Creativity, open mindedness, and willingness to think outside the box are attributes for which online and professional continuing education are widely recognized. To effectively address the pervasive changes in demographics and workforce demands there is a growing need for innovation in program development designed to serve an increasingly diverse population of learners within professional, continuing, and online education. To this end the Program Planning and Implementation (PPI) Track provides sessions which reflect the creative thought and practice that have resulted in positive change not just within online and professional continuing units, but also within the larger campus and the community.
| 2:45 PM |
Concurrent Session I |
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Roundtable Presentations #1 (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with up to two different topics during small-group, 30-minute, table-based guided discussion around a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and presenters will promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table’s attendees.
Moderator: Christa Payne, Tulane University
Understanding Your Audience: Adapting to the Changing Needs of Learners and Employers
Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Learner Access, Policy
In this session, participants will engage in collective knowledge-building around how PCOs understand and engage with their audience(s). UW Continuum College will give short presentations on different themes that are emerging internally and how they are shifting in response: Enhanced Market Research Techniques, Leveraging Student Information, and Corporate Training and Community Engagement. After each presentation, participants will engage in small-group conversations connecting the content to what’s happening in their own organization. Facilitators and participants alike will leave the workshop with a better understanding of the complexity of “know your audience,” as well as concrete ideas for evaluating their approaches.
- Brian Gutierrez, University of Washington
- Sara Pearson, University of Washington
Strategic Alignment: Industry-Centric Curricula in Continuing Education
Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Learner Access, Policy, Faculty, Graduate Education
This session focuses on the strategic importance of partnerships between Continuing Education (CE) institutions and accrediting organizations. Participants will explore effective strategies for enhancing educational quality, addressing employers’ in-demand skills and needs in their workforces, and establishing strong connections across industries, including industry verticals such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML). Real-world examples, including our participation in the INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) Meeting of Analytics Program Directors Annual Conferences, illustrate how such collaborations benefit learners, employers, and educational communities.
- Ceni Babaoglu, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Anne-Marie Brinsmead, Toronto Metropolitan University
From Fear to Responsibility: Embracing Ethical Data Science in Higher Education
Program Planning and Implementation | Foundational | Tag: Policy, Graduate Education
The MS-Applied Data Science at the University of Chicago Instructional Services Team will lead participants through conversations on emerging data science ethics and educational best practices. These conversations will explore beyond the fears of generative AI and higher education business practices using AI and will rather orient educators to be cognizant of the positive and negative social impact of data science. Our priority is the educational approach to data science, not the immediate adoption of data science products in the service of education.
- Taylor Alexander, The University of Chicago
- Emma Kerr-Ketchum, The University of Chicago
- Brody Tate, The University of Chicago
The More you Know: The Value of University-Consultant Partnerships
Program Planning and Implementation | Applied
This session will share the story of an HEI strategic partnership with an educational market research consulting firm in the design and implementation of an off-campus instructional site. The presentation will specifically address market analysis, program feasibility, portfolio assessment, compare internal and external data collection and analysis, and best practices for engaging in innovative strategic planning in higher education.
- Jonathan Orsini, University of Florida
- Jason Cohen, Hanover Research
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| 4:00 PM |
Concurrent Session II |
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The AI Imperative: Transforming Teaching and Learning at the University
Governor's Square 15 | Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Graduate Education
According to McKinsey, educators will be the most impacted profession by Generative AI, even as they must deploy and teach this fast-moving technology. This interactive discussion will highlight University of Illinois’s scaling of AI-driven personalization and assessment design, UTSA’s continuing education career-readiness initiatives, and Vanderbilt University’s interdisciplinary approach to launching AI on campus. These case studies will serve as a springboard to a larger discussion of the enormous transformation–and its opportunities and challenges–that Generative AI represents. Attendees will both hear and share strategies for enhancing teaching and learning and building AI capabilities among students, faculty, and community members.
- Melissa Mahan, University of Texas at San Antonio
- Allen Karns, Vanderbilt University
- Tawnya Means, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Quentin McAndrew, Coursera
- Moderator: Ray Schroeder, UPCEA
Clearing the Road: Navigating Policy Roadblocks to Innovative Pathway Programs for All Levels of Learners
Governor's Square 12 | Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Learner Access
This presentation showcases a collaborative exploration of equity-focused credit-bearing online programs implemented at two private and one public institution. Our programs primarily focus on marginalized groups, neurodivergent students, and those facing scheduling constraints due to employment and family commitments. We will discuss our distinct approaches to developing and administering these programs, highlighting policy-related impediments as well as in-house solutions. Our presentation will address the rationale behind these approaches, alongside the challenges and opportunities they create. We will explore dual-credit and dual-enrollment high school programs, credit bearing non-degree courses for adult professionals, baccalaureate level degree-completion programs and proposed access programs. By equipping online learning leaders with resources to navigate institutional barriers and trade-offs, this session aims to foster the development of customized strategies that effectively serve a variety of learners.
