1. Collaborating and Coaching Through Institutional Change
Both
Ariel Powers-Schaub and Danielle Stertz
Academic Success Coaches, UW Flexible Option

2. Overview
UW Flexible Option (Flex) – Competency-based education in the UW System
Role of Academic Success Coach
Launch of Flex Business Administration (BSBA) degree
Review of Case Studies
Lessons Learned
Ariel

3. What is UW-Extended Campus?
Formerly the Division of Continuing Education, Outreach, and E-Learning (CEOEL) – UW- Extension
Partnership with all campuses in UW System to offer
Traditional online (collaborative)
Online competency-based degree programs (UW Flexible Option (Flex))
Independent Learning courses
University Learning Store
And more…
Ariel

4. What is Competency-Based Education (CBE)?
Time vs. Competencies
Ariel

5. UW Flexible Option
Ariel

6. Academic Success Coach
Ariel

7. UW Flexible Option BSBA degree
When
What
Fall 2015
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree approved by UW System Board of Regents
December 2016
First cohort of BSBA students enroll in a subscription period
June 2018
BSBA degree program announces transition to UW-Parkside (as a result of UW System restructuring)
March 2019
First cohort of Flex BSBA students enroll in a subscription period at UW-Parkside
Ariel

8. What’s in a Degree?
Danielle

9. Collaborating in “the Neutral Zone”
“Just when you decide that the hardest part of managing transition is getting people to let go of the old ways, you enter a state of affairs in which neither the old ways nor the new ways work satisfactorily. People are caught between the demands of conflicting systems and end up immobilized, like Hamlet, trying to decide whether ‘to be or not to be.’” – William Bridges
Danielle

10. Collaborating in “the Neutral Zone”
“One of the most difficult aspects of the neutral zone is that most people don’t understand it. They expect to be able to move straight from the old to the new. But this isn’t a trip from one side of the street to the other. It’s a journey from one identity to another, and that kind of journey takes time.” – William Bridges
Danielle

11. Discussion is our “neutral zone!”
Case Studies Exercise
Danielle
Discussion is our “neutral zone!”

12. Case Study #1 Questions
In your role, how would you respond to a student who came to you with this situation?
How might other parts of the student experience be affected by this academic change?
In what ways would you collaborate with other student services units to support this student?
How might your approach be different if working with an on-campus student vs. an online student in this situation?

13. Case Study #2 Questions
In your role, how would you respond to a student who came to you with this situation? What could you do to try to retain this student?
How might other parts of the student experience be affected by this academic change?
In what ways would you collaborate with other student services units to support this student?
How might your approach be different if working with an on-campus student vs. an online student in this situation?

14. Lessons Learned
Speak up when you see a problem - know when to let it go and when to persist
Know your campus/office politics when speaking up
Don’t be afraid to double-check with your peers - if you’re experiencing a problem, they may be too, or they may be able to help you
Ariel first 3
Danielle second 3
Can’t possibly anticipate everything that could go right or wrong
Don’t take for granted leadership that truly puts students first
Take care of yourself

15. Questions? Ariel Powers-Schaub – ariel.powers-schaub@uwex.edu
Danielle Stertz –
Bridges, W. (2009). Managing Transitions: Making the most of change. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.
why-it-matters-to-you/