Online Administration Network Track

The Importance of Narrative in Change Management
Burroughs | Online Administration | Strategic |
Think you’re not a change manager? Think again. Every effort to create something new or attempt to change the status quo requires managing change. Although most major change model incorporate communication as an essential step, communication is more than a step; it is an essential element of each step. The change management narrative must recognize and address the different perspectives and goals of various stakeholder groups to achieve continuing buy-in throughout the process. In this interactive session, presenters and participants will discuss ways to shape the change management narrative for effective communication to various stakeholders throughout the process.

• Kim Siegenthaler, The City University of New York
• Susan Elkins, University of South Carolina

Crisis and Change: The Value of the COLO Skillset in Today’s Postsecondary Environment
Commonwealth C | Online Administration |
Integrated planning efforts (budget, digital, academic planning, SEM, etc.) require postsecondary professionals to advocate for learners and lead campus-level innovation. The skill sets of COLOs are well aligned to support new initiatives that will help move institutions to a sustainable digital future. Join your colleagues and friends as we consider the role of COLOs and their impact on institutions.

• Julie Uranis, UPCEA
• Jocelyn Widmer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Tom Cavanagh, University of Central Florida
• Pam Wimbush, California State Sacramento
• Craig Wilson, University of Arizona

Roundtable Sessions
Harbor 1
Roundtables are table-based, small-group, guided discussion about a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. During one, 60-minute concurrent session, multiple Roundtable presenters concurrently share their ideas at one round table each, and promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table attendees. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and as such, attendees are free to move between tables. The Roundtable session will have a moderator who will welcome attendees, invite them to find a topic/table of their choice, and watch the time, inviting presenters to host their discussions twice during the hour, to allow attendees to engage with up to two different topics. 

Academic Integrity in the Age of Generative AI
Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Policy
The Covid lockdown created new expectations about online learning that were only beginning to stabilize when the advent of ChatGPT threw everything into disarray. Our graders evaluate more than 7,000 assignments a week and have encountered many odd scenarios and developed a variety of techniques to maintain academic integrity. Our efforts include experimenting with a generative AI detection tool, using AI-plagiarism detection, creating a student affairs review board, and publishing a tutorial for students on appropriate use of generative AI. We would love to share what we’ve learned, share what questions we still have, and hear insights from others.

• Nick White, Sophia Learning
• Mike Webb, Capella University

Home Sweet Home! Baylor’s Shift to Inhouse Online Program Management
Online Administration | Applied |
Baylor University’s small but mighty Professional Education team will share their learnings and provide key takeaways to help you as you consider, or manage decision points, to bring online program management inhouse. Learn from their recent experience, as Baylor leadership share decision points strategies and insights on everything from CRM implementation, marketing support and funnel health to student success and beyond.

• Kate Blom-Lowery, Baylor University
• Cece Lively, Baylor University
• Dina Florian, Baylor University
• Lesa Lawson, Baylor University

Leveraging Data to Inform Assessment Design and Academic Integrity Strategies
Online Administration | Strategic |
Academic leaders are asking themselves: how can we efficiently and effectively leverage data to impact student success and inspire meaningful change? Join experts as they discuss meaningful and real-world advice on navigating and utilizing the wealth of data found in higher education to help build an environment of academic integrity and student success. Learn how to use analytics to address gaps in the teaching and learning experience, deliver a healthier academic environment, and save faculty valuable time.

• Jordan Adair, Honorlock
• Lee Conerly, Coastal Alabama Community College

Supporting Faculty from Start to Finish: Aligning the Feedback Loop for Course Improvement and Faculty Development
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag: Faculty
The Academic Programs team at FAES will discuss the processes they have developed for creating an aligned sequence of course support from course development to evaluation. Presenters will share artifacts of that process, including the Course Readiness Rubric and the Learner Feedback Survey developed by FAES. In addition, they will lead discussion with attendees to identify areas where their course development and evaluation criteria align with each other, and brainstorm strategies to strengthen alignment.

