Noncredit Sessions

2019-20 and 2020-21 UPCEA Regional Councils, Network Leadership Teams Meet 

2019-20 and 2020-21 Business and Operations Network Leadership
Webster

2019-20 and 2020-21 Community and Economic Engagement Network Leadership
Douglass

2019-20 and 2020-21 International Network Leadership
Faneuil

2019-20 and 2020-21 Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services Network Leadership
Grand Ballroom D

2019-20 and 2020-21 Online Administration Network Leadership
Otis

2019-20 and 2020-21 Program Planning and Innovation Network Leadership
Adams

2019-20 and 2020-21 Central Regional Council
Commonwealth AB

2019-20 and 2020-21 Mid-Atlantic Regional Council
Grand Ballroom C

2019-20 and 2020-21 South Regional Council
Commonwealth C

2019-20 and 2020-21 West Regional Council
Grand Ballroom E

2019-20 and 2020-21 Regional Cabinets (Board Representatives)
Commonwealth AB

2019-20 and 2020-21 Network Senates (Network Chairs)
Commonwealth C

Networking Break in Exhibit Hall (Galleria)

UPCEA Trail Stops hosted during Networking Break

Taking its cue from Boston’s historical journey, a “Freedom Trail” presentation is an opportunity to host a thematic conversation at a metaphorical “stop.” Supported by each of the six UPCEA Networks—affinity groups for the areas of practice that make up professional, continuing, and online education, these informal conversations are hosted around a specific topic in the Exhibit Hall during one of the various 30-minute Networking Breaks during the conference, offering a chance for engaging, thoughtful conversation between attendees and presenters. This experimental format is particularly designed to provide opportunities for attendees to expand both their professional knowledge as well as their individual networks, in low-risk, engaging, and likely small group dialogues.

Considerations of a Tuition Reset
Galleria | Track: Business and Operations
Level: Strategic | Format: Freedom Trail
Small, non-selective liberal arts colleges are increasingly getting caught in a cycle of increasing discount rates to ensure student enrollments while at the same time increasing tuition rates to earn more funds from students paying the full cost. Several colleges have undertaken a tuition reset to lower both listed tuition for the college and lower the discount rate at the college. The action to undertake a tuition reset is a long term, complicated, complex series of hard work and hard decisions. The colleges undergoing the reset have their own measures for success, both financial for the college but also in terms of outcomes for students, including reductions in student debt load.Using the case study method, this research examines tuition resets at three liberal arts colleges, examining what their goals were, what their metrics for success were, and how well did they meet those stated goals. The research overall shows that colleges that choose to reset their tuition need to be prepared for the long haul. This is not a short term strategy and should be thoroughly researched, vetted and thought-out to provide the best opportunity for success. This research also shows that success can be in the eye of the beholder.

• Lynda Holt, Excelsior College

Moderator: Lyla Garner, Mississippi State University

 

Something's Brewing: Connecting Faculty, Industry and Students through the PCO Unit
Galleria | Track: Community and Economic Engagement
Level: Applied | Format: Freedom Trail | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Connecting faculty, industry experts, and students through the Professional Continuing and Online unit is complex work that can drive innovation and economic growth.  In a time of rapid change and a shifting landscape, partnerships need to be more than transactional: successful partnerships are based on trust and strategic, holistic engagement. This presentation follows case studies in varying stages of development, including the explosion of the brewing industry in Pennsylvania, the ways in which Shippensburg University responsded (industry forums, advisory boards, program planning with industry input, targeted continuing education, and grant projects), and the creation of pipeline programs professionalizing early childcare industries and logistics programming with regional economic drivers.

