1 Developing a Cooperative Online Degree Program The Practical Mechanics Dr. Roger Von Holzen Ms Darla Runyon Northwest Missouri State University

2 Masters in Education in Teaching and Learning: Elementary Thirty-three hour program Designed to meet the special needs of elementary teachers who are in their early career years Major goals of the program: –assist these teachers to improve their practice –fully equip them to persist in the profession which is critical during this time of significant teacher shortages*

3 Masters in Education in Teaching and Learning: Elementary Third goal: –enable the participating institutions to offer a new online degree program while minimizing staffing issues Goals achieved through the cooperative sharing of program courses*

4 Met over a three year period Program based around the work of the National Board for Professional Teaching standards * Developed by university faculty from across the state of Missouri Program Curriculum

5 Program Description Twelve-hour core of education coursework Three emphasis area options: –Reading –Math –Science Core Reading Math Science Must complete the introductory course in both of the options not selected Three hours of elective course(s) to round out the program*

6 Program Description Program draws on what has been learned in recent years on the various campuses and through the literature about web-based delivery Design of this 33-hour program targets those who wish to pursue graduate programming… but are limited due to their geographic location and work requirements*

7 Program Evolution Initially, eight universities were interested in developing the program –Difficult and expensive to bring groups together*

8 Program Evolution Strong state coordinating board and administrative support for development of the program –Limit duplication of programs –Get some institutions to begin offering online courses –Save development time and resources*

9 Program Evolution One by one, five universities dropped out of the program for various reasons –Lack of faculty support for online programs – Lack of faculty support to work with other institutions “Why don’t we develop our own online program?” – Lack of faculty collegiality toward faculty members from other institutions “Are their faculty members as good as ours?”*

10 Dead Men Walking The surviving three Missouri state institutions have joined forces to fully develop the cooperative online degree program –Lincoln University –Northwest Missouri State University –Southeast Missouri State University*

11 Program Mechanics

12 Memorandum of Understanding Agreement between the three institutions Formally signed at a state-wide meeting Outlines the working relationship behind the program*

13 Program Accountability Program supervised by an Oversight Team –Composed of an equal number of deans-level representatives from each institution –Oversees the program director –Directs the development and implementation of the online masters degree program and its policies –Convenes on a quarterly basis*

14 Program Accountability Program collaboratively developed by faculty –Initial focus determined by Oversight Team Curriculum changes may be proposed by faculty –Meet annually to review program and for professional development Changes must be approved by the faculty and the Oversight Team*

15 Program Web Site Developed, hosted and maintained by Northwest Missouri State University URL identified with the state of Missouri--not any particular institution –Missouri Online Higher Education Consortium*

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17 Common Criteria Each institution will follow a common admission policy –A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 –Alternative admission minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and 3.25 on the first nine hours of graduate coursework in the program –Graduate record exam: 475 minimum on the verbal or quantitative score and a minimum of 400 on the other section –Letter of support from the student’s employer (supervisor) if the student works in a school or educational institution –A cover letter briefly discussing the student's teaching background and the emphasis (cohort) area that the student is interested in (reading, math or science)*

18 Common Criteria Students must designate which campus is his/her “home” campus –The university of record will grant the degree –Students will function under the rules and regulations of their home institution –All advising and in-depth mentoring will be conducted by the faculty at the student's home university*

19 Course Management Software System needed to cover online registration, campus quotas, wait lists, and course hosting eCollege selected as course management software Courses hosted on eCollege servers –Backup systems –System security Online and telephone 24/7 tech support*

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21 Registration Each campus initially allocated 7 “seats” per course –Overprescribed courses are wait listed –Available “seats” from other campuses reallocated prior to start of classes –Student admissions requirements verified prior to finalization of course registration Drop/adds handled by web site*

22 Registration Registration information and updates sent to each institution Processed through each campus’ Registrars’ Office*

23 Grade Reporting Standard letter grades used--A, B, C, D, and F Grades reported through secure web site by faculty –Only a student’s home institution can view that student’s grades –Submission of grades to the Registrars’ office on each campus is made in the format as designated by each office direct viewing and printing of grade reports download of files containing grade reports receipt of grade reports*

24 Graduate Faculty Participating faculty must qualify as graduate faculty at their respective home institutions Each university will have responsibility for its participating faculty with respect to: –employment decisions –work assignments –annual work evaluations –termination decisions*

25 Course Development Courses assigned for development and initial delivery to each campus –Core and content strands split across all three campuses (no one campus controls a strand) Faculty course developers paid $5,000 – Deficit funded by Northwest – Course materials developed is considered to be jointly owned by the participating institutions and the faculty member(s) involved in the course development process *

26 Cooperative Training of Online Faculty Northwest provided technical and pedagogical assistance with the design and development of the courses Additional assistance provided by local campus faculty support offices*

27 Course Delivery Each course must be offered on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Oversight Team Courses may be moved among the institutions Multiple sections of course may be taught from multiple campuses –Course web site duplicated*

28 Financial Considerations Tuition determined by the Oversight Team Common tuition across the participating universities The student's university of record assess all tuition and fees –$250 per credit hour for Missouri residents –$350 per credit hour for out-of-state residents Each institution may add on additional fees*

29 Financial Considerations Program Director invoices the institutions at the rate of $200 per credit hour for their students enrolled in program courses Enrolling institution retains $50 per credit (for in-state and $150 per credit out-of- state)*

30 Financial Considerations Payment to each institution teaching an online course –based on the following formula: Payment Amount = $100 X number of credit hours X number of students enrolled in the course $6,000 = $100 X 3 X 20 –The institution is responsible for the payment of faculty member's salary and other related expenses*

31 Continued Participation Any institution may discontinue participation in this program –Subject to the approval of the Oversight Team and the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education –Contingencies must be made for all admitted students to be able to complete their programs*

32 Course Schedules Courses delivered within the academic calendars of all campuses –The start date for a semester is set for the latest start date among the three campuses –The end date for a semester is set for the earliest end date among the three campuses Fall and spring semesters—15 weeks Summer sessions—8 1/2 weeks*

33 Program Marketing Program Marketing Web site developed and maintained by Northwest –Housed at distinguishing web address Internal marketing with each campus’ bureaucracy –Provide background information about program –Provide key information needed for each area Graduate office Admissions Registrars’ Financial Aid and Student Financial Accounts Library Lack of overlap in market areas*

34 Northwest Southeast Lincoln

35 Program Marketing Program Marketing Brochures and other marketing materials centrally developed and produced Mailings conducted by each campus with costs covered by Program Director Major marketing effort conducted through the Regional Professional Development Centers across the state Search engine data uploaded by Program Director*

36 Reality Check State drops requirement for masters-level credit for recertification –CEUs are sufficient Budget cuts on state and local levels –No money for professional development –No money for movement on salary scale Reality---only 7 students enrolled Program currently on hold*

37 The Experience So what has this experience been like? A bit frustrating at times…

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39 Dr. Roger Von Holzen Ms Darla Runyon