• Morgan Merriman, Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES)
• Jennifer Kagan, Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES)
• Hazuki Miwa, Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES)
• Melinda Maris, Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES)

Online Administration: Overcoming a Culture of Individualism
Marina IV | Online Administration | Strategic | Tag: Faculty
Each of the panel members works in various environments and will discuss how they have developed collaborative and inclusive elements to overcome individualism through a community-based process that seeks to meet student demand and their institutions' goals while supporting faculty and academic units.

• Veronica Donahue, Johns Hopkins University
• La Tonya Dyer, Johns Hopkins University
• Karen Gebhardt, University of Colorado, Boulder
• Amy Gaimaro, Molloy University

Innovating Admission Pathways and Access for Adult Learners
Lewis | Online Administration | Strategic |
Adult learners cite the application as one of the primary reasons they don’t return to college. How might universities innovate to remove application bias, serve adult learners, create gateways to opportunity, and drive enrollments? Our panelists have all innovated their applications in the name of access. The discussion will provide clear examples of different types of performance-based admissions models and stream-lined admissions processes that successfully serve adult learners. Our panelists will share how they developed policy and garnered faculty and administrative support for their innovation, and they will share their vision for delivering access to learners everywhere.

• Amanda Brantner, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Robert McDonald, University of Colorado Boulder
• Kelly Otter, Georgetown University
• Arshad Saiyed, Northeastern University

Stop & Share Sessions
Harbor 1
Attendees are invited to stop in, mill about, and engage in these dynamic, demonstration-type conversations hosted by presenters ready to share ideas on a hot topic, best practice, or technological innovation.

Embracing the Future: Transitioning to Blackboard Ultra and the Rise of AI in Online Learning
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag: Policy; AI
In this presentation, we'll explore our campus's shift to Blackboard Ultra, emphasizing its advanced features and our strategic approach to ensure a smooth transition. We'll discuss the extensive training provided to faculty, staff, and students, ensuring everyone can proficiently use the new LMS. Additionally, we'll delve into the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence in online education, showcasing its potential to revolutionize digital learning experiences. Join us as we navigate the future of online pedagogy, merging innovative platforms with the promise of AI.

• Barbara Kopp Miller, The University of Toledo
• Justin Louder, Anthology

Innovating and Scaling Digital Learning: A Collaborative Approach between CUNY and Alchemy
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag: Faculty
Explore with us the successful partnership between Alchemy, an education technology and services company, and City University of New York (CUNY), a 25-campus system that serves 275,000 students. Discover how collaboration can drive innovation, access, scalability, and sustainability in digital learning. Leaders from these institutions will share strategy, insights, best practices, and solutions, addressing faculty engagement, student success, and quality assurance. Join us for a candid discussion on the challenges and opportunities of collaborative partnerships in the evolving digital landscape of higher education.

• Carrie O'Donnell, Alchemy
• Evan Silberman, CUNY Online

Open to all UPCEA Institutional Representatives (IRs), Chief Online Learning Officers (COLOs), and Council of Credential Innovation (CCI) representatives attending the UPCEA 2023 Annual Conference. The 2024 UPCEA Institutional Representatives Annual Briefing, hosted in conjunction with the Council for Chief Online Learning Officers and Council for Credential Innovation, provides an opportunity for senior leaders in online and professional education to connect with peers, to be briefed on the most pressing topics of our field today, and to discuss together ways we can be best positioned for the future. This year’s briefing will follow a “roundtable” format, featuring the sharing of a curated list of critical trends, predictions, and prognostications and intersected with ample time for table-based discussion and reporting-out.

• Ray Schroeder, UPCEA
• Julie Uranis, UPCEA
• Stacy Chiaramonte, UPCEA
• Bob Hansen, UPCEA

Making Data Work for Digital Instruction: How two different digital instructional support units use data to improve instructional programs
Marina I | Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Faculty
In this two-part discussion, two different units in higher education will explore how data can enhance student learning and faculty development. In the first part, we will discuss how Purdue University Global uses third-party assessments to strengthen the curriculum through improved student outcomes. In the second part, we will discuss how Digital Learning Innovations at Kennesaw State University uses the help of the ServiceNow platform to inform, plan, and sharpen our direction and services focused on instructional design, faculty development, and one-on-one service in digital education.

