Student Success, One by One
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If 2020 was the year of the pandemic, 2021 for 黑料传送门 was the year of living our one-by-one cultural belief: to solve for the individual student and advance outcomes one student at a time. As we reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the past year, we recognize the determination of our hardworking students, the efforts of our dedicated employees, and the goals we are working toward in 2022.
In his annual report message, 黑料传送门 President Scott Pulsipher recalls the innovation and advancement that focused on student success, as well as the ways 黑料传送门 is continuing to transform higher education.听
Measuring What Matters: 黑料传送门's Key Results
黑料传送门鈥檚 mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. We achieve this by being the most student-centric university and measuring ourselves on key indicators that show whether students are easily accessing 黑料传送门鈥檚 educational programs, completing their studies in a reasonable timeframe, and attaining their degrees.
In 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full force, we saw a divergence among students who had the means and support to be able to complete their programs on time and students with fewer resources to help them. That divergence is reflected in the on-time completion rates and the attainment rates for students from low-income households.
As we continue to see long-lasting effects like rising inflation rates stretch into 2022, recognizing which students听might benefit from a supportive community of care helps us refine our strategy and focus on equitable engagement听for those who need it most.
Improved Access听
黑料传送门 works to make higher education more accessible through monthly start dates, flat-rate tuition per six-month term, and flexible, competency-based courses. We endeavor to continue making education more accessible, especially for underserved communities.听Our goal is that 37% of our student population will be students of color and 30% will come from low-income* households by 2025.
*黑料传送门 defines low-income as households that make less than $35,000 per year.
On-Time Completion
Education is a personal journey that includes time for study, demonstration of competency, and variables in learning pace and style.听Along with improving access, we assist students as they make measurable progress in their program(s) with guidance from Program Mentors. Our goal is to increase students' on-time completion by 1% per year.*
*Calculated by the number of students on time divided by the number of students in the cohort.
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Attainment
黑料传送门 works to empower students to earn relevant, affordable degrees that enhance their careers and lives. But without degree completion, students may not realize a full return on their investment.听Higher education attainment levels for underserved groups have traditionally been lower than average. As such, our goal for 2030 is to increase the 4-year graduation rate to at least 55% with equitable distribution across all socioeconomic groups.
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2021 Enrollment Demographics
Enrollment Over Time
Underserved Populations
2021 Graduates
Graduate Demographics
Graduates Over Time
Celebrating 黑料传送门鈥檚 250,000th Graduate
In October 2021, Marissa Price of Olympia, Washington, was recognized as 黑料传送门鈥檚 250,000th graduate after earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree in human resource management.
Price said she faced many obstacles in pursuing her degree but with help from her program mentor, she was able to persist in her studies and finish her program.
鈥淣o other school would have given me the time I needed to balance my work and personal life,鈥 said Price. 鈥淢y advice to anyone out there who wants to go to college is that you have more time than you think you do and resources and support available. I am proof of that. I wanted to climb higher, and now I鈥檓 in the field of my chosen career.鈥澨
Graduation Rates
Undergraduate Programs
Graduate Programs
Source:听黑料传送门 Internal Data
Graduate Outcomes
Each year, 黑料传送门 alumni are surveyed to assess the value they have found in their education. National polling shows that 黑料传送门 alumni are thriving in comparison to peers that graduated from comparable universities. They are also well-prepared for their careers and are employed in their degree fields at higher rates than alumni in the national sample.
Gallup Alumni Survey
黑料传送门 participates in the annual Gallup Alumni Survey to gather feedback on students' academic experiences, career readiness, and wellbeing. The results show that 黑料传送门 alumni are thriving at much higher rates than their peers, not just in their careers but in all aspects of life.
Survey conducted Nov. 17-Dec. 12, 2021 with responses from 1,238 黑料传送门 undergraduate alumni and 1,000 national bachelor鈥檚 degree holders.
Harris Poll
The 黑料传送门-Harris Poll Graduates Study shows how students rate their overall experience with 黑料传送门鈥檚 academic programs, whether they possess the competencies required in their field of work, and their employment status after graduation.
