General Sessions
Tuesday, January 20
1:00 PM-2:15 PM
Business Model Meets Innovation
John Walda, NACUBO
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed
Burck Smith, Straighterline
Moderator:
Bob Hansen, UPCEA
John Walda, President and CEO of NACUBO, diagnoses what is driving change in the business model of higher education. Entrepreneur and educator Burck Smith describes various trajectories of innovation in the landscape today. And Scott Jaschik reflects on similar changes in the publishing industry, which led to the success of
Inside Higher Education. Against the backdrop of this intriguing cross-section of perspectives, the panelists engage in a dynamic conversation about where higher education is headed, and why.
4:30 PM-5:30 PM
The Policy Landscape for Online Education
Ted Mitchell, United States Department of Education
Charged with implementing President Obama’s American Graduation Initiative, the Under Secretary will share remarks on innovative solutions aimed at improving access and completion, as well as describe key policy drivers and regulations in postsecondary education. Time for questions and audience discussion will follow the Under Secretary’s remarks.
Wednesday, January 21
8:15 AM-9:30 AM
Designed to Engage
Diana Oblinger, EDUCAUSE
The next generation of digital learning is emerging, integrating formal and informal experiences, personalizing learning and providing clear pathways to student success. The digital environment of social, mobile, cloud, and big data creates unique settings that promise more than replicating offline activities online. Digital learning uses the best that technology has to offer, combining the physical and the virtual, engaging each learner to maximize student success.
12:30 PM-1:45 PM
An Interview with Timothy Slottow, University of Phoenix
Moderator: Timothy McDonough, ACE
In this lively interview, former University of Michigan CFO Timothy Slottow will talk about his vision for the future of University of Phoenix, particularly the desire to solve readiness and completion issues via admissions requirements and innovative partnerships and business models. As online increasingly becomes a proxy for serving adult students, Phoenix’ goals of improving student outcomes translates across the higher education landscape to a vision for all students. Time for questions from attendees will follow the interview.
3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Open Education, Open Resources, Open Institutions
Steve Mintz, University of Texas System
Harrison Keller, University of Texas at Austin
Kara Van Dam, University of Maryland University College
Moderator:
Johannes Heinlein, EdX
In this panel, three institutions share their varied journeys and unique needs with regard to what works and what doesn’t in the context of open education and MOOCs. Amid the trends in this space, panelists will address how their institutions are working together and with edX—focusing on replicable models, as well as how they differ and how they address the unique perspectives, opportunities, and challenges today’s marketplace presents.
Thursday, January 22
11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Evolving Toward Openness Amidst the Disruption of Higher Education
Michelle Weise, Christiensen Institute
Dr. Michelle R. Weise will illuminate how the theory of disruptive innovation presents an opportunity to rethink the resources, processes, and ways in which higher education addresses the country’s challenges and needs. She will discuss the shifting value proposition of postsecondary education as well as the different kinds of models, partnerships, and solutions that exist that will enable institutions to think strategically about the future of higher education.
