2020 UPCEA Annual Conference

Program Planning and Implementation Network Track

Sponsored by

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

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

Can Research Universities Reinvent Education for the Future of Work?
Commonwealth C | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Strategic | Format: Presentation | Tag: Policy
Higher education is facing an existential crisis—this is the emerging consensus in the public discourse. Much has been written about stratospheric costs, changing demographics, curricular disconnect from industry needs. However, there has been limited discussion on how research institutions struggle to balance their core tenet of producing new knowledge with a career- and skill-focused education despite the fact that they advanced the majority of novel models. We discuss this question in light of the experiences of three leading institutions with large professional schools.

• Tanya Zlateva, Boston University Metropolitan College
• Mary Loeffelholz, Northeastern University
• Sean Gallagher, Northeastern University
• Kimberly Kuborn, Boston University
• Inna Popova, McGill University

Moderator: Rob Bruce, Rice University

Building Community: A Holistic Approach to the Online Student-Alumni Cycle
Grand Ballroom C | Track: Online Administration
Level: Applied | Format: Presentation
Research shows that a sense of belonging is a key factor to student retention, as well as alumni giving and engagement. But how do you create community for distance learners? Come to this session to learn how to foster meaningful connections within your online student base, in order to build stronger programs and enthusiastic alumni advocates. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

• David Schejbal, Marquette University
• Roxanne Sheils, Penn State University
• Kate Vogel, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Lori Kendall-Taylor, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Moderator: Antonius Bittmann, Rutgers University

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

Program Planning and Implementation Network Meeting Spotlight: Advanced Skills Analysis to Better Connect Learners and Employers
Marina III-IV
Level: Applied | Format: Network Meeting Spotlight | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
Until recently, it has been difficult to properly compare taught, obtained, and sought skills, and this lack of a common skills language has made it difficult to proficiently train learners for the dynamic workplace. During this deep dive, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and Emsi will discuss how the adoption of an open skills library can help teams create program offerings that are better aligned with in-demand skills. Emsi will provide details on its open skills initiative and explain how this project has the opportunity to benefit learners, higher ed, and in general, the efficiency of the labor market. SNHU will review its latest skills-based research, how these findings help determine program offerings and curriculum, and the regional aspect of these studies.

• Brian Fleming, Southern New Hampshire University

• Kelly Bailey, Emsi

Moderator: Ing Phansavath, University of California, Los Angeles

Program Showcase
Marina III-IV | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Applied | Format: Presentation
The Program Showcase provides a hybrid session which is part panel presentation, part facilitated conversation. These sessions will allow presenters to share brief information about their respective practice which make it so essential. This will be a panel format, followed by robust, facilitated audience Q&A and/or table-based conversations.

Moderator: Khusro Kidwai, Tarragona Associates

Be a Changemaker for Good: Harvard Kennedy School's New Multi-Tiered Online Program
Please join us to learn more about the Public Leadership Credential (PLC), Harvard Kennedy School’s new online program aimed at mid-career professionals. We will share our goals for PLC, unpack the program’s novel structure, and explore the path through the six online courses toward a credential … and -- for those so inclined -- a non-traditional route into our mid-career master’s in public administration (MC/MPA) degree. We will discuss: ways in which PLC supports the School's mission, engagement with faculty throughout design and delivery, our governance structure, learner personas; the tech ecosystem; synergies between this program, our degree programs, and our executive education offerings. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, including but not limited to how we went from idea to live program in two years. (Spoiler alert: It takes a village!)

• Kristen Sullivan, Harvard University

From Technical Training to Digital Transformation—How Universities Are Fast-Tracking Work-Ready Pathways
Continuing Education leaders from across the country are being asked to retool their professional development programs to answer the growing needs practitioners who are engaged in the digital economy. Often that means adding new, highly dynamic programs for high-skilled professionals—managers who require data savviness, business acumen, technology know-how, and problem-solving excellence to enter and thrive in today’s fastest growing careers.  But with your own time crunch, how do you move beyond technology certifications and boot camps and into preparing professionals with the digital mindset they need for the challenging work of technological transformation that’s demanded by top employers?  To address this time-and-talent crunch, leading institutions are forming partnerships. In this session, presenters share keys to forming win-win-win relationships that impact graduates for life.

• Melissa Peraino, Grand Valley State University

• Sara Leoni, GreenFig

Planning Powerful Partnerships
As professional, continuing and online educators seek opportunities to innovate and “do more with less,” identifying partnership opportunities can be a vital and cost-effective way to expand resources and capacity while also forming relationships with local communities and other stakeholders. Thinking creatively about partnership opportunities has been a crucial part of Temple University’s Branching Up (Vocational Certificate in Urban Greening and Sustainable Landcare) program, for example, enabling us to expand our internship program and employment pathways for our students. This UPCEA Talk will focus on how to identify partnership opportunities, some different partnership models, and lessons learned from Temple’s Branching Up partnerships. We’ll also think about partnerships in the context of community engagement, and what we need to do to be effective and sought-after partners.

• Vanessa Williams, Temple University

Professor in Training--Marrying Biotech with Academic Instruction
Mount St. Mary’s University’s Frederick Campus (MD) built a relationship with Leidos BioMedical and the Frederick National Laboratory to create a Professor in Training Program. Facilitating education courses in a cohort fashion, the Mount was able to cross train advanced research scientists with the core necessities to deliver online academic programing through curriculum development and fundamental higher education pedagogy. Essentially, the Mount helped scientists learn how to teach the next generation of researchers and scientists, using their expertise in science and the Mount’s post baccalaureate certificate in Technology Facilitation in the School of Education. This program is part of a partnered relationship with the FNL that allows shared research across both organizations, while creating education pathways outside of FNL’s scope of work. To that end, the Mount has additional opportunities for advanced scientists to take courses outside of their expertise in areas like organizational development, project management, government contracting and, as stated above, pedagogy in curriculum design.

• Andi Overton, Mount St. Mary's University

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.

Texas Tech University Coding Academy: A Collaborative Non-credit Partnership to Respond to  21st Century Needs.
Galleria | Track: Program Planning and Implementation
Level: Foundational | Format: Freedom Trail | Tag: Noncredit/Alternative Credential
With this session, we would like to discuss the process the Texas Tech University eLearning & Academic Partnerships division went through to develop and successfully launch a non-credit coding academy in our university town of Lubbock, TX, that is now being replicated across our 8 regional sites in Texas. It is an example of a university working with local economic development teams to quickly meet the needs of local business and industry in a way that is outside the norm of traditional higher education but instead is very adaptive and responsive. We will discuss background information, successes, failures, and future ideas and development as well as fielding questions.

• Clay Taylor, Texas Tech University

• Justin Louder, Texas Tech University

Moderator: Khusro Kidwai, Tarragona Associates

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

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

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