DIVISION OF PART-TIME STUDIES 1

Overview The Office of Part-Time Studies – History (University College to Part-Time Studies) – Enrollment Data – Initiatives taken over the past decade FastForward Classes (Hybrid) BIS degree program BIS Enrollment Impact Education Dynamics Study – Study Recommendations Rationale for eLearning degree proposal 2

History of Part-Time Studies 3 Part-Time and Continuing Studies at Villanova University; an educational anchor in greater Philadelphia since Part-Time Studies was called University College until the late 1990’s. Over the past 95 years, thousands of adult students have earned degrees, prepared for graduate and professional school, gained valuable job skills and explored new fields of knowledge through this division of Villanova University. Part-Time Studies students complete bachelor degrees and the Office of Continuing Studies offers non-credit classes and programs, both campus, satellite locations and through eLearning.

4 Teacher Certification: In 1918, Pennsylvania had mandated that its high school teachers were required to hold a college degree from an accredited institution. Villanova took courses to where the students were--south Philadelphia at John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School. The school was near the homes of those who sought a college education. Degrees Offered: B.A. and B.S. degrees to meet the needs of teachers/other adults seeking to earn a degree part time and through a robust summer sessions program. History of Part-Time Studies

5 The GI Bill of Rights: Villanova expanded after World War II. GI Bill enabled veterans to achieve higher education. Many pursued full time studies. Sister Formation Movement: In the 1950s and 1960s, an important milestone. Prior to the 1950s, most women who joined religious congregations had very little educational background for teaching, nursing or other ministerial tasks— basically, they learned on the job. Prior to Certification Requirements, most sisters completed just two years of college at a motherhouse, receiving a “normal” certificate that enabled them to teach full time while completing their work toward a degree over several summers.

6 Enrollment Data 1960’s to 1990’s: Villanova maintained a robust Part-Time Studies program on campus in the evenings to meet the needs of the adult learner In 1980’s to Present: Decline in Enrollments with more competitors for the adult student market offering accelerated degree programs, multiple locations including high schools and flexible programs with generous transfer policies. Local Institutions competing include St. Joseph’s University, Drexel, Immaculata, Penn and Temple. Online competitors began with University of Phoenix, but now include more and more traditional institutions.

Enrollment Data 7

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Part-Time Studies Initiatives 9 Late 1990’s: Villanova began offering FastForward Classes for adult Students (currently per semester) Summer eLearning Classes grew from 2 courses in 1997 to 70 courses in 2013, which stopped Summer Session decline and led to increases Villanova offered the BIS degree exclusively for PTS in : Reduced core (60 to 45 credits) & more course choices New degree was more consistent with competitors Consistent enrollments for a decade but perceptual issue concerning degree title Transfer Agreements with Delaware County Community College, Montgomery County Community College, Community College of Philadelphia, Manor Junior College, and the Art Institute PTS was able to slow the declining enrollments with creative and innovative ideas

B.I.S. Impact on Enrollment 10

Education Dynamics Study 11 Fall 2011: Adult Student Market Assessment was conducted by Education Dynamics Research firm. The study assessed: Market for adult programs in the Philadelphia region. Adult student demand for undergraduate education. Gathering data that would allow Villanova to ensure that institutional policies, practices and programs are responsive to changing needs of undergraduate adult students who live, work, and study in the Philadelphia area. Programs offered by institutions that Part Time Studies identified as competitors and were rated as such by the undergraduate adult students who were surveyed.

Education Dynamics Recommendations 12 Recommendations were provided in the following areas: Program Offering Scheduling and Format Marketing and Outreach

Education Dynamics Recommendations Program Offerings Part-Time Studies should focus recruitment efforts on students seeking to complete their degree Part-Time Studies offerings are only somewhat aligned with market demand… potential areas for expansion include programs in business*, health and social sciences *PTS currently offers the B.B.A. in General Business and Accountancy 13

Education Dynamics Recommendations Scheduling and Format Part-Time Studies should offer all high demand programs and courses in an accelerated format…. splitting each semester into eight week terms Part-Time Studies should identify one high demand program for fully online delivery Part-time studies may want to consider offering some courses during weekdays The once per week frequency of FastForward class meetings is well aligned with market preferences…. in the classroom we also endorse the once per week model 14

Marketing and Outreach Recruitment efforts for PTS programs should focus heavily on students who have enrolled in a community college…. who want to complete a bachelor’s degree…. emphasize transfer credit policy Villanova must take aggressive steps to leverage its solid name recognition…. to raise market awareness of PTS Marketing/outreach messaging …. should capitalize on the solid perception… that Villanova offers a high-quality education and counter the perception that costs are too high Marketing/outreach messaging for PTS should focus on affordability… not dwell on academic quality Messaging should directly counter the widespread perceptions and assumptions about Villanova’s high cost Flexibility of scheduling options is highly compelling to adult students 15 Education Dynamics Recommendations

Marketing and Outreach continued The feature most likely to draw prospective students to Villanova’s PTS programs…. should be highlighted … is its FastForward courses Marketing…. aimed at the adult market should rely heavily on the Internet… while retaining a multi media mix….newspaper advertising should be primarily in Community College papers The University’s website must easily/clearly direct adult students to the PTS web page The PTS open houses… should be continued…. however marketing for open house should promote registration for classes followed by ….attendance at the event Follow-up with inquiries must be done promptly… in order to maintain the initial interest Villanova should fully understand the manner in which the largest adult-serving institutions offer, price and administer their undergraduate programs for adult students, in an effort to capture market share from those whose current share is higher than market preference 16 Education Dynamics Recommendations

Villanova PTS should offer at least one full degree program and one full certificate program that are delivered entirely online (elearning). Education Dynamics Recommendations 17

eLearning Enrollment Trends The proportion of higher education students taking at least one online course: Fall 2002 – Fall Babson Survey Research Group, Pearson, The Sloan Consortium, Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States, by I. Elaine Allen and Jeff Seaman (Babson Survey Research Group and Quahog Research Group, LLC., 2013), 19

eLearning Enrollment Trends eLearning enrollment has annual growth rate of 17.3 percent Only 13.5% of higher education institutions had no online offerings in % of institutions provided complete online programs in 2012 The number of private nonprofit institutions with fully online offerings doubled over the past decade (from 22.1% in 2002 to 48.4% in 2012). Babson Survey Research Group, Pearson, The Sloan Consortium, Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States, by I. Elaine Allen and Jeff Seaman (Babson Survey Research Group and Quahog Research Group, LLC., 2013),

Rationale for eLearning Villanova can reach students outside the Philadelphia area Villanova has experience and success in eLearning Significant competition continue to increase from eLearning programs and colleges with multiple sites Advancements in eLearning Technology continues to enhance the classroom experience for students and faculty Adult student population seeking BA degree is a large student market and eLearning is attractive to them 20

The evolving adult student is more tech savvy, working long hours, comfortable with eLearning eLearning area is growing, not diminishing Meets strategic goal of attracting a diverse and national student population Villanova can continue to be a leader, not a follower, in the eLearning arena 21 Rationale for eLearning

In Conclusion The vision for Part-Time Studies is to have a nationally recognized, rigorous, high quality, student-centered academic program for adult learners. 22