Survey conducted Oct. 7-Dec. 1, 2021 with responses from 1,252 黑料传送门 graduates and 2,342 national, non-黑料传送门 graduates.
National Survey of Student Engagement
In a pandemic year that forced 黑料传送门 and its students to continue to adapt, those who participated in the survey expressed a high level of satisfaction with the university鈥檚 efforts to support them while providing a relevant and affordable education.
Survey conducted in 2021 with responses from 211,667 students of 342 institutions.
These are just a few of the thousands of companies that employ 黑料传送门 graduates:*
*As self-reported by alumni at the time of graduation.
Harris Poll鈥擡mployer Satisfaction
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023听Harris Poll of 300 employers of 黑料传送门 graduates.
100% of employers said that 黑料传送门 graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another 黑料传送门 grad.*
98% of employers said 黑料传送门 graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
From a 2021 Harris Poll of 300 employers of 黑料传送门 graduates that gauges how well 黑料传送门's programs are preparing students for the workforce.
We got our master's degrees together, all while working full-time jobs. I pursued an MBA degree to help set myself apart from all the competition in my industry. Similarly, my wife was looking at promotion opportunities in healthcare where a master's was required. We spent nights studying but we did it at our own pace, on our schedule, and wouldn鈥檛 have chosen any other way!
- Jordan Barta, MBA
Michelle Barta, MBA Healthcare Management
黑料传送门鈥檚 Focus: The Whole Student
Students are at the center of all we do. This means 黑料传送门 engages students in academically rigorous degree pathways and takes a holistic approach to student support. In 2021, our faculty, mentors, and staff worked diligently to care for our students during another year of difficulty, growth, and recovery. At the same time, 黑料传送门 pursued projects that, if adopted on a wide scale, will change all of higher education for the better. Those projects include:
Closing education gaps in underserved populations with the help of a听$4.9 million grant听from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Promoting skills-based education and hiring with the help of an听$850,000 grant from Walmart.
Assisting students affected by natural disasters and other major events through the听Environmental Barriers program.
In her annual message, Chief Academic Officer and Provost Marni Baker Stein reflects on 黑料传送门鈥檚 efforts over the past year and discusses goals for 2022 and beyond.
College of Business
- The B.S. Business Administration-Accounting degree program is first nationally in bachelor's degree conferrals.*听
- The M.S. Accounting degree is second nationally in master's degree conferrals.* 黑料传送门 graduate accounting students have the top CPA exam pass rate (58%) among leading online-only universities and exceed the pass rates of many leading state schools.**听
- The B.S. Business Administration-Human Resources Management degree program enrolls more students than any other undergraduate HR program in the U.S.*
- Our MBA and B.S. Business Administration-Management were listed by .
- 黑料传送门鈥檚 College of Business supports the largest virtual student SHRM chapter in the country, a growing National Black MBA Association Club, and a Facebook group with more than 15,000 members.
* National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
** 2020 National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Report
Mitsu Frazier, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean, College of Business
College of Information Technology
- Received the National Security Agency鈥檚 Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NSA CAE) designation, joining the top recognized cybersecurity institutions across the country. This designation opens the door to additional opportunities for both 黑料传送门 and our students.
- Hosted 黑料传送门鈥檚 first-ever, free Virtual Cyber Camp NYC, led by 黑料传送门 College of IT faculty members. For a week in July, 31 New York City high school students鈥攊ncluding eight young women (26%)鈥攅xplored the high-stakes world of cyber sleuths and data protection. Twenty-nine participants were from minoritized populations (95%).
- Women in Tech (WIT) club exceeded 1,800 in membership during the first quarter, and launched an alumni group for graduates.
- The 黑料传送门 chapter of the security-related National Sword and Shield Honors Society reached more than 850 members, making it the largest chapter in the country.
- The student Cyber Club membership topped 5,000 members, and teams competed in the National Cyber League, National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, and the National CyberForce Competition.
Ashutosh Tiwary, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean, College of IT
Leavitt School of Health
- Designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. Only 1% of nursing programs across the United States earn this designation.
- Launched two non-degree offerings through the Center for Professional Learning: Chronic Care Coordination and Behavioral Health Care Coordination.