• Carolyn Callaghan, Shippensburg University

Moderator: George Calderaro, Columbia University

Crossing the Generational Divide: A Guide for Continuing Studies Professionals to Create a Successful Senior College Program
Marina I | Track: Community and Economic Engagement
Level: Applied | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Across communities in the U.S., the number of older adults is growing at unprecedented rates as significantly more individuals are experiencing increased longevity. Response to the educational needs and interests of this  emerging population calls for innovative practices of teaching, research, and community engagement for leaders in continuing education. This presentation will engage participants in a conversation about the important  role senior citizens play in our communities and will help attendees to consider implementing their own non-credit, enrichment Senior College program. The presenters will focus on the specific entrepreneurial, organizational, and practical skills required to plan and launch a revenue positive Senior College program that improves active aging, intellectual health, and well-being for seniors in their service region. This workshop will address the major  aspects that led to a successful launch of Bridgewater State University’s new Senior College program, deconstructing for the audience major components that can be adapted to institutions of all sizes. Finally, beyond all  pragmatic reasons, participants will learn how serving and working collaboratively with seniors can be uniquely rewarding for continuing education professionals.

• Jennifer Reid, Bridgewater State University
• David Crane, Bridgewater State University
• Cathleen DeSimone, Bridgewater State University

Moderator: Melissa Lubin, James Madison University

Rethinking Study Abroad:  Alternative Models Offering Greater Accessibility & Affordability
Marina II | Track: International
Level: Applied | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Study abroad is a transformational experience for most students.  The opportunity to gain a global perspective that can be applied to multiple situations is an essential element of higher learning and critical thinking. The challenge for many students and their families is accessibility due to affordability. Whether the student is first generation, traditional age, or an adult learner, study abroad can be viewed as an ‘add-on‘ or luxury item, when it comes to making choices about educational finances. A panel consisting of UPCEA International Network leaders will share alternative affordability models that can be operationalized on our campuses.  Consideration will be given to policies and planning,  infrastructure, global partnerships, external grants, and community engagement. The panel will share best practices, as well as engage in discussion with participants on action steps for implementation.

• Terry Borg, Northern Illinois University
• Marissa Lombardi, Education First (EF)
• Breeda McGrath, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Moderator: Julia Ivy, Northeastern University

The Art & Science of Stackable Programs
Marina III-IV | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
The average person can expect to change their career five to seven times in their lifespan, while employers expect their staff to change jobs every three years. Traditional degree programs continue to face scrutiny in perceived value from today’s workforce, and career changers desire shorter timeframes to prepare them for their next vocation. New fields are emerging, and more fields will likely emerge in the next 5 years.  How can higher education meet the demands of both students and employers? One solution is to offer stackable credentials, which allow students to demonstrate their competencies in subject areas relevant to their career objectives. The many benefits of microcredentials include shorter duration, lower cost, customization, meeting regional workforce demands, and an increase in pay for learners. Stackable credentials that lead to bachelors or masters degrees also create a modularized curriculum that can flex as new skills are needed in the workplace. This session will explore the market demand for microcredentials, how microcredentials can be integrated into existing degree programs, which subject areas are a good fit for microcredentials, and the advantages and disadvantages of microcredentials from a curricular standpoint.

• Valerie Delleville, Western Governors University

Moderator: Brian Amkraut, Case Western Reserve University

Rebundling and Repurposing: Challenges Institutions Face When Transitioning For-Credit Online Courses to Non-Credit Learning Experiences
Grand Ballroom E | Track: Online Administration
Level: Applied | Format: Workshop | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
While it’s relatively common practice to reuse content from semester-to-semester in an online for-credit degree program, fewer institutions have implemented strategies that involve repurposing for-credit course content into non-credit learning experiences to meet a more diverse range of lifelong learning needs. In this session, online learning leaders from a variety of institutions will discuss the potential their institutions see in pursuing the development of varied online learning experiences by repurposing content to create both for-credit and non-credit offerings. Panelists will also discuss challenges their institutions have encountered in trying to implement a strategy that aims to rebundle content across these learning experiences. Participants will then have the chance to collaborate with other participants in defining the most important aspects of the model, as well as operational considerations that might pose challenges at their institutions, so that individuals can gain ideas from others as to what strategies might be helpful for gaining buy-in and mitigating barriers for adopting this type of strategy at a range of institutions.

