Higher Ed – NSpire

NSpire - Ideas for Innovation

May 14, 2019 | In Culture, Higher Ed, Individual, Institutional, Resources

Reducing Time Constraints

In the survey that the Lab conducted at the beginning of this semester, we asked faculty to rate on a scale of 0-100 the most significant obstacles to innovation at NWC. The runaway winner was “lack of time”: 59% of respondents rated it in the 80-100 range, while only 3% rated it at 40 or below […]

May 14, 2019 | In Culture, Departmental / Program, Division, Higher Ed, Institutional, Resources

Break Down Departmental Silos

When one thinks of silos, the image is of a large cement structure; however, today’s silos are more of an image of grain bins connected by towers and catwalks between a cluster of bins. Perhaps a better way to think of this recommendation is not that we need to break down the silos, but instead […]

April 11, 2019 | In Classroom, Culture, Higher Ed, Institutional, Teaching, Uncategorized

Athletes to Scholars

A primary example of how we have let old habits dictate our actions in a new era is athletics. In the past 15 years, athletics have become one of the most significant draws for prospective students; in a recent survey of prospective students, athletic opportunities drew the largest percent of male applicants of all possible […]

April 10, 2019 | In Classroom, Culture, Departmental / Program, Higher Ed, Institutional, Resources, Teaching

Increased External Learning for All Programs

NWC must continue to establish strong, enduring, and multifaceted relationships with regional businesses and organizations. These relationships can take many forms such as responding to a local educational or research need; collaborating to reinvigorate civic culture; partnering to create mutually beneficial programs; and developing experiential learning opportunities. Increasing these relationships will enhance students’ educational experience and offer needed assistance to […]

April 10, 2019 | In Culture, Higher Ed, Institutional, Policy, Resources

Creative Student “Work” Exchange

Students are seeking a lower cost option for college and parents are facing “sticker-shock” for higher education in private colleges. Higher education is facing more enrollment challenges due to costs, but if those costs could be lowered through a work exchange program then more students would be able to financially afford NWC. Furthermore, research has found […]

April 9, 2019 | In Departmental / Program, Division, Higher Ed, Stability, Survival, Teaching

Curricular Malleability

Not all aspects of higher education are inherently flexible. Accrediting bodies place stringent demands on certain departments; proposals for new or modified majors require a rationale, an assessment plan, and supporting documents—including syllabi for courses that may not yet exist; college-wide programs, such as NWCore, may require a faculty vote before changes can be made; […]

April 8, 2019 | In Classroom, Higher Ed, Significance, Stability, Teaching, Uncategorized

Adult Learning Strategies

Problem/Opportunity Technology has changed the way students learn, no matter their age. Although technology is generally easier to navigate for the younger student, it is a critical tool to understand and utilize in the world we live in today- no matter the age. With all the information we need at our fingertips, adult learners want […]

April 8, 2019 | In Classroom, Culture, Departmental / Program, Higher Ed, Resources, Significance, Stability, Teaching

Split / Hybrid / Online Classes

Not only can enrollment be increased through transfer students, perceptions regarding online education are changing. According to the 2019 Online Education Trends Report, 99% of administrators found that demand for online education has increased or stayed the same over the past few years. In 2018, 73% of schools made a decision to offer online programs based […]

March 13, 2019 | In Departmental / Program, Higher Ed, Institutional, Resources, Stability, Teaching

Hybrid/Online Course Resources

As the demand for online education increases, schools are responding by offering new degree programs every year. The online education space has grown rapidly in recent years, and the variety of programmatic options available can be overwhelming to prospective students. The third annual Online Education Trends report provides the latest look at online learner demographics, […]

March 13, 2019 | In Culture, Departmental / Program, Higher Ed, Resources, Stability, Teaching

Hybrid/Online Course Resources

This report outlines distance education trends across the US for 2018. Online enrollments have grown nationally for the fourteenth straight year, specifically for public and not-for-profit institutions. Seaman, J.E., Allen, I.E., & Seaman, J. (2018). Grade increase: Tracking distance education in the United States. [Annual Report]. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED580852.pdf