• Shane Kelley, Purdue University Global
• Milya Maxfield, Kennesaw State University
• Jason Rodenbeck, Kennesaw State University

Unlock the Potential: Utilizing a Program Engagement Team to Maximize Growth and Streamline Programs
Commonwealth C | Online Administration | Strategic |
Discover how OU Online's program engagement team can inspire your institution's approach to program development, launch, and coordination. In under five years, OU Online at the University of Oklahoma grew exponentially from a few siloed online programs to a university-wide integration of 50 online programs, with enrollment of 3,700 students. The program engagement team’s role was critical to this success. We peek behind the curtain of how we collaborate with faculty, third parties, and the digital learning department to lead program engagement, linking services across all programs, providing a cohesive experience for OU Online students and faculty and maximizing growth.

• Holly Anderson, The University of Oklahoma
• Chloe Ferguson, The University of Okahoma
• Kate Murphy, The University of Oklahoma
• Madison Travis, The University of Oklahoma

Roundtable Sessions
Harbor 1
Roundtables are table-based, small-group, guided discussion about a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. During one, 60-minute concurrent session, multiple Roundtable presenters concurrently share their ideas at one round table each, and promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table attendees. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and as such, attendees are free to move between tables. The Roundtable session will have a moderator who will welcome attendees, invite them to find a topic/table of their choice, and watch the time, inviting presenters to host their discussions twice during the hour, to allow attendees to engage with up to two different topics. 

Automated Learning Analytics to Build Faculty Capacity as Learning Scientists
Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Faculty
Kennesaw State has taken a new approach to faculty development, by leaning into faculty’s focus on research, providing them automated classroom analytics, and training that applies those skills and analytics to impact their classrooms in realtime. This year the institution built uHoo Analytics, an automated D2L analytics dashboard for faculty. The reports in this dashboard allow faculty to observe course data from a holistic perspective, or dive deep to diagnose a host of possible challenges and plan targeted actions. In this session, presenters will provide an overview of the “Faculty as Learning Scientist” professional development approach as well as a tour of the uHoo Analytics faculty dashboard and alerts.

• Anissa Lokey-Vega, Kennesaw State University
• Julia Fuller, Kennesaw State University
• Sanjoosh Akkineni, Kennesaw State University

 

• Online Administration/eDesign Collaborative (Harbor 1)
  Award Presentation | UPCEA Award for Strategic Innovation in Online Education
  

We’re All in this Together: Forming AI-lliances to meet the challenges of ChatGPT
Harbor 3 | Online Administration | Applied | Tag: AI
Generative AI is a rapidly evolving technology with the potential to transform higher education–but also poses challenges for faculty and administrators committed to ensuring quality educational experiences. Join senior faculty from Oregon State University and administrators from Oregon State Ecampus for guidance on navigating this challenge: lessons learned about AI in the classroom (online and off); examples of how leaders can support AI response at every level; and openly licensed resources that attendees can use to help faculty at their home institutions navigate the challenging waters of generative AI in teaching and learning. We’re all in this together!

• Lisa L. Templeton, Oregon State University
• Karen Watte, Oregon State University
• Inara Scott, Oregon State University

Stop & Share Sessions
Harbor 1
Attendees are invited to stop in, mill about, and engage in these dynamic, demonstration-type conversations hosted by presenters ready to share ideas on a hot topic, best practice, or technological innovation.

One Community, Broadly Distributed: Using an In-person Week to Launch Projects and Build Community
Online Administration | Foundational | Tag: Diversity & Inclusion
This session will describe how Penn State's Dutton Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence utilized a community in-person week to both build organizational community, and to launch a large project to upgrade our content management system for online courses. We will discuss how our context allowed for us to come together; what we put in place to allow for “down time” for those used to working at a distance; what planning was required prior to the week; a description of the project and community activities we engaged in; and plans for future in-person opportunities going forward.

