugston provides insights on historical traditions and experiential knowledge needed to make academic innovation relevant both to past and future purposes.

Welcome to the final installment of this three-part article series in which we speak to academic coordinator and education management consultant Wayne Clugston on a variety of issues surrounding Christian higher education in the 21st Century. Let’s continue…

Question: Traditionally, online education has been delivered by part time adjunct faculty.  What are your thoughts going forward as this distribution matures regarding full-time faculty versus adjunct faculty?

Clugston:“The adjunct instructional model in online programs was introduced pragmatically, out of necessity, to offer learning in an environment essentially external to the university. Gradually, by design, there is a trend to integrate higher education online programs into the campus environment--a model likely to be widely adopted.

“With this change, full-time roles are being developed for online professors. The greatest contribution of the model so far--besides legitimizing the online modality--has been the measurable improvement in the collegiality and professional development of online instructors and academic coordinators. This pattern, in turn, stimulates shared commitment to quality and academic excellence.”

Question: How can an institution figure out what online degrees to offer that will be in demand three to seven years from now?

Clugston:“The general rule in the marketplace is that many of the jobs that are popular at the point a university student completes the four-to-six years it commonly takes to earn a bachelor's degree didn't exist when that person's higher education journey began. These rapid changes apply to new areas of expertise and knowledge concentrations rather than to entirely new degree programs,” explains higher education management consultant, Clugston.

“Tracking Department of Labor statistics provides important knowledge of changes in employment profiles and trends on a national scale. An important balancing consideration involves gathering data related to particular affinity market opportunities associated with the university. Online degree programming needs to address "localized" learning needs as well as national ones. As competition for online students increases, this focus is essential.”

Question: We hear parents reacting to the sticker shock of expensive general education at traditional Christian college and universities.  Can you offer any solutions to help maximize affordability for a family whose student desires a four-year Christian degree?

Clugston:“Private colleges and universities that find a way to offer selected General Education courses online at a reduced tuition rate are discovering that this approach attracts students. (And, of course, eases parents' financial burdens.) But, it also contributes to student retention. Such "special-rate" courses are being offered successfully online as a way to set them apart from traditional offerings and schedules. Students fit them into their total degree plan at their convenience.

“Particular groups of students benefit from them: high school students seeking advanced placement, international students wishing to accumulate some credits before coming to the United States, and students in designated special situations. Some institutions allow one or two such online courses to be taken each year by every student--as an ongoing retention incentive. In the future, residential campus enrollment in baccalaureate programs may consist of upper-level students primarily.”

Question: Can you, as an academic coordinator, cite any legitimate studies that enforce the fact that online learning might be more effective than traditional classroom experiences?

Clugston:“Many studies have shown that the effectiveness of college-level learning in an online environment is equal to or greater than in the traditional classroom environment. The most recent data collected by Eduventures, the leading research and higher education management consulting organization, show that the percentage of consumers who believe the quality of online learning is equal to the quality of classroom-based learning has steadily increased over the last decade or so: 58% percent held this view in 2000; 71% held it in 2013.”

Question: If you were president of small Christian college or university what immediate strategic changes would you make to ensure that your institution not only survives, but thrives for the next ten years.

Clugston:“The most important strategic questions I would consider are: (1) "In ten years what balance should exist between the university's on-campus, classroom-based degree programs and its online degree programs?" and (2) "To what extent should they be integrated?" These questions, then, require consideration of necessary changes.”

Contact Significant Systems

To learn more about our education management consulting firm Significant Systems, check out our website. If you have any interest in pursuing our new model of education for your institution, Contact Us.

Remember, our goal is simple:

• Provide Broader Access
• Lower Tuition and Fees
• Leave your Institution with Less Debt and More Graduates
• Facilitate Education with a Purpose

Looking forward to our possible conversation!

Dr. Michael K. Clifford
Chairman
760.801.5021(My personal cell)
mkc@mclifford.com