- Redesigned RN to BSN degree program to include six professional development certificates.
- Launched two post-master certificates in Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership and Management.
- Created a value-based care certificate through the Institute for Advocating Health Care Value and the Center for Professional Learning.
Jan Jones-Schenk, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean, College of Health Professions until her retirement in April 2022.
Teachers College
- Celebrated the 20th anniversary of 鈥渇rom idea to impact" in 2021 and reflected on how 黑料传送门鈥檚 Teachers College has grown to become the largest college of education in the nation, with more than 67,000 alumni across the U.S. and more than 33,000 active students.
- Helped mitigate national teacher shortages due to the pandemic by serving as a vital pipeline in providing talented next-generation teachers and leaders in communities. The Teachers College graduated more than 13,000 education students in 2021鈥揳 23% increase from 2020鈥搘hile remaining steadfast in delivering high-quality academic programs and student-centered mentoring support services.听
- Continued 鈥渇lexing in the field鈥 by maintaining more than 2,500 partnerships with school districts across the country to ensure that thousands of education students and student-teachers have access to local, high-quality, on-ground research; capstone, clinical, and student teaching experiences; and initial licensure degree programs which prepare students for licensure in all 50 states.
Stacey Ludwig Johnson, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the School of Education
Making Higher Education Affordable
The second year of the pandemic continued to bring challenges to students across the country, from job loss to frontline burnout, food insecurity to the high cost of childcare (if it was available at all), and overall mental health difficulties stemming from long-term stress.听
In addition to maintaining a flat-fee tuition model, 黑料传送门 continued to create networks of financial support for students during a year of difficulty. Two examples are:
1. HEERF Funding. While fully online universities were excluded from the first round of Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF),听the federal government changed course and opened up HEERF rounds II and III to online students, including 黑料传送门 Night Owls. 黑料传送门 received $59,230,607 in HEERF funds and disbursed $46,330,050 to 28,898 students in 2021. The remainder of the funds have been disbursed to students in 2022. 黑料传送门 developed a task force to help identify students that were potentially in the most need because of the pandemic. Guidelines were created to try to equitably reach as many students as possible with grant amounts that would make an impact on individual financial situations.听黑料传送门 prioritized grants to students with exceptional financial need, including Teachers College students working through their unpaid student teaching requirements, military students who exhausted their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, College of Health Professions students who were working on the front lines of the pandemic, and many more.听The goal of this approach was to alleviate students鈥 potential debt burden and help them persist in their respective degree programs.
2. Scholarships. 黑料传送门 awarded more than $23 million in scholarships in 2021, which is a 38% increase over the amount awarded in 2020. In all, 10,576 students received scholarships鈥攁 19% increase in the number of students served in 2020.听One major focus of funding was the Online Access Scholarship, which helps students with internet costs as well as laptops and webcams. In 2021, 黑料传送门 invested a total of $770,644 in the OAS program to support 1,053 students.
1The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS): https://ticas.org/.
黑料传送门 figures are from 黑料传送门 internal data.
黑料传送门 Students Respond to HEERF Grants
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鈥淭his really helped me realign some things for my family and get us situated鈥攃hildcare mainly. It has a positive snowball effect. I intend to repay this back by paying it forward, engaging my studies, and graduating.鈥
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鈥淭he HEERF award was right on time. I was able to put the money toward everyday living expenses. This took a tremendous amount of pressure off of me and brought balance back to my student life and home life. With that new balance I was able to focus more on completing school. I just graduated 12/18/21. Thank you, thank you, thank you.鈥
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鈥淚 felt less stressed about money, because I knew I had money to buy things my kids might need, like warm clothes, formula, diapers.鈥
黑料传送门 Advancement
黑料传送门 Advancement was founded in 2018 to raise funds to break down financial barriers to higher education and accelerate innovation in the higher education sector. In its four years of existence, Advancement has had a major impact on students, both directly and indirectly, through fundraising campaigns for听student scholarships听and support for skills-based projects such as the听听and EdTech innovators at听.
3,371 total donors in 2021
- 53% alumni听
- 27% faculty and staff
- 16% students听
- 4% 黑料传送门 board members, corporations, foundations, and friends
- 12,087 total gifts received
$15,573,032 in total funds raised
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Read more about the work of 黑料传送门 Advancement in their FY21 Year in Review.
