Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to provide an update on current and upcoming eLearning efforts designed to support you. The Office of eLearning was created to encourage significant enrollment growth in online programs across our four universities and brings together systemwide faculty and staff expertise to leverage the work already being done in online learning. Office of eLearning efforts will build capacity to expand online services; grow current online degree programs; and collaborate to deliver quality online education.
eLearning initiative efforts will focus on providing support that enhances the student experience, improves outcomes, grows enrollment and retains students. As is always the case, faculty control the content of their course(s).
There are no planned changes to the existing services faculty receive from the online education employees who have come together to form the systemwide eLearning team. The instructional designers and developers, learning technologists, student services professionals, program coordinators and marketing specialists who support you will continue to do so.
Growing online enrollment across the campuses will take expertise and input from faculty and staff at all levels. We welcome your questions and feedback as we continue our work. Please contact us at UMeLearningOffice@umsystem.edu.
Sincerely,
Matthew Gunkel, UM System Chief eLearning Officer
Our goal is to give you more robust and comprehensive resources to support your future endeavors in online education. More lines of service will be added in fiscal year 2020-2021 and beyond, including additional instructional designers, as our organizational structure is determined and conversations with provosts, deans, online program leaders and faculty continue.
Conversations continue with departments offering online programs regarding scaling investments. These programs will receive additional support and guidance as we collaboratively map out paths to enrollment growth. More information about the program scaling process will be shared soon.
Leadership and organizational structures will be finalized for the systemwide eLearning team as we head into the spring semester. We’ll share updates as they become available.
Work in support of all online programs will continue, including administrative, learning technology support, instructional design and recruitment marketing efforts. Stay tuned for updates on academic technology investments we are making.
Brand and positioning study
Carnegie-Dartlet, a higher education communications and marketing firm, has begun work to recommend a messaging strategy for systemwide online program enrollment marketing. The goal is to uncover the best way to collaboratively advertise online degrees from MU, UMKC, Missouri S&T and UMSL. The branding study is expected to conclude in Spring 2020.
New Team Members to Support You
The Office of eLearning welcomes Senior Director for eLearning Stephanie McClelland. McClelland most recently served as the eCampus Center Director at Boise State University in Idaho where she directed the design and development of online programs and courses. She is a frequent presenter on topics related to online teaching and learning including faculty development and student experience. McClelland’s focus will be on strategic initiatives for online teaching and learning across the system.
Heather Hunt also joins the Office of eLearning as a faculty fellow. Hunt is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering at MU. She will work with faculty systemwide to build and grow online curricula. Hunt also serves on the eLearning Academic Council and the eLearning Online Faculty Advisory Committee.
For additional information on previous work, governance and processes, access our eLearning webpage.