• Stevie Rocco, Penn State University
• Jennifer Babb, Penn State University

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen: Creating a Universal Recipe for Course Review Rubrics
Online Administration | Strategic | Tag: Policy
Do you ever wonder how many rubrics your institution needs? Do you wish you could ask an instructional designer exactly what a great course looks like? Asked and answered. In this interactive presentation, join us as we explore the concept of designing a versatile and adaptable rubric that could be applied across different disciplines and assessment scenarios. Discover how this approach in promoting consistency, fairness, and effective assessment practices can help shape quality online courses and foster sustainable course design.

• Kathryn Morgan, Kennesaw State University
• Milya Maxfield, Kennesaw State University

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FinishEd.D.: Selecting and Completing a Doctoral Program While Working Full-time… Without Losing Your Mind
Online Administration | Applied |
From two working online and professional continuing education leaders who completed doctorates while working full-time, a look at how to compare, evaluate, and select a program that suits your needs, and complete the program without losing what is left of your mind. With firsthand and recent experience, we will walk you through the process, the pitfalls, the challenges, and the opportunities that come from pursuing doctoral education. For those who are considering a doctoral program, come ask your questions about the process and programs. For those who are diving into a doctoral program this year, come talk fear, frustration, and the future!

• J. Nathan Bullock, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
• Chelsea McNeely, Southeast Missouri State University

Carrots, Sticks, and Innovation: Policymaking, Incentivization, and Implementation in Online Courses
Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Policy
Presenters will cover steps involved in identifying a problem associated with an online program (cheating on assessments in online courses), the process for creating a new policy to address the issue (require ID verification on 20% of course grade), encouraging instructors to comply with the policy by offering technological assistance and financial incentives, and some of the positive outcomes associated with successful implementation of the policy (improved pedagogical outcomes on courses, enhanced digital literacy skills for students, personalization of the online learning experience, and heightened collaboration between faculty, administration, and ed tech staff.)

• Anu Murphy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Bianca Teixeira, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Kostas Yfantis, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Accessibility of Immersive Technologies: A Literature Review
Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Policy
Our presentation shares results from a literature review assessing the accessibility of immersive technologies in higher education, focusing on students with disabilities, as well preliminary results from an empirical study. We explore key features, accessibility barriers, and impact on disability categories. We conducted a review of up to 50 papers published from 2015 and employed quantitative and qualitative analysis. Findings aim to reveal strengths and areas needing improvement in immersive technology accessibility for all students, especially students with disabilities, with the aim to use these findings as recommendations for educators and policymakers.

• Tania Heap, University of North Texas
• Adam Fein, University of North Texas

Workshops utlize extended time (70 min) to provide deep dives for participants to be actively, tangibly engaged in their own learning via collaboration and hands-on interaction.

Generative AI: Policies, Practices, Perspectives
Harbor 3 | Online Administration | Strategic | Tag: AI
AI is rapidly enhancing the way we teach and learn, enabling new ways to better serve learners, creating efficiencies, and facilitating digital transformations as nothing has before. We will examine the key changes and discuss strategies to keep abreast of the important transitions ahead. The second half of this workshop session will be dedicated to each participant creating a personalized  prompt, creating a useful instrument for themselves and their institution. For example, participants may choose to develop a syllabus, professional development seminar outline, marketing plan, image(s) for illustrations, infographic about a degree or certificate, budget allocation for a grant project, grant proposal narrative, etc. In each case each attendee will have an AI-generated product to use and to build upon for later use.

• Ray Schroeder, UPCEA
• Vickie Cook, University of Illinois

Leveraging AI to Enhance Online Program Development and the Student Learning Experience
Commonwealth AB | Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Diversity & Inclusion; AI
Through discussions and peer feedback, participants will leverage AI to develop an implementation plan for the design and development of online programs at higher education institutions. This implementation plan includes the use of AI for market research, program design, teaching and learning, student success, and evaluation. Additionally, participants will discuss how AI can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of online courses and the return on investment for online programs. Participants will leave with valuable insights and practical strategies that they can implement at their institutions to drive innovation and success in online programs.