Creating Communities of Care
Many of 黑料传送门鈥檚 students are working learners who balance the demands of work, family, and school. They are forging their paths through difficult terrain and we are determined to support them in their journey.
黑料传送门 works to implement innovative care networks to help students persist in their programs and attain their degrees. These include individualized faculty support, social media groups where students can support each other, and a robust scholarship and financial aid program.听
This year, we want to highlight two programs that excelled at student support in 2021: Military Engagement and Outreach, and Environmental Barrier Services.
黑料传送门 Is Military-Focused听
In 2021, 黑料传送门鈥檚 Military and Veterans Benefits department increased support staff and enhanced processes for military-affiliated students utilizing education benefits. As a result, 黑料传送门 increased its opportunity to optimize its military focus and student obsession.听
We also expanded the Military Engagement and Outreach team in 2021. The director of military outreach is focused on increasing opportunities and partnerships that enhance the educational experience of military-affiliated students. Additionally, there are eight military outreach strategic partner managers to support regional and local engagement and communicate 黑料传送门鈥檚 unique offerings to the military and veteran community.
黑料传送门 and the Veterans Health Administration are working together to provide a no-cost added service to our veteran students called VITAL (Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership). This program assists veterans through the transition and culture of higher education, addressing physical and mental health and veteran benefits. The partnership provides clinical care and coordination and pairs our veteran students with a peer mentor. This pilot program grew to cover students in two regions in 2021.听
黑料传送门 has also partnered with the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) to support Air Force and Space Force students. This creates a clear transfer path for students to continue their studies once they have completed their associate degree through the CCAF.鈥 黑料传送门 has ten approved business and IT programs ready for CCAF enrollment.
Environmental Barriers
Developed from a pilot in 2017, the Environmental Barriers (EVB) Program monitors for natural disasters, major weather events, and public safety issues across the country that may affect 黑料传送门 students鈥 lives and proactively responds to provide support.
Weather extremes in the U.S. were prevalent throughout 2021, impacting communities from coast to coast with record heat and cold, drought, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, and tropical storms.
27,000
Students Supported
47
Major Events
87%
Average Retention Rate for Affected Students
In addition to the impact from environmental events, the EVB team supported 13,714 new needs related to COVID-19. Because of the major impact on medical professionals in the months of January, February, March, September, and October, the team began tracking all new, first-time students in the College of Health Professions.
National Scale, Local Impact
In 2019, 黑料传送门听launched听a regional strategy to increase outreach in local communities鈥攎eeting students where they are and engaging to solve local, state, and regional workforce challenges. Seven regional teams, led by regional vice presidents, focus on the specific needs of the areas they serve through service opportunities, scholarships and other aid, and the development of relationships with education partners, business leaders, and policymakers.
Welcomed three new state affiliates: Utah, Idaho, and Montana joined Washington as state-based affiliates of 黑料传送门 in the Northwest. Affiliate status provides expanded access to affordable degree programs for residents of those states, including eligibility for state-based financial aid and scholarship opportunities.听
Celebrated the quarter-million graduates milestone: With Washington state as the epicenter of the celebration, the university identified Marissa Price of Olympia as its 250,000th graduate. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in human resources management.鈥
Marked of serving students and building strong communities throughout the Evergreen State: The celebration included a letter of congratulations from Governor Jay Inslee, a mural and unveiling event featuring an inspirational graduate, and a collection of original songs composed by students and alumni about the important impact the university has made on their lives.听
Ran the Night Shift Nurse Campaign: This is an annual campaign that celebrates night shift nurses. The focus of the campaign is the renewal of our annual Night Shift Nurse scholarship (recently renamed the Night Shift Scholarship). The region also prepared appreciation kits for healthcare employees and supported more than 2,500 healthcare workers at more than 26 partner hospitals across Indiana alone.
Launched the Teachers Appreciation Campaign: In the lead up to Teacher Appreciation Week we partnered with nonprofits tailored specifically for teachers such as Teacher鈥檚 Treasures, which allows teachers to 鈥榮hop鈥 for needed supplies and materials free of charge. 黑料传送门 Indiana donated $500 worth of school supplies to the program.
