7:30am - 9:00am Registration and Coffee

9:00am - 9:10am Introduction and Welcome

9:10am - 9:55am Changing Institutional Culture to Embrace Online Education
Speakers:
R.J. McGivney, Assistant Provost and Dean of University Programs, University of Hartford
Lorelle Wilson, Director of the Faculty Center for Learning Development, University of Hartford
Phil Lombardi, Director of Academic Computing & Media Services, Bryant University
Robert Shea, Assistant Vice President for Teaching and Learning, Bryant University

Achieving institutional buy-in to support online education can be one of the most challenging aspects of launching a new online initiative. While recognition regarding the importance of online education as a strategic initiative might exist amongst senior leadership and faculty, overcoming the ‘FUD’ (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) requires a carefully crafted strategy of open communication, persistence and planning. In this session, we will hear from two institutions who are addressing the challenges of creating a culture which embraces online education in unique, yet similar way. Join us to hear their stories, lessons learned and recommendations on approaches that might work on your own campus.

9:55am – 10:40am Evolution of an Effective Organizational Support Structure
Speakers:
Eric Friedman, Director, BU Office of Distance Education, Boston University
Elena Garofoli, Senior Instructional Designer, BU Office of Distance Education, Boston University

Deciding how to structure support services for online faculty and students is a challenge that institutions must address before launching online programs. Decisions need to be made as to where to place the support department within the institution, what positions are needed in the department, and how large of a staff is needed. In this session, the Boston University Office of Distance Education will share the story of how their organization evolved over the past 12 years. They will discuss how they started and the evolutionary process they undertook to get to their current structure (which includes instructional design, media development, and student and faculty support).

10:40am – 10:50am Break

10:50am – 11:50am “Lightning Round” mini-presentations

   10:50am – 11:10am Making the Case: Justifying Financial Support at your Institution
   Speaker: David Demers, Chief Operating Officer, Bay Path University

Funding new online initiatives is a challenging task, particularly in these times when institutional budgets are stretched so thin. Creativity and the pursuit of resources from a variety of sources (including external sources) are often necessary strategies. What are some approaches that you can use to justify funding for new online initiatives at your own institution? Join us to hear some strategies that just might work for you as we explore together options for identifying internal and external funding opportunities.

   11:10am – 11:30am Supporting Online Learners
   Speaker: Dan Newman, Program Coordinator for Online Learning Support, Suffolk University

Students learning at a distance have unique needs that must be addressed in order to help them be successful. This session will discuss the importance of preparing and supporting students for online success and will include information on topics such as the importance of providing an orientation for online learners and teaching students success strategies.

   11:30am – 11:50am Preparing Faculty for Online Teaching Success
   Speaker: Amber Vaill, Instructional Designer, Becker College

Teaching online is different from teaching in a traditional classroom, and preparing faculty to transition their teaching skills to a new, digital environment is critical to their success. This session will focus on the importance of providing (and even requiring) training for new online instructors and options for delivering faculty development to new online instructors.

11:50am – 12:50pm Lunch

12:50pm – 1:35pm Outsourcing vs. In-house?
Speakers:
Kevin Corcoran, Executive Director, CT Distance Learning Consortium
Jay Rozgonyi, Director of Academic Computing, Fairfield University

Institutions looking to initiate new online learning programs have a difficult decision to make regarding whether to build support capacity from within or partner with service providers to outsource some or all of the development and delivery of new online initiatives. In this session, we will hear from one member institution which has valuable experience with building internal capacity as well as outsourcing various services to support their online initiative. We will also hear from a service provider who will address some of the key reasons why clients have partnered with them to help support new online initiatives. Join us to learn more about the ever-important question ‘Outsource or In-House?’ and how to evaluate which approach might be the best fit for your own institution.

1:35pm – 1:45pm Break

1:45pm - 2:30pm Providing Quality Support Services to Online Faculty and Students
Speaker: Chris Moore, Associate Director of Instructional Technology, University at Albany – SUNY

In order to ensure that students and faculty have a positive experience in the online classroom, institutions must provide high quality support services specifically designed for online learning. Institutions need to evaluate whether their existing services are appropriate for distance education and how to best provide easy-to-use support services that will make students and faculty successful. In this session, we will hear how one university provides support for online programs, including topics such as course development and evaluation, student support services, technical support services, and the evaluation and selection of new technology tools. This session will provide insight into best practices for delivering these services and will help generate ideas for ways you can improve or add services at your institution.

2:30pm - 3:00pm Final Reflections and Wrap Up Activity

Attendees will discuss the major takeaways from the day and discuss how the information they have learned during the workshop will help them address key challenges they face at their institutions.

3:00pm End