1. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY T WENTY YEARS OF ENHANCING ONLINE STUDENT S UCCESS Amy Buechler-Steubing & Siri Sorensen Capella University – Learning Assistance Center College Reading and Learning Association Annual Conference Boston, MA November 2013

2. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 1 CAPELLA AT A GLANCE Physically located in Downtown Minneapolis Located online at www.capella.eduwww.capella.edu 34,503 Learners and 39,371 Alumni in all 50 states and 61 countries (as of September 30, 2013) Doctorate (30%), Master’s (42%), Bachelor’s (25%), and Certificate (3%) Average age is 40 (range of 19 to 89!) 74% female, 26% male 95% part-time, 5% full-time 54% of color, 46% white, non-Hispanic 14% affiliated with the military Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)

3. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 2 LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER Staffing model: 3 full-time staff 23 part-time student staff (Tutors/SI Leaders) Utilize online tutoring vendor (Smarthinking)

4. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 3 AGENDA 1.Reflect: What has changed at our institution? 2.Celebrate achievements: Share your observations. 3.Consider new opportunities: Create a road map. 4.New ideas: What does the future hold?

5. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 4 LOOKING BACK…20 YEARS  Campus services and website  Tutoring services  Supplemental Instruction program  Creating instructional materials focused on working adults  Incorporate media and interactive elements into orientation and courses across programs

6. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 5 Website evolution 2006-2013

7. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 6 HOW HAS YOUR PROGRAM EVOLVED?  What improvements or changes have you made to your program in the last 20 years?  Were these changes initiated by you or external factors?

8. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 7 How did we get to where we are today? Asking questions Building relationships Creativity with resources Not being afraid to try something new

9. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 8  Advisors and Enrollment Counselors  Course development  Web/media design  Writing Program  University Orientation Seminar  Academic Affairs (Library, Teaching & Learning, Dissertation Support, Disability Services, Military Support)  School Leadership  Faculty EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

10. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 9  Course development Opportunity to scaffold in learning assistance resources/support Establish effective course design best practices for integrating tutoring services Develop models for providing synchronous writing support connected to specific courses  Learning Resources Steering Committee (LRSC) Offers a scalable approach to increase staff and student awareness of resources, provide academic success resource training, and capture resource feedback which informs future resource development and improvements. Team of over 20 resource ambassadors extend learning resource training and information to over 250 staff on a regular basis EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

11. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 10 ADVANCING STUDENT SUPPORT  Scaffolding support into courses Tutoring and writing support Action plans for skill development  Online campus and web presence – one of the key places we interact with students  Offering synchronous support – supplemental instruction program for online courses  Expanded “Learning Assistance Center office hours” not just 8-5

12. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 11 Our website today

13. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 12 CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO  Learning Assistance Curriculum framework Learner success competencies Design principles and processes Assessment, resource, and interventions aligned across the student lifecycle  Interactive modules – provides personalized results and a guided experience  Evaluation of online content and curriculum – quality checks

14. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 13 Interactive module examples

15. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 14 MAXIMIZE RESOURCES  Use campus Web site (iGuide) to deliver and promote support services and self-paced resources  Partner with Faculty Development to create self- paced training for instructors  Establish and implement design principles and processes to ensure development of high-quality resources

16. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 15 MAXIMIZE RESOURCES  Provide over 600 pages of competency-based self- paced instruction and multimedia for students, staff, and faculty  Offer competency-based learning assistance resources covering topics such as time management, reading strategies, critical thinking skills, research strategies, and statistics

17. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 16 DEVELOPING A ROAD MAP

18. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 17 WHAT’S ON OUR ROAD MAP?  Advancing competency-based learning assistance model  Flex Path Supporting learners in our self- paced program option  Writing support enhancements Synchronous writing labs Online writing resources  Tutoring support designed into courses  Partnership with Career Center and Library 21 st Century/Employability skills

19. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 18 Dialogue Thanks for attending!

20. © 2012 CAPELLA UNIVERSITY 19 CONTACT INFORMATION  Amy Buechler-Steubing amy.buechler-steubing@capella.edu 1-888-227-3552, x5640.  Siri Sorensen siri.sorensen@capella.edu 1-888-227-3552, x5761