2022 South Region Conference

General Sessions

 

November 2 | 1:00 PM ET

Opening General Session | Remote/Hybrid Work at SEC UPCEA Institutions: Is it Working?

Institutions across the country are scrambling to uncover the best ways to recruit and retain talent, improve work-life balance, and alleviate inflation pressures by incorporating various levels of remote/hybrid work. During this panel discussion, you will hear from leaders of continuing and online education units at five SEC institutions about the various remote/hybrid models they have incorporated. Panelists will describe the models they are using, discuss related policies, and share insights on what has worked well (or not) at their institutions. Attendees will engage in a brief discussion about the future of remote/hybrid work at UPCEA member institutions. 28 84 Strategic Business & Operations Leaders of UPCEA units as well as members who are involved in or responsible for remote/hybrid policies and practices at their institutions. Critical Take-aways: Attendees will learn about the models of remote/hybrid work that have been successfully/unsuccessfully incorporated at five public institutions; Attendees will identify policies and practices that enable remote/hybrid work success at five public universities; Attendees will identify future remote/hybrid work trends as part of a discussion; Attendees will observe remote work in action as the non-speaking panelists and session attendees catch up on their emails during the presentation.

• Cheryl Murphy, Vice Provost for Distance Education, University of Arkansas

  
  
  
  
  
  

• Susan Seal, Executive Director, Mississippi State University
  
  
  
  
  

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  Asim Ali, Executive Director, Biggio Center, Auburn University
  
  
  
  
  

• Evangeline Tsibris Cummings, Senior Assistant Provost and Director of UF Online, University of Florida
  
  
  
  

• Susan Elkins, Chancellor, Palmetto College, University of South Carolina
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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November 3 | 8:30 AM ET

The Alternative Credentials Landscape 

In this dynamic, facilitated panel discussion, learn from PCO leaders how they are building the case for alternative credentials on their campuses, leveraging legacy structures and policies, partnering internally and externally to address workforce needs, and cultivating quality across non-degree credentials. Audience questions will play a critical role in this conversation—bring yours!

• Lisa Templeton, Oregon State University 
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Steve Harmon, Georgia Tech University 
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Asim Ali, Auburn University 
  
  
  
  

Moderator:

• Julie Uranis, UPCEA
  
  
  
  
  

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November 3 | 11:00 AM ET

The New Adult Learner: Actionable Insights

In the post-pandemic world, the New Adult Learner will be the difference on whether colleges and universities thrive or survive. To better prepare our members, Jim will present the results of a meta-analysis UPCEA and corporate partner sponsored research on the New Adult Learner. The research will show the complexities of the adult learner and the breadth of segments they represent. Jim will offer insights on motivating factors, delivery and credential preferences, support services and needs and how these might relate to marketing, recruitment and retention. In a competitive market, understanding the differences of the many adult learner segments is critical to institutional success.

• Jim Fong, Founding Director
  UPCEA Center for Research and Strategy

Jim Fong is the founding director of UPCEA’s Center for Research and Strategy. In his role, Jim has analyzed demographic, occupational, technological and societal trends and data to help the higher education community better serve the adult and corporate learner. As the Center’s director, he works closely with dozens of colleges and universities annually in new program development initiatives, enrollment management and marketing process analyses and the review of online and continuing education portfolios.

Prior to joining UPCEA, Jim worked as a higher education strategic marketing and CRM consultant and researcher for two firms and prior to that was the Director of Marketing, Research and Planning for Penn State Outreach. At Penn State Outreach, he was responsible for strategic marketing, marketing management, research, creative and database teams. Jim played a major role in the early launch of Penn State’s World Campus by assessing new program needs and the development of marketing strategies and systems. 

Jim holds an M.B.A., an M.S. in Applied Statistics and a B.S. in Mathematics, all from The University of Vermont. In 2004, UPCEA awarded him the Adelle Robertson Award as its Continuing Professional Educator for the year. That year, he also received the Mid-Atlantic Region’s Distinguished Service Award.

 

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