• Sarah Dysart, University of Michigan
• Paul Huckett, Johns Hopkins University
• Asim Ali, Auburn University

Moderator: Mark Bernhard, North Carolina State University

When Strategy and Reality Collide
Grand Ballroom C | Track: Online Administration
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation
Colleges and universities are increasingly turning to online education to solve their enrollment and revenue challenges. Strategic initiatives abound. Numerous obstacles are in play when attempting to execute strategies that will result in substantial enrollment growth through online education. The combined obstacles can bring initiatives to a stand-still. This session will feature facilitated and highly participatory table discussions to explore visible and hidden obstacles to strategic initiatives, their impact on successful implementation and tactics to work through or around them. Initiatives for discussion include rapidly and radically scaling online enrollments, developing U2B partnerships, attracting more adult learners, developing alternative credentials, increasing transfer numbers, programming for workforce development, major restructuring of online education, and shifting budget models. Each table will have a discussion facilitator for subset topics. Attendees will be invited to choose the topic(s) of greatest interest and join that table group. The conversations will provide opportunities for participants to share challenges and their ideas and efforts to address those challenges.

• Kim Siegenthaler, University of Missouri
• Susan Elkins, University of South Carolina
• Beth Laves, Western Kentucky University

Moderator: Dave Cillay, Washington State University

A Secure Part of the Program Portfolio: Cybersecurity and Long-Term Trends
Marina III-IV | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Foundational | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
With the evolution of a new economy that will include the Internet of Things, connected home and automobile, a sharing economy and automation, cybersecurity is critical across all industries globally.  The economic cost and threat to business operations and society overall are critical, therefore, staying ahead of cyber-criminals and threats through the training of cybersecurity professionals is essential.  The field of cybersecurity is long-term, as new technologies and enter the marketplace that cyber-criminals will leverage and cyber-security professionals will adopt to protect consumers, as well as businesses.  UPCEA will share trends and forecasts around the field of cybersecurity, while the University of Miami and its Division of Continuing and International Education in partnership with HackerU will share the approach, curriculum and results to launching a successful professional noncredit program in the Greater Miami area.

• Desiree Young, University of Miami
• Jim Fong, UPCEA
• Dan Vigdor, HackerU

Moderator: Sandra Gladney, University of Oregon

Developing a Microcredential
Marina II | Track: International
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Colleges and universities are faced with changing learner demands and the increasing perception that shorter credentials can be a successful way to progress a professional career.  According to Pearson’s Global Learners Survey, learners are expressing a preference for shorter duration credentials to support career development.  Shorter credentials, such as microcredentials, have been evolving in the US but a key challenge has historically been the lack of clarity around the meaning of a microcredential and different terminology used across platforms.  To help develop the microcredential as a meaningful credential with meaning for employers and learners, the European MOOC consortium has developed a European standard for microcredentials which allows for consistency and clarity.  The University of California at Irvine Division of Continuing Education and FutureLearn (part of the European MOOC consortium) have announced the launch of the first microcredential with a U.S. institution.  Predictive Analytics will launch on the FutureLearn platform in April 2020.  This session will focus on the path to the development, promotion and long-term applications for the microcredential format.

• Brian Breen, University of California, Irvine
• Holly Shiflett, FutureLearn

Moderator: Adam Fein, University of North Texas

Data-Informed Program Planning and Evaluation
Grand Ballroom E | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Our session will describe data-informed approaches to assessing market demand for online academic programs, planning these programs, and evaluating their quality and success. Northeastern University will present how they evaluate growth opportunities for online programs in existing and new markets. Gray Associates will describe data, tools, and processes for assessing demand and competition. University of Washington Continuum College will share their efforts to develop an organization-wide plan to define and measure quality metrics to evaluate and improve noncredit professional and continuing education program quality.

