Two national distance education organizations are recognizing the University of Missouri with awards for online course development, distance education research and marketing efforts related to Mizzou's online education programs.
"These honors help distinguish Mizzou faculty as leaders in developing online curricula — and our staff as among the most experienced and dedicated in distance education today," said Jim Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies and e-Learning at the University of Missouri. "Mizzou faculty and staff are working collaboratively to ensure student success."
ADEIL Helen Williams University Course Award
Dr. Nikole Cronk, clinical assistant professor in the MU School of Medicine's family and community medicine department, was honored by the Association for Distance Education and Independent Learning (ADEIL) with the 2014 Helen Williams Award. Cronk's Psychology 3830: Health Psychology is an online, self-paced course and features video, engaging commentary and detailed instructor feedback. Cronk worked with Educational Technologies at Missouri (ET@MO) for instructional design assistance.
This recognition is named for Helen Williams, a distance education pioneer from the University of Iowa. The award recognizes the accomplishment of the instructor, author, primary editor and/or course developer in creating exemplary college-level courses that focus on student learning outcomes and overall design and content.
A representative from Mizzou Online accepted the award on Cronk's behalf at the association's annual conference at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, on Oct. 15.
UPCEA Research and Publication Award
Terrie Nagel, Mizzou Online Assistant Director, won the University Professional and Continuing Education Association's (UPCEA's) 2014 Research and Publication Award, as part of the group's Central Region Celebration of Excellence Program. UPCEA selected Nagel's dissertation, titled "Academic Achievement and Persistence in Online Self-Paced Courses" for its originality and impact on the field of adult and continuing education, recognizing Nagel's research as exhibiting promise to make a significant contribution to the study of education.
"The specific purpose of the study is to examine academic achievement for students enrolled in online self-paced courses who have different prior course delivery experiences," Nagel said. "The goal is to investigate how students relate to their academic achievement in online self-paced courses, given their prior course delivery experiences. These areas were previously un-researched in the literature."
A University of Missouri staff member for 20 years, Nagel is a doctoral candidate in the College of Education. She earned her master's degree in Educational Psychology from Mizzou and two bachelor's degrees from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
Nagel will accept the award at the UPCEA Central Region Conference on Oct. 23 in Denver.
UPCEA Marketing Award
Mizzou Online won gold for the radio advertising category in the UPCEA's annual Marketing Awards competition. Each year the organization's Marketing, Enrollment and Student Services Network sponsors the competition to recognize effective marketing and recruitment practices in the field of professional, continuing and online education.
A representative from Mizzou Online will accept the award on Nov. 6 during the 23rd UPCEA Marketing and Enrollment Management Seminar in Atlanta.
ADEIL is an association that provides professional development and networking opportunities for all those engaged in or interested in distance education.
UPCEA is a national association advancing leadership in professional, continuing and online education. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues.