It Takes a Village: Supporting Online Students Illinois Online Conference February 17, 2006 Anita Crawley, Montgomery College Holly McCracken, University of Illinois at Springfield

Overview Scope of Online Support Services Academic Support in Distance Learning Student Support in Distance Learning Benefits of “Building the Village”: the Importance of Collaboration Tour of Supporting Online Services course What’s Next: Identifying Questions

Scope of Student Services

Quick Campus Audit Let’s Hear from You Based on the “Web” Green check  If Your Institution Has: Most of Administrative Core Services? 5 or More Academic Services? 3 or More Personal Services? Online Advising? A Comprehensive Virtual Portal?

Role of Academic Affairs in Supporting Online Students Advocacy: Filling Service Gaps Intervention: Combining High Tech & High Touch Referral: Coordinating System Components Advising: Reinforcing Instructional Goals Documenting: Identifying Unmet Needs Recruiting: Representing the “face & voice” of the University Instructing: Reinforcing a distributed approach Scheduling: Developing course schedules for each academic term

Role of Student Affairs in in Supporting Online Students Mission of Student Affairs Growth of distance learning enrollments Good student services essential for all Challenges of delivering effective services at a distance Turf issues and the Web “ take down that wall Gorbachev”

Convergence of Stakeholders Support Functions in Academic Affairs Recruitment Consistent with College/Program Goals Applicant Screening College Management re: Retention & Persistence “Distributed” Advising Related to Processes Advocacy re: Navigating Institutional Systems Facilitation of Program (Major/Minor) Orientation Course Schedule Development/ Maintenance Collaboration/Coordination with Institutional Systems Data Collection/Analysis to Direct Program Sustainability & Scalability Support Functions in Student Affairs Recruitment Consistent with Institutional Goals Development of Academic Preparedness Programming Facilitation of Institutional Orientation Providing Broad-Based Services & Programs by Focus (e.g., Student Government, Health Services, etc.) Management of Application, Admissions, & Registration Processes, e.g.,Transcript Audit & GPA Calculation Collaboration/Coordination with Institutional Systems

Let’s Hear from You! Step Up to the Virtual Microphone Which are Shared Functions between Academic & Student Support? Likewise, Which are Distinct Academic & Student Support Functions? Is It Possible To Have A System That Integrates Academic & Student Support? What type of approach should be implemented? Where Have All the Silos Gone: How Can “Seamlessness” Be Maintained?

Tour of Course Anita and Holly Demonstrate One Method to Build the Village: The Illinois Online Network’s Course “Supporting Online Students”

Resources Illinois Online Network Courses (MVCR) Technology in Student Affairs: Supporting Student Learning & Services, Kevin Kruger, Editor, Number 112, Winter Sample Best Practices Websites Supporting Online Students Webliography Online Student Success Center Resources/onlinestuserv.htm Resources/onlinestuserv.htm

WCET Resources Beyond the Administrative Core CENTSS – WCET & The Higher Learning Commission Joint Workshop – Best Practices in Student Services Online: Providing Experiences that Support Learners - June 7-9, 2005.

Contact Information Anita Crawley, Montgomery College Germantown, MD Distance Learning Counselor & Faculty Member Holly McCracken, University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield, IL Director of Online Programming, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences