1. Multiple Colleges One Degree Great Results!
Florida Council of Presidents
Distance Learning Committee
June 12, 2017

2. Michigan Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Consortium
First attempt of collaboration at the curriculum level
Fondly known as “MiRIS”

3. What is the MiRIS Consortium?
A business model
A collaborative partnership that allows colleges to offer high cost medical imaging science programs in a cost-effective way
An effort to provide high quality advanced modality programs by sharing faculty, courses and students

4. Why did MiRIS start? Advanced modalities
Advanced technology and sicker patients
Movement toward MRI certification requirement by Medicare Part B and encouragement by the American College of Radiology
High cost equipment + high cost faculty + low number of clinical experiences + low number of jobs = low enrollment and financial burden for any one college to do alone!

5. Founding Partners Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI
Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek, MI
Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor, MI
Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI
Mid Michigan Community College, Mt. Pleasant, MI
Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
Michigan Community College Association (MCCA)
Michigan Colleges Online (MCO)

6. Addition of MCCA – MCO!
Third-party neutral service provider and cheerleader
Financial agent for consortium
Common LMS platform for courses from multiple colleges
Common registration for courses from multiple colleges

7. How does MiRIS serve students?
Marketable certification in MRI
Quick to employment
Flexible delivery for time and place bound students
Equitable learning opportunities
All didactic coursework is offered online
All clinical work is completed regionally
Strong connection to employers through clinical experience
Ever-emerging MRI technology provides long-term career security

8. How does MiRIS serve an institution?
Shared cost due to:
Shared curriculum
Shared faculty
Shared staff – MiRIS MRI Program Director
Shared students
Shared clinical sites
Less cost + greater collaboration = high quality programming and exemplary outcomes! 
Demonstrates innovation and good stewardship to all stakeholders

9. How does MiRIS work? MRI Collaborative Agreement Mission Leadership
Instruction
Students Supports
Fiscal Model
Program specific Addendums

10. How does MiRIS work? Consortium Governance Council
Administrative Representative (Dean/Vice President) from each college
Provides strategic and financial direction for the Consortium
Program Leadership Committee
Program Director/Coordinator for the college program
Responsible for executing policies, processes and procedures for successful student outcomes
Reports to the Consortium Governance Council

11. How does MiRIS work? Colleges Determine need for program
Change mindset to a consortium team mentality
Committed dean-level champion and a program-level champion
Internal communication and support plan
Agree on common curriculum
Develop processes to advise and admit students into program
Facilitate clinical site matchups – must have solid clinical affiliations
Develop and deploy retention strategies

12. How does MiRIS work? MCCA MCO
Facilitates the intercollegiate partnerships
Serves as fiscal agent for the Consortium
Employees the Director of Collaborative Programs
MCO
Provides the learning management system and the course design standards for the online courses
Course registrations run through the MCO with single tuition rate

13. Program Specifics Four semesters long for program courses
General educations courses completed prior to entry
Four semesters long for program courses
Online offering for didactic courses
Clinical rotations within the student’s region

14. What about those outcomes?
93% completion rate!
85% success on ARRT certification exam on first attempt – 100% overall
100% job placement rate!
$3,700 surplus to EACH MiRIS partner last year!!

15. Future opportunities for MiRIS?
Strategically add more partners serving other areas of the state
Add more modality programming:
Examples:
CT (Computerized Tomography)
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
Add required CEU training for practicing medical imaging technologists

16. Future Opportunities for MiRIS-like Partnerships?
Any high cost, low enrolled courses or programs – all allied health programs??
Frequent upgrades in curriculum development – IT??
Arts & Sciences – courses and programs that struggle with enrollment but are valuable to the community and to the students they serve
International study or study abroad
Foreign languages
High 200 level courses in STEM
Possibilities are endless!

17. Ronda Edwards, Executive Director Michigan Colleges Online Amy Lee, Director Collaborative Programs/MRI Program Director