Developing a Cooperative Online Degree Program

The Practical MechanicsDr. Roger Von HolzenMs Darla Runyon

Northwest Missouri State University

Masters in Education in Teaching and Learning: ElementaryThirty-three hour programDesigned to meet the special needs of elementary teachers who are in their early career yearsMajor goals of the program:assist these teachers to improve their practice fully equip them to persist in the professionwhich is critical during this time of significant teacher shortages*

Masters in Education in Teaching and Learning: ElementaryThird goal:enable the participating institutions to offer a new online degree program while minimizing staffing issuesGoals achieved through the cooperative sharing of program courses*

Program CurriculumDeveloped by university faculty from across the state of MissouriMet over a three year periodProgram based around the work of the National Board for Professional Teaching standards*

Program DescriptionTwelve-hour core of education courseworkThree emphasis area options: ReadingMathScienceMust complete the introductory course in both of the options not selectedThree hours of elective course(s) to round out the program*

Program DescriptionProgram draws on what has been learned in recent years on the various campuses and through the literature about web-based deliveryDesign of this 33-hour program targets those who wish to pursue graduate programming but are limited due to their geographic location and work requirements*

Program EvolutionInitially, eight universities were interested in developing the programDifficult and expensive to bring groups together*

Program EvolutionStrong state coordinating board and administrative support for development of the programLimit duplication of programsGet some institutions to begin offering online coursesSave development time and resources*

Program EvolutionOne by one, five universities dropped out of the program for various reasonsLack of faculty support for online programs Lack of faculty support to work with other institutions Why dont we develop our own online program? Lack of faculty collegiality toward faculty members from other institutions Are their faculty members as good as ours?*

Dead Men WalkingThe surviving three Missouri state institutions have joined forces to fully develop the cooperative online degree programLincoln UniversityNorthwest Missouri State UniversitySoutheast Missouri State University*

Program Mechanics

Memorandum of UnderstandingAgreement between the three institutionsFormally signed at a state-wide meetingOutlines the working relationship behind the program*

Program AccountabilityProgram supervised by an Oversight Team Composed of an equal number of deans-level representatives from each institutionOversees the program directorDirects the development and implementation of the online masters degree program and its policiesConvenes on a quarterly basis*

Program AccountabilityProgram collaboratively developed by facultyInitial focus determined by Oversight TeamCurriculum changes may be proposed by facultyMeet annually to review program and for professional developmentChanges must be approved by the faculty and the Oversight Team*

Program Web SiteDeveloped, hosted and maintained by Northwest Missouri State University URL identified with the state of Missouri--not any particular institutionwww.MOHEC.orgMissouri Online Higher Education Consortium*

Common CriteriaEach institution will follow a common admission policyA minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00Alternative admission minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and 3.25 on the first nine hours of graduate coursework in the programGraduate record exam: 475 minimum on the verbal or quantitative score and a minimum of 400 on the other sectionLetter of support from the students employer (supervisor) if the student works in a school or educational institutionA cover letter briefly discussing the student's teaching background and the emphasis (cohort) area that the student is interested in (reading, math or science)*

Common CriteriaStudents must designate which campus is his/her home campusThe university of record will grant the degreeStudents will function under the rules and regulations of their home institutionAll advising and in-depth mentoring will be conducted by the faculty at the student's home university*

Course Management SoftwareSystem needed to cover online registration, campus quotas, wait lists, and course hostingeCollege selected as course management softwareCourses hosted on eCollege serversBackup systemsSystem securityOnline and telephone 24/7 tech support*

RegistrationEach campus initially allocated 7 seats per courseOverprescribed courses are wait listedAvailable seats from other campuses reallocated prior to start of classes Student admissions requirements verified prior to finalization of course registrationDrop/adds handled by web site*

RegistrationRegistration information and updates sent to each institutionProcessed through each campus Registrars Office*

Grade ReportingStandard letter grades used--A, B, C, D, and FGrades reported through secure web site by facultyOnly a students home institution can view that students gradesSubmission of grades to the Registrars office on each campus is made in the format as designated by each officedirect viewing and printing of grade reportsdownload of files containing grade reportse-mail receipt of grade reports*

Graduate FacultyParticipating faculty must qualify as graduate faculty at their respective home institutionsEach university will have responsibility for its participating faculty with respect to:employment decisionswork assignmentsannual work evaluationstermination decisions*

Course DevelopmentCourses assigned for development and initial delivery to each campusCore and content strands split across all three campuses (no one campus controls a strand)Faculty course developers paid $5,000 Deficit funded by Northwest Course materials developed is considered to be jointly owned by the participating institutions and the faculty member(s) involved in the course development process*

Cooperative Training of Online FacultyNorthwest provided technical and pedagogical assistance with the design and development of the courses Additional assistance provided by local campus faculty support offices*

Course DeliveryEach course must be offered on a regularly scheduled basis as determined by the Oversight TeamCourses may be moved among the institutionsMultiple sections of course may be taught from multiple campusesCourse web site duplicated*

Financial ConsiderationsTuition determined by the Oversight TeamCommon tuition across the participating universitiesThe student's university of record assess all tuition and fees $250 per credit hour for Missouri residents$350 per credit hour for out-of-state residentsEach institution may add on additional fees*

Financial ConsiderationsProgram Director invoices the institutions at the rate of $200 per credit hour for their students enrolled in program coursesEnrolling institution retains $50 per credit (for in-state and $150 per credit out-of-state)*

Financial ConsiderationsPayment to each institution teaching an online course based on the following formula:Payment Amount = $100 X number of credit hours X number of students enrolled in the course$6,000 = $100 X 3 X 20The institution is responsible for the payment of faculty member's salary and other related expenses*

Continued ParticipationAny institution may discontinue participation in this programSubject to the approval of the Oversight Team and the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher EducationContingencies must be made for all admitted students to be able to complete their programs*

Course SchedulesCourses delivered within the academic calendars of all campusesThe start date for a semester is set for the latest start date among the three campusesThe end date for a semester is set for the earliest end date among the three campusesFall and spring semesters15 weeksSummer sessions8 1/2 weeks*

Program MarketingWeb site developed and maintained by NorthwestHoused at distinguishing web addressInternal marketing with each campus bureaucracyProvide background information about programProvide key information needed for each areaGraduate officeAdmissionsRegistrarsFinancial Aid and Student Financial AccountsLibraryLack of overlap in market areas*

NorthwestSoutheastLincoln

Program MarketingBrochures and other marketing materials centrally developed and producedMailings conducted by each campus with costs covered by Program DirectorMajor marketing effort conducted through the Regional Professional Development Centers across the stateSearch engine data uploaded by Program Director*

Reality CheckState drops requirement for masters-level credit for recertificationCEUs are sufficientBudget cuts on state and local levelsNo money for professional developmentNo money for movement on salary scaleReality---only 7 students enrolledProgram currently on hold*

The ExperienceSo what has this experience been like?A bit frustrating at times

www.MOHEC.orgDr. Roger Von Holzen rvh@mail.nwmissouri.edu

Ms Darla Runyondrunyon@mail.nwmissouri.edu