MnSCU E-Student Services Meeting Pat Shea Darlene Burnett June 26, 2003 Minneapolis, MN

WCET Founded in 1989 by WICHE 240 members Institutions, Corporations, Non Profits, Government Agencies 45 states & 6 countries

WCET The Cooperative advancing the effective use of technology in higher education.

Focus on Student Services Principles of Good Practice 1995 Putting Principles into Practice 1996-99 Accrediting Guidelines: Best Practices for Electronically-Offered Degree & Certificate Programs 2000 Beyond the Administrative Core 2000-03 EduTools 2003 Audit Service 2003

Principles of Good Practice Widely adopted 4 Principles re: Student Services http://www.wcet.info/projects/balancing/principles.asp The program provides students with clear, complete, and timely information on the curriculum, course and degree requirements, nature of faculty/student interaction, assumptions about technological competence and skills, technical equipment requirements, availability of academic support services and financial aid resources, and costs and payment policies. Enrolled students have reasonable and adequate access to the range of student services appropriate to support their learning. Accepted students have the background, knowledge, and technical skills needed to undertake the program. Advertising, recruiting, and admissions materials clearly and accurately represent the program and the services available.

Putting Principles into Practice Survey of current approaches General guidelines Best practices tour http://www.wcet.info/projects/studentservices/ 417 institutions responded from 17 western states No school with a full array of services 15% required students to register in person at a site 90% offered face-to-face academic advising only 31% offered no special access to the library for distance students 37% required students to obtain their text books on their own 76% had no social networks to help distance students overcome sense of isolation Only 44% offered personal counseling Only 5% had retention plans for distance learners Anology: Tanker vs. school of fish

Accrediting Guidelines 4 guidelines & protocols Commitment to the program Information for prospective students Services for students Sense of community http://www.wcet.info/resources/accreditation/

Beyond the Administrative Core 4 partners 4 deliverables Commercial modules Homegrown solutions Guidelines for creating new services Case studies Resources Best practices & Webcast series http://www.wcet.info/projects/laap/

EduTools Comparing student service products & service providers http://www.edutools.info/index.jsp Admissions Assessment & Testing Orientation Academic Advising Counseling Career Planning Tutoring

Audit: 10 Online Services WCET partnership with MnSCU alpha version Admissions Registration Student Accounts Catalog Schedule of Classes Financial Aid Academic Advising Orientation Communications (institution to student) Career Planning

Audit: 2 Pilot Schools Minneapolis Community & Technical College Hibbing Community College Sally Pinkston Jim Antilla and team

Audit: 2 Pilot Activities Institution Self-Audit Service WCET Audit Service Sally Pinkston Jim Antilla and team