- Lisa Anderson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Priscilla Fiden, Stanford University
- Sonia Howell, University of Notre Dame
- Kristen Sackley, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Anu Murphy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Kostantinos Yfantis, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Moderator: Joanne Roehm, Western Michigan University
Stop & Share Presentations #1 (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
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.
Moderator: Moderator: April Wolf, Purdue University
Innovation Needs Assessment for Online Teaching Faculty
Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Faculty
The eCampus Center at Boise State University conducted a needs assessment to understand the current state and future requirements of faculty engaged in online teaching. Research suggests that faculty benefit from low-stakes, low-commitment professional development offerings in which they can explore, play, and assess the affordances and constraints of innovations and emerging practices in online education. This session will delve into the methodology, results, and implications for future research and practice of this critical assessment. Join us to learn about the assessment process, discover actionable insights, and discuss strategies to foster innovation in online education.
- Patrick Lowenthal, Boise State Univerity
- Amy Vecchione, Boise State University
Why Essential Skills Link Soft Skills and Hard Skills
Program Planning and Implementation | Foundational
In today's fast-paced business environment, equipping employees with essential skills is crucial for organizational success. This session will delve into the comprehensive process of designing, developing, and delivering impactful training programs that significantly enhance learner knowledge around essential skills and highlight how they are different from soft and hard skills. This interaction session will allow attendees to increase their self-awareness and better understand how essential skills are related to high-performing teams.
- Michael Edmondson, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Leveraging Institutional Partnerships for Enhancing Noncredit Education
Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Learner Access, Policy, Faculty
This session explores strategies for collaborating with academic faculty to enrich noncredit programs. Participants will learn to identify key steps for creating strong internal partnerships, recognize and overcome common hurdles, create revenue sharing models, and build advocacy amidst decentralized governance and internal competition. Attendees will gain practical insights to enhance their noncredit offerings, foster effective academic collaborations, and build greater institutional credibility.
- Patrick Kelley, Oregon State University
How Do Visual Programming Teaching and Learning Strategies Advance Data Science Education and Learner Careers?
Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag(s): Learner Access, Faculty, Graduate Education
Data science education for analyst careers requires innovative approaches to manage cognitive load and enhance learning outcomes to ensure learners acquire in-demand technically applied skills and currency as sought by employers across industries. This presentation examines the role of visual programming techniques, specifically code tracing and control flow diagrams, within the "Python Programming for Data Science" course, in the highest enrolled certificate at TMU’s Chang School, and demonstrates how integrating practices like code tracing and control flow diagrams significantly enhance data analytics’ skill acquisition, employability, instructional methods, student engagement, critical thinking, and contextual competencies in data science.
- Tamer Abdou, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Anne-Marie Brinsmead, Toronto Metropolitan University
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| 8:15 AM |
Concurrent Sessions III |
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Empowering Student Success through Credit for Prior Learning: Industry Insights and Best Practices
Governor's Square 12 | Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Learner Access
Awarding Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) makes higher education more inclusive, efficient, and relevant, benefiting both students and institutions. Join us for an in-depth review of industry data, a deep dive into CPL processes and an engaging discussion on advancing efficient, relevant, and inclusive CPL practices. Additionally, explore how industry crosswalks and advising can empower transitioning veterans and displaced workers by aligning degree programs with labor market data and occupational demands, enhancing student outcomes in a dynamic employment landscape.
- Charlie Minnick, University of Arizona Global Campus
- Alexa Dunne, The University of Arizona Global Campus
- Scott Campbell, CAEL
- Matt Waltz, CAEL
- Pauline Christakis, University of Masssachusetts, Lowell
Universities for a Lifetime: The Promise of Serving Encore Adults
Governor's Square 16 | Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Learner Access
In 10 years, there will be more people over age 65 than under 18 (US Census Bureau). Many (55%) are replacing leisure retirements with new chapters, retooling for alternative, sustainable ways of working that align with a healthy lifestyle of engagement. Forward-thinking institutions are catering to this niche. Universities are ideal places for encore adults to explore possibilities, navigate transitions, and join intergenerational learning communities. This session will delve into the essential components of these innovative programs, identify critical success factors, and explore strategic growth opportunities, enabling senior leaders to initiate and expand encore adult programming at their universities.
- Kate Schaefers, University of Minnesota
- Anne Button, University of Colorado Denver
- Katherine Connor, Stanford University
- Moderator: Edward Abeyta, University of California, San Diego
Industry Insights (Governor's Square 14)
Get ready for a rapid-fire session of game-changing ideas, fresh insights, and cutting-edge solutions. Industry Insights brings together UPCEA’s top corporate partners for a fast-paced series of short, dynamic presentations designed to spark innovation and drive action. Each speaker will deliver a high-impact introduction to a key idea, challenge, solution, or must-know product shaping online and professional continuing education. No matter your role or institution, this session will fuel your knowledge and move your institution forward.