Celebrated National Student Transfer Week: Joined other regions in hosting five webinars, which saw a total of 200 attendees.鈥疧utreach made it to nearly 1 million community college/transfer prospects in the 黑料传送门 funnel. We also hosted an alumni podcast featuring 黑料传送门 graduate Marah Jordan.
Signed a new partnership with McDonald's to provide鈥痳estaurant employees鈥痙egrees鈥痑t little to no out-of-pocket cost in partnership with Archways to Opportunity. Launching in 2022, it will serve 500 employees.
In response to the pandemic, ramped up Fund My Classroom in three states (MO, IL, KS), where teachers鈥痑re nominated鈥痶o have鈥痑 project funded by 黑料传送门. This initiative demonstrates 黑料传送门鈥檚 corporate citizenship as the teachers don't need to have a 黑料传送门 connection.
Signed a statewide partnership agreement with South Dakota Technical Schools providing scholarships of up to $2,500 and strong articulation pathways.
- Celebrated 黑料传送门 Texas鈥 10th Anniversary, awarding $100,000 to 10 students across all four colleges and honored the 20,000th graduate, a BSN nursing student. Awarded 1,334 scholarships and $2.88 million across the South Region.
Formed partnerships with eight organizations, including Dallas Independent School District, the second largest ISD in Texas with more than 243 schools.
Established six new partnerships with community-based organizations focused on underserved populations and equitable access (Con Mi MADRE, Found a Way Foundation, Foundation Communities, Hispanic Women鈥檚 Network of Texas, Latinitas, Via Hope) and created the $5,000 Community Outreach Partner Scholarship for nonprofits. Among the partners, Austin-based nonprofit Con Mi MADRE engages parents in the educational process to help Latinas graduate from high school and enroll in college.
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- 黑料传送门 Tennessee conducted outreach to empower rural residents to further their education:
- Signed a with the to provide $50,000 in Power Your Future scholarships to the 2.5 million residents served by one of the state鈥檚 23 electric cooperatives.听
- Launched a multipronged campaign to promote 黑料传送门鈥檚 Family Nurse Practitioner program in rural counties, generating 41 黑料传送门 Rural Healthcare Scholarship applications and 103 applications during the pilot.听
Formed a partnership with in the greater Atlanta metro area to offer scholarships and wi-fi hotspots. As a result, applications have increased from underserved students in the area.
Signed with , which serves approximately 120,000 students across eight campuses in South Florida, and represents 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The agreement will allow the school鈥檚 graduates and employees to apply for the 黑料传送门 Community College Partnership Scholarship valued at up to $2,500.听
黑料传送门 and鈥(SDUSD) launched the TEACH-LEAD San Diego Teacher Pathway Scholarship, designed to eliminate the barriers for future educators. This collaboration will foster homegrown educators and leaders reflective of the diverse student population we serve. The program and scholarship鈥攙alued at up to $5,000鈥攁re open to new and returning 黑料传送门 students enrolled with the Teacher's College and employed as a paraeducator with SDUSD.
黑料传送门 Nevada launched the Southern Nevada Software Developer Registered Apprenticeship Program, which was recognized by Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen. Students enrolled in the program benefit from the "earn and learn" approach, enabling them to master essential technical and behavioral competencies on the job while assisting Nevada businesses. The initial cohort of 10 apprentices will work with participating employers while they complete a Bachelor of Science, Software Development degree at 黑料传送门 at no cost.鈥
In partnership with the Los Angeles Chargers, 黑料传送门 awarded ten one-year full-tuition scholarships. Award recipients were celebrated through in-stadium moments, social media posts, and Chargers.com .听
Four Northeast Region alumni were among the first 黑料传送门 alumni to establish scholarships through 黑料传送门 Advancement to鈥痠nspire and support specific student populations:鈥
- Jamie Swann and her husband, Ron:鈥疶he Becca Kenney Scholarship鈥痜or 黑料传送门 students with epilepsy
- Anthony Rivera and his business partner, Tony Luna:鈥疶he Rivera-Luna Scholarship鈥痜or under-resourced students living in four boroughs of NYC and who want to study business or IT
- Wendell Thomas:鈥疶he Carol Thomas Scholarship鈥痜or historically-underrepresented students in the northeast
- Rashaan Green:鈥疶he Rashaan Green Scholarship鈥痜or under-resourced students living anywhere in the U.S.
