Online programs are making the news as higher ed institutions work to stop the coronavirus from spreading. With the option for students to attend classes online, institutions can work through challenges—such as student quarantine and illness prevention—without disrupting learning opportunities.

With interruptions like the coronavirus directly affecting the higher ed landscape, now’s a better time than any to consider the impact that online programs can have on your institution. Take some time to examine what you’re currently doing in the online space, and start planning for how your institution’s online programs will keep up with the rest of the market.

To help, we’ve pulled together some resources that shed light on current industry demands and student expectations for distance education.

“Higher Ed Program Analysis 2020: Navigating an Ever-Changing Market”

Making changes that are based on a hunch or something that worked in the past is simply too risky in such a rapidly changing market. Now, more than ever, it’s critical to make data-informed decisions that reflect student expectations and needs. Our 2020 Higher Ed Program Analysis report translates some of the trends we’re seeing in the industry into actionable insights, including how to identify barriers to entry and what’s currently driving the market.

“Bringing Programs Online: Expert Insight on Transitioning Teaching from Residence to Online”

Online courses bring convenience to an institution, but they can also bring technology challenges to your faculty. We enlisted the help of Rebecca Anderson, M.Ed., learning solutions coordinator at Collegis Education, to get her advice on how you can empower your faculty to facilitate a successful learning environment.

Click to read the full article.

“Can Schools Scale Their Online Programs Without the Help of an Online Program Management Company?”

Today’s students expect their institution to constantly be evolving current online programs and introducing new options. As a result, many institutions turn to online program management (OPM) companies to help transition established programs into the online space. But these turnkey resources aren’t always sustainable or effective. As you look to take advantage of online programs, look within your institution first. Once you understand your current capabilities, you can better pinpoint the right third-party resources to get the job done.

Click to read the full article.

“Bold Design and the Online Learning Experience”

We’ve found that when faculty are in the mindset that online programming is the same as “putting their course online,” they are far less likely to meet student expectations.

It’s only a matter of time before new technological advances are used for instructional design. As students begin to expect online courses as part of their curriculum, programs will start to begin to heavily lean on quality, rather than availability. There’s no time like the present to start pushing the envelope.

Prepare for disruptions by implementing online programs

We hope that these resources help you start to identify areas of strengths, and areas you’d like to improve, when it comes to your institution’s online program strategy. With on-campus, in-person learning becoming more challenging in today’s world, having the ability to provide online programs not only helps you proactively prepare to mitigate a crisis, but also helps make sure you can meet student expectations.

Let’s connect to talk about your current program needs. Contact us to start the conversation!

Author: Collegis Education staff

Collegis is passionate about education and driven by the technology that keeps institutions moving forward.