• Steve Probst, Gray Associates
• Marina Brauch, Northeastern University
• Danielle Allsop, University of Washington
• Karen Haberfeld, University of Washington
• Malia Morrison, University of Washington

Moderator: Ryan Torma, University of Minnesota

The Nuts and Bolts of Non-Credit Operations
Marina III-IV | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Applied | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Sharing their years of experience, join the Non-Credit Vice Chairs from several networks as they discuss the nuts and bolts of non-credit operations. They will share their process for budgeting/determining breakeven for new non-credit programs, compensating instructors, and pricing. They will talk you through partnership and network building as well as the work they do to identify topics and market them in a way that attracts learners. Whether you are new to non-credit programming or a veteran looking for ways to improve your operations, you won’t want to miss this session!

• Sandra von Doetinchem, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
• Christopher Cellars, University of Washington
• Annette Webb, University of California, Irvine
• Lynda Wilson, California State University, Dominguez Hills
• Amy Ginder, University of Nevada Reno

Moderator: J. Kim McNutt, California State University, Dominguez Hills

Kitchen Sink: What Does Yours Include?
Grand Ballroom E | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation | Tag: Policy
Continuing, Professional, and Online Education units continually evolve to keep pace with changing demands and environments. Markets change, technologies change, educational pathways change, even missions change. All these and more require CE units to adjust, and often reorganize. The range of options available, including credit, non-credit, face to face, online, professional education, corporate partnerships, conferences, summer session, OPMs, microcredentials, badges, etc., and how they all interact, make the organizational choices even more challenging. How you decide, and the choices you make, will impact your ability to meet the needs of your current and future learners.Three leaders from Universities with large portfolios that continue to restructure, take on new roles, and adapt to changing competitive environments will discuss organizational change. They will share their experiences reorganizing their units and discuss the challenges and opportunities that organizational change provides. This session will consist of a brief overview from the panelists and include a lively Q&A session for all attendees to ask questions and share their experiences.

• Lisa Templeton, Oregon State University
• Bob Stine, University of Minnesota
• Lisa Verma, Louisiana State University

Moderator: Angel Pettit, MindEdge

The Future of Work is Now: Alternative Finance Ecosystems for Educating Today’s Workforce
Stone | Track: Community and Economic Engagement
Level: Applied | Format: Case Study | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Most universities are not moving quickly enough to address the need for upskilling and career advancement among working adults. Financing is a major barrier facing students seeking alternative education experiences such as non-credit certificates and stackable credentials. An alternative financial ecosystem is needed to enable financing for adult learners from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds to access essential upskilling and reskilling education.This interactive session will use learner scenarios to present two models where university CE units have taken the initiative to shape the Future of Work and address challenges – including tuition affordability – facing our workers and economies. Ryerson University will share a simulation of the implementation and delivery of a CE-run Learn and Earn Hub, which offers a financing alternative for non-credit workforce upskilling. University of Richmond provides another solution through its partnership with Climb Credit: using alternative financing as a tool to increase access, affordability and enrollments in non-credit professional courses.

• Anne-Marie Brinsmead, Ryerson University
• Lisa Fanjoy, Ryerson University
• Alex Ferworn, Ryerson University
• Garrett Stern, University of Richmond
• Raza Munir, Climb
• Heidi Freund, Climb

Moderator: Aaron Sinkar, University of Texas

Building an Extended Campus:  Transforming Extended and Online Education for the Future of San Antonio
Marina I | Track: Community and Economic Engagement
Level: Applied | Format: Case Study | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
The “Decade of Downtown,“ as proclaimed by former mayor Julian Castro in 2010, has positioned University of Texas at San Antonio at the heart of a rapidly increasing number of businesses and workers in San Antonio’s downtown, giving the university an opportunity to rebrand and provide unique programs and opportunities. This session will examine how UTSA is creating an extended campus in collaboration with colleges, schools, centers, and the San Antonio community at large to further impact the city by increasing the numberand range of programs to support workers to advance in their current jobs, or to enable those without a college degree to finish and successfully compete for better paying jobs or new careers.  The presentation and discussion will focus on the opportunities and challenges of rebranding and creating an enlivened new direction for building new programs in a competitive market.