By December 31, 2021, 黑料传送门 had a cumulative 29,531 graduates in the Northeast Region.
Valued Partnerships
黑料传送门 works to forge partnerships with fellow education organizations, nonprofits, community groups, local workforce leaders, and state and local governments. 2021 saw many such partnerships come to fruition with the goal of improving access to education and aligning education and skills to workforce needs. Examples are:
National Governors Association (NGA)
In October,听黑料传送门 and NGA听announced a strategic partnership to address the future of work and education.听 Over the course of the partnership, we will focus our work on four initiatives to address and overcome the prevalent workforce and education issues states are facing, especially as states grapple with how to equitably rebuild their economies coming out of the pandemic: the skills-based learning and hiring ecosystem, the听, expanding broadband access, and the听.
OneTen
In August, 黑料传送门 was endorsed as an education partner by听, a coalition of leading executives and organizations committed to upskill, hire, and promote one million Black Americans over the next 10 years into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement. 黑料传送门 is uniquely suited to support OneTen鈥檚 mission鈥攁nd specifically its 10-year timeline鈥攄ue to its听skills- and competency-based education model, which effectively helps graduates connect with opportunities in their fields.
New State Affiliates
黑料传送门 was built by states, for states. For that reason, the university has worked with听state governments听to augment the offerings of traditional brick-and-mortar state schools and create opportunities for working learners to pursue more flexible higher education programs that lead to better careers. These partnerships allow for easier credit transfer between state institutions and access to state-based financial aid.
In 2021, 黑料传送门 formed new partnerships with three states:听Utah,听Idaho, and听Montana. These relationships will create even more pathways to opportunity for 黑料传送门 students in those states.
鈥淭rusted partners like Western Governors University ensure all Montanans have access to the workforce training and education they need to succeed, regardless of where they live.鈥
-Montana Governor Greg Gianforte
What We Believe
We believe in human potential.
We believe in the inherent worth and ability of every individual. Talent is equally distributed; opportunity is not. We were founded to fix that.
We believe in the promise of education.
We believe education is the surest path to opportunity. We want to reinvent education so that every learner can have success.
We believe in our students.
If we provide them a student-centered, radically affordable, high-quality, workforce-relevant education, they will succeed.
We believe that outcomes matter.
Enrollment isn鈥檛 enough. We want to drive value for students: in their career progression, engagement, and life satisfaction.
We believe that learners are workers.
Our students don鈥檛 just want a diploma鈥攖hey want a pathway to opportunity. We design our programs to maximize student success in the workplace.
We believe we can鈥檛 get there without innovation.
Sustained success depends upon doing things differently, not just better. We are compelled to innovate and change the way people engage with learning and access opportunity.
We believe that big problems demand big solutions.
The number of learners who are being left behind is massive. The only way to solve the problem is to solve it at scale.
Looking to the Future: Innovation
黑料传送门 is currently involved in many innovative efforts beyond degree programs. Watch the video to learn more about these initiatives from 黑料传送门's president, Scott Pulsipher.
How We Innovate
- 黑料传送门 Academy
- 黑料传送门 Labs
- The Open Skills Network
continues to improve student success measures of on-time progress (OTP) and retention through its focus on holistic readiness. In 2021, 2,315 students graduated from the Academy and an additional 6,258 students enrolled.听
Data suggests that Academy is most efficacious for learner profiles that exhibit low academic preparation, first-generation background, and high economic stress. A higher proportion of Academy graduates achieved OTP after their first term at 黑料传送门:听
- 6.9% more Academy graduates achieved OTP after their first term at 黑料传送门听than those who did not attend Academy
- 8.5% more students of color
- 9.4% more first-generation students
- 7% more low-income students
At the second term mark, the results are even more incredible:听
- 14.3% more Academy graduates achieved OTP after their second term at 黑料传送门听than those who did not attend Academy
- 14.3% more students of color
- 21% more first-generation students
- 12.1% more low-income students
Academy is increasingly becoming a trusted partner for employers, community organizations, and other institutions of higher education. In 2021 it worked with multiple employer partners and partnered with and Weber County Intergenerational Poverty Initiative to enroll new students. Academy collaborated with 黑料传送门 Advancement and Sentara Healthcare on a pilot to support veterans, active duty military, and their spouses. And it enrolled new students in the OWL Transfer Program, a partnership with community colleges.