• Abram Hedtke, St. Cloud State University
• Andrea Carroll-Glover, RNL
• Emily Wood, RNL
• Eric de Araujo, Purdue University
• Miko Nino, Rhode Island College

Leveraging Current and Emerging Online Testing Technologies for Program and Institutional Growth
Marina III | Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Faculty
Join this engaging panel to hear online learning leaders discuss the transformative potential of emerging technologies, including remote proctoring solutions and AI, in higher education. Discover how the panelists adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic, implementing innovative solutions to meet diverse and evolving test-taker needs. Hear firsthand accounts of the lessons they learned and opportunities they uncovered, and gain valuable insights into the future of assessment technologies.

• Ashley Norris, Meazure Learning
• Asim Ali, Auburn University
• Michael Bellini, University of Illinois
• Amy Smith, Straighterline

Navigating the Regulatory Roadmap for Online Education
Burroughs | Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Policy
Compliance is a primary concern in online education, and the continuously evolving regulatory framework creates numerous challenges for online education providers. This session introduces regulators in online education, recent regulatory changes, and Title IV eligibility. Specifically, we will describe a comprehensive approach to addressing the regulations and policy gaps related to teaching and learning. We present a checklist that engages academic leaders and stakeholders that participants will be able to apply to their institutions.

• Amy Gaimaro, Molloy University
• Susan Watters, Molloy University
• Ilona Marie Hajdu, Office of Online Education, Indiana University
• Sharon Wavle, Office of Online Education, Indiana University

UPCEA Talks
Harbor 1 | Online Administration |
“UPCEA Talks” is a collection of quickfire idea introductions by a single presenter, curated into a sequenced set of short forays into critical topics, that work separately and collectively. Curated by UPCEA’s Online Administration Network, this set of Talks focuses on promising practices designed around today’s online learner, including program development, the role of adjunct faculty, building community online, and more.  

A Journey Through a Program Refresh: Using a Data-Informed Approach
Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Diversity & Inclusion
As institutions strive to provide exceptional online learning experiences, our journey is particularly relevant. Our session aligns with the principles of student-centered design and the agile adaptation of programs to meet evolving online learner needs. This session aims to inspire ongoing conversations of data-informed program redesign and student-centered learning. We'll highlight a real-world example of how using data can inform the process of refreshing a program online. We'll then discuss the opportunities and challenges we've encountered, including data limitations, biases, and process reflections. Finally, we invite participants to reflect on similar processes that have driven their own program improvements.

• Tiffany Charbonier, New York University

Innovation Snapshot: XR in Online Education
Online Administration | Foundational |
In January 2023, the University of Michigan embarked on a groundbreaking journey by launching the first of 10 XR-enhanced courses on Coursera. These courses represented a pioneering step toward democratizing access to knowledge and preparing learners for the rapidly evolving future of work and society. Leveraging immersive technologies such as interactive 360 videos and mobile phone augmented reality (AR), this initiative opened up new frontiers in online education for global learners. Explore the future of online learning as we delve into the lessons learned during the integration of XR (Extended Reality) technologies into online learning platforms.

• Jessi Kittel, University of Michigan

Engaging Online Adjunct Practitioner Faculty: A How-To
Online Administration | Applied | Tag: Faculty
Online, adjunct practitioner faculty are essential in higher education as they can marry theory and work experience for students. Engaging these working adjunct practitioners can, however, be a challenge. In this UPCEA Talks session, we will discuss the various engagement methods (eg., self-paced trainings, facilitated workshops, monthly webinars and podcasts, a resource website, social community platform, emails, surveys, microcredentials, etc.) and their success or failure.

• Tahnja Wilson, University of Phoenix

Are We in a Loneliness Epidemic? How It Matters for Building Online Community in Higher Education
Online Administration | Foundational | Tag: Faculty
In spring of 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General declared that loneliness is now an epidemic, yet not everyone agrees. Hear a brief overview of the topic and how higher education can embrace evidence-informed online community connection opportunities to meet the needs of all online students students.

• Julie Moser, University of New Hampshire