Moderator: Amrit Ahluwalia, Western University
The Rising Storm: Anticipating Labor Shortage on Higher Education
Program Planning and Implementation
This session addresses a pressing issue for higher education professionals: how to realign academic programs to meet the rapidly shifting demands of the labor market. Drawing on emerging data and successful case studies from Northeastern University, Drexel University, the University
of Illinois Gies College of Business, Northern Virginia Community College, and more, this presentation will demonstrate new strategies for integrating labor market information into curricula, empowering institutions to prepare students for high-demand fields like healthcare, construction, and skilled trades. The session is particularly timely as the U.S. faces critical labor shortages due to a shrinking youth population and a misalignment between the skills employers seek and what students are being taught.
Trina Poe, Lightcast |
| 9:30 AM |
Concurrent Sessions IV |
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Lifetime Learning: A Higher Education Imperative
Governor's Square 12 | Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Learner Access, Policy, Faculty
This panel asks how universities might adapt to the rapid erosion of confidence in higher education and the shrinking half-life of skills by moving lifelong learning from the edge of the university to its center. Join three of the nation’s most innovative lifelong learning leaders for an interactive discussion to explore the future of lifelong learning, from integrating lifelong learning into the core mission of higher education, leveraging the university ecosystem to deliver results, developing new business models and research, scaling education globally, rethinking global social responsibility of our institutions, and fostering a desire for lifelong learning among learners and our teaching communities.
- Nelson Baker, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Rovy Branon, University of Washington
- Yakut Gazi, Duke University
- Moderator: Quentin McAndrew, Coursera
On the Right Track: Uniting Voices for Strategic Success
Governor's Square 11 | Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Learner Access
Does it ever feel like the PCO offerings at your institution are a bunch of train cars that aren’t hooked together? Or even on the same track? This session presents processes for convening diverse voices, strategizing effectively, organizing efficiently, and planning meticulously to achieve impactful results. Examples of how universities create collaboration that spans organizational structure, portfolio alignment and development, cultural change, and brand management will be shared. You will have a deeper understanding of how to bring people together in the same space, sort through various competing projects, identify highest priorities, define clear action steps and timelines, and navigate through the inevitable challenges that WILL happen along the way.
- Annette Roberts Webb, University of California, Merced
- Lee Maxey, MindMax
- Hilary Culbertson, Duke University
- Jenn Chambers, Duke University
- Moderator: Jazz Jackson, Thomas Edison State University
Roundtable Presentations #2 (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with up to two different topics during small-group, 30-minute, table-based guided discussion around a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and presenters will promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table’s attendees.
Moderator: Laurel Hogue, University of Central Missouri
The Intelligent Classroom: AI-Driven Approaches for Higher Education & Preparing our Students for Excellence
Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Learner Access, Faculty
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing across all sectors and areas of our lives. While business leaders and entrepreneurs move quickly to capitalize on the commercial potential of AI, educators have been slow to adopt. As educators and administrators, we are responsible for preparing future leaders of the workforce. Therefore, we should constantly question if we are doing enough to prepare our students for the future of work. It is clear that we must transform our teaching approaches, adopt AI strategies as a necessity, and foster the irreplaceable human competencies that AI cannot mimic. Join us as we discuss ways to help shift our focus to AI as an ally by transforming our classroom and teaching approaches, methodologies, curriculum content, and student learning outcomes that will prepare them for the AI driven economy. We will also discuss AI’s ethical and moral implications, and strategies for preserving and nurturing student’s critical thinking skills.
- Naketa Jones, Baker College
Program Collaborations within a Collegiate System
Program Planning and Implementation | Applied
Our presentation will explore the various collaborative initiatives we have implemented to bridge gaps, streamline processes and share resources. We will provide successful case studies that showcase the tangible benefits of these collaborations, including improved courses, increased enrollment rates, and new revenue streams. Additionally, we will discuss the challenges encountered in fostering these collaborations and the strategies employed to overcome them. This includes managing communication, aligning goals, and marketing efforts. We will emphasize the potential for growth and the scalability of these collaborative efforts to reduce the reliance external vendors and retain greater control over the programs we deliver.
- John Fons, University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Jess Lambrecht, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
- Beth Hein, University of Wisconsin - Stout
- Lynn Weiland, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Learner Access, Policy, Faculty
For many colleges and universities, addressing the needs of the Some College, No Credential (SCNC) learner population is a key institutional priority. In a multi-campus system, creating a uniform process for CPL can help students more easily seek programs that best fit their educational goals. What are the key categories of CPLs? How can CPL be used by multi-campus systems to support degree completion for returning students? How can institutional barriers be negotiated to encourage the use of CPL across multi-campus systems? How systemwide CPL processes can create on-ramps and avenues to degree completion for SCNC learners? This discussion will share how the University of Minnesota is using a degree completion pilot to inform a systemwide CPL process that aims to better serve returning students.
