2017 UPCEA South Region Conference
Program

Welcome Lunch with Remarks by UPCEA CEO, Bob Hansen
(Chesapeake Ballroom)
Sponsored by Virginia Tech

If you build it, will they come? The role of market research in program development
(Blue Ridge AB)
Level: Applied
Track: Program Planning and Implemenation

Market research and audience identification are critical aspects of the program development process. During this presentation, we will explore how thorough and effective research impacts program development, and we will share best practices for developing detailed and accurate audience profiles. You'll leave with several new techniques for developing new programs.

• Jody Cebina, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
  
• Eric McGee, JMH Consulting
  
  

Pre-University Programs – Where to Start
(Blue Ridge DE)
Level: Foundational
Track: Program Planning and Implemenation

As the number of traditional students continues to decline, competition for these students is at all-time high.  Exposing youth to your campus through pre-university programs can make the difference.  Discover how the Carolina Master Scholars Adventures Series introduces middle and high school students to the University of South Carolina and how you can start a similar program from the ground-up.

• Kate Shelton, University of South Carolina
  
  

Addressing the Educational Needs of Non-Traditional Military Affiliated Students
(Blue Ridge AB)
Level: Applied
Track: Program Planning and Implemenation

The University of Virginia (UVA) conducted a study to understand the educational needs of non-traditional military affiliated students and the factors used by this population to select programs of studies from academic institutions. Additionally, the study evaluated the alignment of UVA’s non-traditional educational offerings to the needs of this population.

• Alan Fiorello, University of Virginia, School of Continuing and Professional Studies
  
  

Adult Students Today: Best Practices and Support for the Nontraditional Learner
(Shenandoah BC)
Level: Applied
Track: Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services
I will be pulling information from my recent dissertation involving adult student retention. With this, I will provide an overview of the current climate of the adult/nontraditional leaner and also provide some examples institutions can use to best support and retain adult/nontraditional students.

• Clay Taylor, Texas Tech University
  
  

Budget Models and Organizational Structures: An Exploration
(Blue Ridge DE)
Level: Strategic
Track: Business and Operations

At tables, participants will share and explore the opportunities and challenges of their different operational and budget models. Participants should be prepared to provide context with a 2 minute elevator speech about their budget model and another about their organizational structure. There is no lecture or presentation in this session: Just interaction with your colleagues.

• Beth Laves, Western Kentucky University
  
• Terry Rawls, Appalachian State University
  

General Session - Evolving Ecosystems and the Impact on the Economy, Education and the Regional Workforce - Jim Fong
(Chesapeake Ballroom)

Sponsored by Chmura

Establishing the value of community and economic engagement to internal and external audiences
(Blue Ridge DE)
Level: Strategic
Track: Community and Economic Engagement

Not sure how to position the value of community and economic engagement in your institution? Discover what engagement means for different colleges and universities, identify common pain points around the use of this term, and explore emerging best practice for positioning engagement to internal and external audiences.

• Scott Weimer, Virginia Tech
  
• Lee Maxey, MindMax

It's a new dawn... and we're feeling (pretty) good: New online strategies propel Distance Education at Appalachian forward
(Shenandoah BC)
Level: Foundational
Track: Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services

It's a new dawn for online higher education. With revamped strategies, Distance Education at Appalachian State University is working to meet the needs of search-and-shop students, while also asking questions about what challenges lay on the horizon.

• Matt Tate, Appalachian State University
  
  

Life-hacking Apps to Improve Your Professional Life
(Blue Ridge AB)
Track: Program Planning and Implemenation

Have you ever wondered how the busiest people have time for thoughtful and well-planned social media posts? Have you ever wished your phone would automatically ‘do things’? Are you struggling between digital and paper-based systems? In this session we’ll talk about the challenges of consuming information, organizing work, and managing devices – focusing on apps and techniques to sync and manage the information you need to be an informed professional. Be prepared to share your tips and tricks with your peers – this is a workshop you won’t want to miss!

• Julie Uranis, UPCEA

Enrolling to Retain: 5 Strategies to Improve Online Student Growth and Persistence
(Shenandoah BC)
Level: Foundational
Track: Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services

Engaging a potential online learner who will persist to graduation requires a strategic approach to the enrollment process. In this session, learn five strategies for developing and implementing a successful process focusing on enrolling students geared toward graduating.