• Melissa Vito, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Lisa Blazer, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Suzana Diaz-Rosencrans, University of Texas at San Antonio

Moderator: Elizabeth Stoner, Eastern Michigan University

Managing OPMs and Third-Party Providers to Increase Capacity to Build Online Student Success
Grand Ballroom C | Track: Online Administration
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Online Program Management (OPM) can be a dirty word in some circles in higher education. In a 2019 Inside Higher Education blog post, Joshua Kim and Eddie Maloney have argued for and against the phenomenon of hiring an outside firm to build courses, market them and manage enrollment. This interactive presentation will review best practices associated with managing relationships with OPMs and other third-party vendors, providing participants with several strategies that our institutions have employed, discussing pros and cons of those strategies. In addition, experiences with a pilot project engaging with a provider for course design services at a presenter institution will also be shared and will include conversation around the context that drives this relationship as well as its outcomes.

• S. Raj Chaudhury, University of South Alabama
• Joseph Thomas, Symbiosis Educational Consultants
• Becky Copper, Fitchburg State University

Moderator: Michael Frasciello, Syracuse University

Empowering Instructors for Success
Marina III-IV | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Applied | Format: Presentation | Tag: Diversity & Inclusion
Come join us in this active, participatory session where you will explore two highly successful approaches to setting up instructors for success. We begin by sharing the tools and processes developed by the University of Washington for finding, selecting, and coaching instructors in PCE programs. Next, we discuss developing engaging and accessible student-learning experiences that align with course learning objectives and meet quality assurance standards (Quality Matters). These data-driven activities, developed by the instructional design team at the University of Iowa, received the OLC Effective Practice Award, 2019. This session will equip you with a toolkit of straightforward, simple best practices to make your instructors more effective and your students more successful.

• Peter Wallis, University of Washington
• Paul Del Piero, University of Washington
• Amy Oberfoelll, University of Iowa
• Isandra Martinez-Marrero, University of Iowa
• Dan Dao, University of Iowa
• Susan Bailey, University of Iowa

Moderator: Mary Loeffelholz, Northeastern University

Navigating Institutional and Corporate Demands with the Shift in Higher Education
Marina I | Track: Community and Economic Engagement
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
With rapidly changing technology and vastly diminished half-lives of career skills, how do continuing education schools act as the bridge between traditional education models and corporate workforce development demands? It is critical for these constituencies to collaborate closely to identify innovations to research, and deploy sound pedagogical innovations to meet the breadth of the skills gap. To ensure not only the success of students, the workforce, and corporations but also maintain the vital role of higher education, continuing studies schools must have a comprehensive understanding of community and corporate needs and develop nimble, effective and targeted solutions.  This presentation will demonstrate how two institutions are working with community and corporate partners to assess the needed skills, and collaborate with established university departments to expand their offerings. Specific initiatives include working with Rice’s unique “Data to Knowledge” program teaching corporations to tackle big data problems; providing continuing education to corporate partners of Houston’s new innovation district, The Ion; and providing upskill education to city of Houston’s workforce. Also included are case studies of UWC2’s long-term partnership with Boeing, and new initiatives to collaborate with Microsoft, Amazon, Tableau, and the Othello-UW Commons. All of these efforts are designed to keep today’s workforce competitive and lead the change in continuing education.

