2. Maximizing Results with Minimal Resources Bringing online learning to the mainstream is challenging when resources are limited. That challenge is even greater when the staff is small. This session showcases how a three member staff, under the auspices of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff‘s Title III Administration, has leveraged resources to grow their distance learning program from only five (5) online courses to more than fifty (50) courses with an enrollment of over 1200 students.

3. The Center for Teaching, Learning and Advising (CTLA), designed to promote excellence in teaching at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, provides professional development activities, including workshops, seminars, training sessions, and technical assistance to develop and enhance instructional skills.

4.  The C enter for T eaching, L earning and A dvising is committed to increasing the retention and graduation rates of UAPB students. The center strives to expand and coordinate distance education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff by increasing the number of online courses offered. As such, the center trains faculty in the development and use of instructional technology;

5. and provides online technical support for faculty and students with the ultimate goal of increasing teacher and student success. The center is enhanced by the University Library and Learning Resource Center.

6. The center commenced under the previous Title III Grant with emphases on Teacher Improvement Academic Advising and Student Success

7.  As of May 2006, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff had its own Certified WebCT/Blackboard Trainer to provide training to UAPB faculty.

8. Faculty Attendance was Highly Encouraged by Administration Over 100 Faculty/Staff Participated  A very successful Academic Advising Workshop was held in conjunction with the annual Faculty Professional Development Workshop on May 15, 2006. The workshop highlighted the mandate of Act 1014 (the Semester Degree Plan) for first semester freshmen at state supported institutions.

9. More than 130 participants attended, including academic advisors, deans, department chairs, counselors and other administrators. Follow- up Academic Advisement Workshops were also presented to assess: 1) improvements in general advisement strategies and 2) progress in adaptation to Act 1014.

10.  Magna Online Seminar: “15 Survival Strategies for Instructors in Higher Education”

11.  Adaptive Instruction: Teaching Strategies for Under-Prepared Students

12.  Plagiarism 101: Keys to Preventing Academic Misconduct  Legal Seminar: Five Legal Issues to Have on Your Radar So You Can Have a Great Year

14. With subsequent grants the focus has been directed more toward expansion of the UAPB Distance Education Program. This activity addresses two primary objectives that target activities designed to improve faculty instructional skills and promote student success.

15.  Objective 1: To increase the number of courses offered online by 20% above the current baseline of twenty four by September 30, 2011. (Allowable 4)  Objective 2: To increase the number of faculty who teach fully online courses by 20% above the baseline of twenty (20) by September 30, 2011. (Allowable 12)

17.  The Center for Teaching, Learning and Advising has assisted faculty in all schools with the development and implementation of Web-based (online courses) learning. For the past several years, the number of students on “academic drop” at UAPB has increased each semester. However, both online student headcount and online courses have continued to increase.

18. Therefore, a percentage of the loss of students has been circumvented with online learning. Web-based education provides unique opportunities for all students to have electronic access to higher education.

19. This activity also focuses on strengthening the instructional skills of individual faculty members. It is designed to assist in developing a total learning experience with the greater potential to improve faculty overall quality of teaching and student achievement.

20. The following documentation represents some of the accomplishments of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Advising:  The Center staff serves over 150 students per semester via telephone, office visits and email. This is evidenced by call logs and sign-in sheets.  Reports from the Office of Research and Development show an increase in Retention of 8% in online courses.

22.  Over seventy 70 faculty have received training and are now teaching online.  On average UAPB has offered a total of more than 50 online courses per semester.  As of Fall 2011 UAPB has an online student enrollment of 1202 and 56 online courses.

23. Part-Time Lower Level Faculty Full –Time Lower Level Faculty Part-Time Upper Level Faculty Full-Time Upper Level Faculty

25.  The center upgraded from Web-CT to Blackboard in the summer of 2009. The purpose for the upgrade was to ensure that our student information system and our learning management system were globally connected to the university.

26.  As a result of the merger of WebCT and Blackboard, the Certified WebCT Trainer concurrently received re-certification renewal as a Certified Blackboard Trainer and continues to provide instructional technology training for UAPB faculty.

27.  This includes the North Little Rock campus and establishes a partnership with the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education.  On an on-going and daily basis, the center staff assists faculty in the development and use of online instructional technology.

28.  Through this innovative technology we can engage more students in exciting new ways, reaching them on their terms and devices and connecting more effectively, keeping students informed, involved, and collaborating together to build a better educational experience; reaching everyone on

29. their preferred devices anywhere; opening up the technology and removing barriers so that we can focus on the fundamentals, manage outcomes and improve performance in real time. With tools like this, we can build a better educational experience to open more doors for everyone.

30.  Training sessions are presently conducted on Tuesday and Thursday. The UAPB Web page will document the number of courses online.

31.  Approval of Distance Education Policies and Procedures through all official channels  A “New Teacher” Training Institute  Mobile Learning  Online Distance Education Degree Program

33.  The great challenge is to prepare ourselves to enter these doors of opportunity. ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

34. Dora Sanders Dr. Verma Jones Mary Williams