flynn014

Last time I wrote about two concerns I have, regarding branch campus administration, if institutions hope to see an entrepreneurial attitude and significant enrollment growth.   These choices stem from not understanding innovation and entrepreneurship, and they get in the way of an outreach mission. My third concern came as a shock to me, when I began consulting.   Many institutions actually have their academic departments at the main campus develop the class schedule for their branch campuses.   This never, ever works well . When the schedule is set at the main campus, I hear about courses required for graduation that are scheduled at 10:00 am, when the intended audience is working adult learners.   I hear about courses added and deleted, without anyone bothering to tell the branch administration about the changes.   Even worse, I hear about programs being offered without any predictable plan for delivery of required courses, at all.   S...

If it isn’t apparent, my recent posts reflect growing concern and frustration with the way institutions administer their branch campuses.   Having spent some years working with online programs, as well as studying the implications of disruptive environments on organizations, I also see important strategic connections between branches and online delivery. Moreover, virtually every consulting role I’ve filled was at least in part tied to a president who wanted to see enrollment growth at their branches and in their online programs.   Although I’m pleased and impressed that these presidents recognize the potential significance of branch growth, the press of day-to-day crises at the main campus makes it nearly impossible for presidents to personally lead specific initiatives. I should add that, again in my own experience, provosts or academic vice presidents seem less consistently concerned than presidents about enrollment growth through new audiences.   De...

I have not written about innovation or disruption in higher education, on Creating the Future , for a while, although I do write about it on my branch campus blog.   This post will be published on both.   (The blog addresses are www.branchcampus.blogspot.com and www.drcharlesbird.com/creatingthefuture .) I’m intrigued by the rapid progress of MOOCs (massive open online courses) and other online options, but the trigger for this post is the pushback we see, especially from some faculty members.   The defense of traditional classroom education seems disingenuous, appearing to suggest that all faculty members create vibrant learning environments and transform students into sophisticated critical thinkers, even as students also acquire undefined benefits from the residential experience. Actually, there are remarkable professors out there, and I know full well that important growth can come through the traditional experience.   The issue is how consiste...