Transcript Open Suny - Empire State College

Empire State College
as
“New York’s Open University”
All Areas of Study
October 27th, 2010
Some history
 Vision 2015 branding ideas
 “OUNY” suggested to chancellor in August, 2009, as a
shortcut to explaining what we do and what we are
 Paper submitted to Chancellor in December, 2009 and
shared with Senate and college
 CDL and Open University session at All College plus
other discussions
 OUNY idea shared around SUNY and inspired the
concept of Open SUNY
 In April, “2010 and Beyond” launched: one of 18 key
initiatives is Open SUNY
SUNY Empire State College as
Open SUNY, or New York’s Open
University
 Originally established as just this
 Modeled on other open universities
 Member of a global group of about 120 similar
institutions
 UK, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Greece, Japan,
Korea, India, China, Hong Kong, Canada etc.
 Not much take up in the US: alternative name for
continuing education or extension/adult learning unit
eg. SF State
Open
 “Open” is a powerful concept:
 Receptive, honest, transparent
 Innovative, progressive, creative, revealed
 Unconstrained, unrestricted, unsuppressed, unfettered
unlimited, unprejudiced, unchained
 Fresh, a beginning
 Accessible, reachable, available, helpful, generous,
inclusive, flexible, liberated, free, public, tolerant
 Liberty, democracy
Open learning occurs when we….
 use a new teaching approach to foster understanding of a
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complex problem;
develop teaching and learning approaches and technologies
that bridge time and distance;
create policies that respect learners’ previous educational
experiences as well as their busy lives;
engage learners as full partners in the design of their
education within broad curriculum guidelines
provide support services and accommodations for individual
students’ circumstances, and
honor the learning that occurs outside the academy.
Open learning in a digital age
 It has increasing currency across higher education: the
concept of open learning has expanded with the ubiquity
of the Web to include:
 open content;
 open software;
 open networks and seminars for professional
development and training; and
 open access journals
Educause Review, Summer, 2010: the Open Edition
Open Institutions
 Open institutions are those that are completely
committed to removing the barriers that restrict access
for those traditionally underserved by higher education.
 Since cost is a major barrier for learners, open
institutions are, by definition, public.
 Almost every jurisdiction in the world is moving to this
terminology for alternative and flexible delivery of their
offerings.
Our role within SUNY
 Original vision (Boyer) was the this college would be
state-wide and unique within SUNY
 Now classified as a “university-college” based only on the
scope of our curriculum, and hidden within the system
 We propose that we be moved to another or a new
category of institution:
 Doctoral institutions, or
 SUNY Open University/Open SUNY
SUNY classifications
 4 University Centers
 Doctoral degree granting: Ceramics, Cornell statutory
colleges, ESF, Optometry, DS medical, US medical
 University Colleges (13, including us)
 Technology Colleges (8, including SUNY IT)
 Community Colleges
SUNY classifications
 4 University Centers
 Doctoral degree granting: Ceramics, Cornell statutory
colleges, ESF, Optometry, DS medical, US medical
 University Colleges (13, including us)…………..
 Technology Colleges (8, including SUNY IT)
 Community Colleges
 SUNY Open University or Open SUNY?
The plan from hereon
 We will focus on our Vision 2015
 Develop a brand based on “New York’s Open University”
(working title)
 Use informally, trademark the names, protect our turf
 Discuss the idea widely
 Think about a launch in Fall, 2011, as we wind up the
40th anniversary celebrations
40th Anniversary
 All College March 24-26, 2011
 Sir John Daniel as Boyer Lecturer
 Gala celebration and invite early grads, friends, funders,
retires
 Fun: e.g. pictures of us in 1971
40th Anniversary (continued)
 Graduations with a special focus, videos etc.
 Special Publications
 Regional Centre events and homecomings
 Host a meeting of 120 open university presidents from
around the globe in NYC in June
 Weave in the “Open SUNY/NYOU” idea throughout the
year
 Conclude in Fall 2011 with a couple of special events,
and launch the new brand for the next era of SUNY
Empire State College
Why is this important?
 Vision 2015: Better, Bigger and Bolder
 Theme C: Key goal 7: Strategy C1.2: Reposition the
college within SUNY and the state….
 It will help define who we are: we have evolved and
we are complex, distributed and multi-dimensional
 It is a compelling unifying concept
 Raise our profile: good for us, for you and for our
alums, and will benefit other busy learners looking
for more choice
Are there potential pitfalls?
 Does “open university” equate only to “distance and
online”?
 (Not at all: it is online plus face to face (50%), PLA,
transfer credit, individualized degrees, customized
structured programs, partnerships etc.)
 Does “online” equal for profit institutions and their
predatory approaches to recruitment and focus on the
dividend to shareholders?
 (We need to differentiate ourselves: power of SUNY)
Are there potential pitfalls?
 Does “open” equal “easy” or “inferior”?
 (Of course not: power of SUNY, friends in high places
who will speak out: Masie, Broad, Daniel)
Multiple approaches
 Presentations like this + feedback
 Other focus groups, internal and external
 Talk to College Council, Foundation Board, Federation
Board etc.
 Define “open” and “open university”
 Develop campaign plans for media, influencers, Trustees
etc.
 Talk with our SUNY colleagues about our positioning
within the system: show them what would be achieved.
 Images, logos, look and feel, words: building on, but not
being limited by our roots
Feedback, ideas etc. to me
[email protected]