Transcript How to Develop an Accelerated Program

How to Develop an
Accelerated Program
Patricia Ellis,
Stevenson University, MD
Dawn Spaar,
Elizabethtown College, PA
CAP is…
AN INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION SERVING
PROFESSIONALS WHO LEAD, TEACH, AND CONDUCT RESEARCH IN
ACCELERATED PROGRAMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION. AS AN
ADVOCATE FOR ACCELERATED EDUCATION, CAP ENHANCES
COLLABORATION AND SHARES BEST PRACTICES AND RESEARCH
FINDINGS AMONG ITS MEMBERS TO DESIGN AND DELIVER THE
MOST EFFECTIVE LEARNING FOR ADULT LEARNERS.
CAP Services
Onsite Customized Workshops
 Consulting Services
 Accreditation Preparation
 Assessment & Program Evaluation
 Faculty Development
 Customized Webinars
 Accelerated Programs 101 Training
 Onsite Accelerated Program Advocacy &
Support

CAP Quality Standards
Program Mission & Integrity
 Leadership & Administration
 Educational Offerings
 Assessment & Program Evaluation
 Faculty Appraisal, Support & Appreciation
 Student Support Services
 Planning & Resources
 Facilities & Auxiliary Services
 Program Marketing & Recruitment
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Where Are You?
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How many of you are considering or
want to begin an accelerated program?
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Who has started an accelerated program
within the last 2-3 years?
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How many of your consider yourselves
seasoned or advanced?
Today’s Agenda
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What is an accelerated program, and who is the
adult learner?
How do you start an accelerated program?
What are the challenges & opportunities?
What are the best marketing & recruitment
strategies?
What is the best organizational structure?
How do you develop the curriculum & courses?
How do you grow your existing accelerated
program?
How do you develop a strategic plan?
Accelerated Programs
are…
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Structured for students/adults to take less
time than conventional programs.
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A course delivery format in a face-to-face
or online environment where students
meet less than the traditional semester
hours (for instance 20-contact hours for a
3-credit hour course versus 45-contact
hours).
The Adult Learner is…
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Students over the age of 25 make up 39% of the
enrollment in higher education institutions (NCES
2008).
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Bring a different set of needs & desires.
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Research indicates they learn differently.
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Older, more mature, professional experiences.
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Have a family, careers & job responsibilities.
The Adult Learner is…
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Generally available during evenings or
weekends for classes.
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Some-to-no college experience. If previous
experience, it might not be remembered
fondly.
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May have started & stopped several degree
programs.
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May have multiple college transcripts.
Starting Up
Essential to include the following:
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A Financial Analysis
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The Political Analysis
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Examine the Institutional Culture
Financial Analysis
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Develop a multi-year plan
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Demonstrate financial benefits
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Incorporate enrollment goals
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Include best-estimate revenue projections
 Forecasting
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Attach realistic program expenses
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Start up costs
Ongoing costs
Human resources
Operating
Marketing
Political Analysis
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Ascertain who are the decision makers
at your institution
 Official & unofficial
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Understand who are the key players
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At what point do these players impact
(positively or negatively) the decision
makers?
Cultural Analysis
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What type of culture does your institutional
present?
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Are there strong traditional roots? Or is
there an entrepreneurial spirit?
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Are you a leader in the community &/or in
the field of higher education?
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Slow or quick at getting new programs
developed?
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Resistance to or embrace change?
Organizational Structure
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Mission consistency
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Learner focused
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Faculty assessment & development
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Quality learning modules
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Student services
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Students
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Competent & sufficient program staffing
Organizational Structure
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Facilitator effectiveness
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Feedback systems
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Institutional commitment & reinvestment
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Appropriate facilities, technology &
classrooms
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Frequency & preparation
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Market responsiveness
Challenges & Opportunities
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How much money is your institution willing
to invest to recruit adult students?
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Is your institution willing to market locally?
Regionally? Nationally?
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What is your marketing mix?
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Should you consider outsourcing?
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Is the website geared to recruit adult
students?
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Can prospects easily find your program?
Challenges & Opportunities

Does the institution have the appropriate tools
to communicate with adult students online?
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Have an online application form?
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Where is your institution’s website on a Google
search?
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What type of CRM system do you have?
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If none, are you willing to invest in one?
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Who are the decision makers you need to
inform regarding these complexities?
Marketing
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Conduct market research
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Create a budget
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Develop a brand & consistent message
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Process your leads/prospects
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Track your conversion rate
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Deliver high quality customer service
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Dedicate appropriate staff
Developing Accelerated
Curriculum & Courses
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Careful Selection of Faculty
 Full-time working practitioners
 Part-time teaching
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Hiring Process
 Faculty assessment
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Training Opportunities for Faculty
 Orientation
 Mentors
 Subsequent developments
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Compensation
 Development & instruction
Developing Accelerated
Curriculum & Courses
 Adult Learning Theory & Principles
 Learner centered
 Andragogy (Malcolm Knowles)
 Outcome based
 Active learning strategies
 Real-world examples & problem solving
 Consistent leaning modules
 Classroom, online, hybrid/blended
 Length of session/term
Grow an Existing Program
Should we:
 Offer a new program?
 Graduate/Undergraduate?
 Non-Credit, Certificate?
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Offer new majors?
 What is needed in our market?
 What can we do well?
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Provide new or different delivery models?
 Online, blended, weekends, term lengths?
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Develop new locations?
 Regionally, nationally?
Grow an Existing Program
Deciding Factors:
 Conduct market research
 Complete a competitive scan
 Distinguish self from competition
 Develop a strategic business plan
Basically, the same variables as starting from
scratch, except you already have a track
record.
Today’s Presenters
Patricia Ellis
Associate Dean
Dawn Spaar
Associate Dean
School of Graduate &
Professional Studies
(GPS)
Center for Continuing
Education & Distance
Learning (CCEDL)
Stevenson University
Baltimore, MD
Elizabethtown College
Central PA
[email protected]
[email protected]
For More Information about CAP, Contact:
Jeannie McCarron
[email protected]
1-303-964-5253