• Julie Delich, Learning House
  
• Daria Tecco LaTorre, Alvernia University
  
  

Leadership in a Creative Continuing and Distance Education Organization
(Blue Ridge DE)
Level: Strategic
Track: Business and Operations

Leaders need to understand the best methods and strategies to working in an organization built on innovation and creativity. In this session, hear from industry leaders on their leadership styles and the styles of those within their institution they observed and collaborated to bring successful ideas to their departments.

• Asim Ali, Auburn University
  
• Melissa Walden, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University System
  
• Meni Sarris, Jenzabar

Taking a Risk to Keep it Fresh
(Blue Ridge AB)
Level: Strategic
Track: Program Planning and Implemenation

Do you have a program, that has been successful over the years, but lately is receiving slower registrations, and feels a bit dated?  Or do you have a program that is great, but the instructors are a bit out of date?  Learn how taking risk pays of to redesign programs.

• Kathy Laing, University of Richmond
  

Bama Graduates Go the Distance – Celebrating Student Completion and Using Success Stories to Market Distance Learning Degree Programs
(Shenandoah BC)
Level: Applied
Track: Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services

Learn how to honor your graduates while at the same time leveraging their success stories for marketing purposes. This session will share the details of planning a graduation reception, offering a travel grant for distance learning students attending graduation, and collecting student testimonials to develop into marketing campaigns.

• Kim Luzius, EdD, The University of Alabama, College of Continuing Studies
  
• Megan Welborn, MA, The University of Alabama, College of Continuing Studies
  
• Brandi Stacey, MA, The University of Alabama, College of Continuing Studies

Best Practices & Lessons Learned: The Landscape of Professional & Continuing Education (Hallmarks of Excellence)
(Blue Ridge DE)
Track: Business and Operations

Using the UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Professional & Continuing Education as a guide, this lively session will dive into best practices and lessons learned in this ever-changing field of PCE. Certain excellent practices make up a vast majority of PCE work—regardless of institutional size or type: advocacy, entrepreneurialism, faculty and student support, digital prowess, and professionalism. Hear from leaders in our field as to how to leverage these practices for use on your campuses. Plus bonus content around areas of practice like summer session, contract training, international education, and online leadership also included.

• Jamelle Wilson, University of Richmond
  
• James Shaeffer, Old Dominion University
  
• Doug Weimer, Louisiana State University
• Amy Heitzman, UPCEA

Bootcamp 101: Drop and Give Me Training!
(Blue Ridge AB)
Level: Applied
Track: Program Planning and Implemenation

Ready for a bootcamp? During this session we will discuss how to design and develop 3-day bootcamps with both credit and noncredit options. I’ll share our experiences with developing and offering these courses as well as how we leveraged the various resources throughout the University.

• Dean Claud, Old Dominion University
  

Friday, October 13, 2017

Customer Relationship Management Systems: What do you need and how to gain buy-in
(Shenandoah BC)
Level: Strategic
Track: Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Services

In order to assist with providing a forward view on your institution’s revenue stream, a customer relationship management tool could be beneficial. Come learn about how to define your needs versus your wants, organize your stakeholders and communicate your proposal to all constituents.  

• Angela Marshall Honaker, JMH Consulting
  
• Kathleen Gibson, James Madison University
  
  

Expanding Programs for In-Demand Skills
(Blue Ridge AB)
Level: Applied
Track: Program Planning and Implemenation

The market for skills and unique combinations of skills is rapidly growing. This presents opportunities for leveraging faculty expertise in new ways, implementing programs that offer unique skills, and engage individuals with new opportunities. The Friday Center at UNC Chapel Hill will outline their approach to validate a new program idea.

• Tim McElroy, Economic Modeling Specialists International (Emsi)
  
• Jessica Brinker, The Friday Center for Continuing Education University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  
• Tyler Ritter, The Carolina Office for Online Learning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Replace with Grace:  Best practices for making a smooth transition from one position to another
(Blue Ridge DE)
Level: Applied
Track: Business and Operations

Do you know the person you replaced in your current position? Did you work with the person who replaced you in your last? Are you now peers to a former manager? This interactive session discusses the dynamics of leaving one position and taking on another--all with grace--that honors your predecessor and sets a strong foundation for your own future.

• Lesa Hanlin, Virginia Tech
  
• Melissa Lubin, James Madison University