- Paula MacDonald, University of Minnesota
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| 12:30 PM |
Network Lunch Meetings and Awards Presentations |
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Program Planning and Implementation (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
Award Presentation: Outstanding Program: Noncredit Award
Moderator: Johanna Prado, William Paterson University
Sponsored by Risepoint
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| 2:00 PM |
Concurrent Sessions V |
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A Decade of Scaled Degrees
Governor's Square 17 | Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Learner Access, Policy, Faculty, Graduate Education
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Georgia Tech’s OMSCS program has revolutionized affordable online degrees, graduating over 10,000 students. We will discuss the program’s success and its expansion to include cybersecurity and analytics degrees. The session aims to foster dialogue among institutions offering or interested in similar programs, sharing insights from the Affordable Degrees-at-Scale Symposium, the preeminent event for higher education leaders to engage in intensive conversations on the strategies, trends, and challenges associated with scaled online degree programs.
- Warren Goetzel, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Ronnie Godshalk, Georgia Institute of Technology
- David Joyner, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Moderator: Marie Martin, UC Riverside
The Innovation Paradox: How Structure Can Fuel Creativity in Innovative Academic Program Development
Plaza Court 4-5 | Program Planning and Implementation | Strategic | Tag: Learner Access, Faculty, Graduate Education, Policy
This presentation delves into the complexities of launching innovative academic programs at SDSU Global Campus and Bentley University. It highlights the importance of balancing creativity and structure in program development. Attendees will gain insights into the strategies used by these institutions to navigate challenges, leverage technology, engage stakeholders, and foster collaboration. The session will culminate in a practical workshop where participants can explore approaches to overcome challenges and unlock their own institutions' potential for innovation.
- Liz Paushter, Bentley University
- Robyn Betts, Bentley University
- Casey Rothenberger, San Diego State University Global Campus
- Lindsay Vance, San Diego State University Global Campus
- Moderator: Veronica Andrews, ed2go
Stop & Share Presentations #2 (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
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.
Moderator: Amber O'Casey, Alamo Colleges District
Sharing University Outreach Impacts Using ArcGIS Dashboards
Program Planning and Implementation | Applied
This session invites practitioners interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the potential of ArcGIS Dashboards in communicating static registration records in visually appealing and meaningful ways. We will share our experience in building and managing dashboards and how our approach can be utilized at other institutes. Together, we will explore the functionality, usability, and improvements this application has allowed us to make in managing and sharing thousands of participant data records and how dashboards have allowed us to strategically define new program markets. Come and learn how dashboards can revolutionize the way you communicate and visualize student data.
- Dixie Cartwright, Mississippi State University
- Amber Shultice, Mississippi State University
- John Cartwright, Mississippi State University
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| 3:30 PM |
Concurrent Sessions VI: Workshops |
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Scaling Up: Stanford CME's Rapid Response to Train 1.5M Learners Under a One-Year Federal Mandate
Governor's Square 16 | Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Policy, Faculty
Join Stanford CME's engaging session on how its learning design team developed an 8-hour SUD training curriculum in response to the 2023 Federal MATE Act. Initially designed as interactive modules, the program pivoted to video-based content to more effectively meet learner needs and timelines. Through interactive storytelling, we will explore our journey from conception to implementation, highlighting challenges and strategic pivots. Participants will engage in critical decision polls, learn best practices, and gain insights on balancing quality, meeting learner needs and project timelines. Enhance your knowledge and apply your critical thinking skills by attending this transformative session.
- Alisa Richardson, Stanford University
- Kurt Snyder, Stanford University
- Rokeena Williams, Stanford University
- Moderator: Kelly Newell, Washington State University
Facilitating Faculty Forward: Engaging Instructors in the Creation and Recreation of Curriculum
Governor's Square 11 | Program Planning and Implementation | Applied | Tag: Faculty, Graduate Education
Quality educational experiences in both credit and noncredit spaces benefit from faculty engagement at each phase of the process, from designing new courses to strategically revising existing courses to meet changing student needs. The three presenters from James Madison University’s School of Professional and Continuing Education will describe why and how they engage faculty; each presenter will follow up their brief presentation with a workshop demo, enabling participants to practice strategies for faculty engagement. Attendees will leave with a new toolkit of faculty engagement strategies they can use at their own institutions.
- Sarah MacDonald, James Madison University
- Daniel Robinson, James Madison University
- Amanda Kellogg, James Madison University
- Moderator: Lee Maxey, MindMax
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