• Mary Lynn Fernau, Rice University
• Sandra Janusch, University of Washington

Moderator: Pat Malone, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Practical Strategies for Analyzing Noncredit Program Partnerships with Educational/Marketing Vendors
Grand Ballroom C | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Strategic | Format: Workshop | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
This workshop is designed mainly for noncredit program administrators to assist them with strategic decision-making about whether to fully deliver a program internally or whether to outsource some or all of the necessary program components. Negotiating with education and marketing vendors is a large part of our work, as each decision must balance considerations of brand, quality, fairness, finances, staff resources, and more. What revenue split is fair?  What is fair after considering the program’s costs in time and effort, and considering its net revenue?  What revenue split is appropriate in considering the alternative approach of creating and managing a new program from scratch? This workshop will provide participants a pragmatic template and case study that they can use to evaluate their own new program possibilities.

• Kai Degner, James Madison University
• Thea Litchfield Campbell, James Madison University

Moderator: Ing Phansavath, University of California, Los Angeles

Social Proof and Feedback Loops: How Student Stories Can Drive Ongoing Growth
Grand Ballroom E | Track: Marketing, Enrollment, & Student Services
Level: Foundational | Format: Case Study | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Harvard Medical School launched HMX Fundamentals, a series of online certificate courses on medical topics, to the public in 2017, aiming toattract students preparing for health care careers. Knowing that our brand  the word. Ongoing engagement with students has also provided a steady stream of content and feedback for our small marketing, business development, and even course development teams. This session will provide an overview of the process for finding and developing engaging student stories, including challenges along the way; show how we distribute and target student-centered content across marketing channels, including social  media, email, landing pages, and print collateral; dig into the data on how student stories impact conversions, and how we’re using that information to better understand our audience and drive new enrollment campaigns, and share the benefits of this ongoing student engagement for our growing learner community as well as internal teams.

• Ben Rubenstein, Harvard University

Moderator: Dana Cruikshank, Vision Point Marketing

How Small Schools Can Make a Big Impact: Implementing Strategies to Claim a Segment of the Non-traditional Higher Ed Market
Marina III-IV | Track: Marketing, Enrollment, & Student Services
Level: Applied | Format: Presentation | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Many small liberal arts schools struggle to keep up with the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, both in terms of resources needed to react quickly to new market demands, as well as the challenges to brand and the quality of education that growth may pose. In this innovative session, discover how two institutions have taken a stake in the future landscape of higher education. Wellesley College has expanded reach beyond its traditional undergraduate students and launched an Executive Education program focused on the adult learner, developed its first online classes for a broader undergraduate audience, and massively expanded the scale of a pre-college program. Lasell University reorganized its enrollment and advising teams, the results now support a continued relationship with an enrollment coach throughout a student’s tenure, and offers a multitude of academic advising opportunities through the utilization of Starfish, Salesforce, and Handshake. Through these initiatives, which focused on growth while capitalizing on existing and underutilized resources, will allow the mission and unique qualities of these institution to expand to meet today’s demands.

• Chris Gray, Lasell University
• Whitney Kuhnlenz, Lasell University
• Pamela Landis, Wellesley College
• Rob Haley, Wellesley College

Moderator: Jack Rice, Loyola University of Maryland

Alternative Credentials Research Study Results and Announcing the New UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Credential Innovation
Commonwealth AB | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation
Following UPCEA successful launch of Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership, and Hallmarks of Excellence in Professional and Continuing Education, a national task force recently completed its report on Hallmarks of Excellence in Credential Innovation.  As the marketplace continues to shift, and the demand for alternative credentials (micro-, nano-, stackable) rises, this session will unveil this new framework, led by a panel of members of this task force, along with the results of a recent UPCEA survey of 176 institutions on the role that alternative credentials plays in their portfolio of programs. The survey, sponsored by Mindedge, will share actionable data of those members involved in alternative credentialing efforts, in what areas, and with what results. 

• Jim Fong, UPCEA
• Jay Halfond, Boston University
• Jenni Murphy, California State University, Sacramento
• Rovy Branon, University of Washngton

Moderator: Bob Hansen, University