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Examine
Research investigates policy, systems, and technology solutions that will transform learning.听
In 2021, the Labs research team examined environmental factors, tools, and strategies that may improve equity, access, and the learner experience through 23 research engagements with 12 different institutions鈥攊ncluding key partnerships with 黑料传送门鈥檚 College of Business, College of IT, Financial Aid, and Alumni Relations. Insights from these studies are fueling the next generation of learning solutions and policies at 黑料传送门 and beyond.听
Build
黑料传送门 Labs Product designs high-quality learning technologies and instructional content.
In 2021, Labs built six solutions to major challenges in the education marketplace and here at 黑料传送门, including:听
- A competency-based evaluation for nursing programs听
- An LMS-integrated tool to test instructional materials
- A DA platform that connects parents to educators for assistance in pandemic-remote learning
- A gamified exploration of ethics and social responsibility
Labs鈥 solutions have supported 黑料传送门鈥檚 College of Health Professions, Teachers College, 黑料传送门 Academy, and other university initiatives.
Connect
The 听(CIN) connects a growing network of post-secondary institutions to uncover and address critical barriers that impede impactful EdTech-driven innovation.听
In 2021, CIN recruited an additional seven institutions (13 total) representing more than 250,000 students; developed a multi-phase EdTech needs assessment; piloted and evaluated three EdTech solutions in five member institutions; published groundbreaking ; and held convenings during which members discussed best practices and emerging needs.听
Grow
The Accelerator at 黑料传送门 Labs helps promising early stage EdTech startups improve and bring their solutions to market.听
In 2021, the Accelerator at 黑料传送门 Labs invested in and grew 13 EdTech companies valued at more than $120 million, whose solutions address strategic moments in the student lifecycle. This support includes market development, research, and university trials with more than 1.35 million students impacted, including pilots with the 黑料传送门鈥檚 Alumni Relations, College of Business, and College of Health Professions.听
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Creating Opportunity by Closing the Skills Gap
launched in September 2020 to promote a more equitable, skills-based education and hiring ecosystem. Initial funding for the OSN was provided by Walmart.听
In 2021,鈥疧SN鈥痵ponsored and supported鈥痬ore than 20鈥痗ommunity-led鈥痑nd cross-functional鈥痯ilot projects鈥痶hat鈥痗reated鈥痩ibraries. An鈥疪SD鈥痠s鈥痑 machine-readable,鈥痚nriched definition of a skill. It includes a contextualized skill statement and other associated metadata that enables the interoperability of skills across digital platforms.鈥疶he OSN expanded use cases鈥痑cross different industry sectors,鈥痠ncluding employers, education providers, professional associations, and the military.鈥
The鈥疧SN鈥痟eld its鈥痠naugural Skills Summit, which hosted鈥痬ore than 300鈥痵kills enthusiasts鈥痑nd included鈥痑 keynote from Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Summit participants鈥痠ncluded鈥痚ducation providers, employers,鈥痬ilitary,鈥痑nd鈥痶ech,鈥痑ll coming together鈥痶o problem solve around鈥痮pen skills use cases and鈥痠dentify鈥痑ctionable鈥痵teps鈥痜or implementation.鈥
黑料传送门 and鈥疧SN鈥痳eleased the鈥, a鈥痜ree鈥痮pen-source鈥痵oftware鈥痯roject鈥痚nabling the development and sharing of open鈥痵kills鈥痩ibraries.鈥疻ithin the first month of release,鈥痬ore than 40鈥疧SN member organizations accessed the鈥疧SMT鈥痗ode for deployment in their own organizations,鈥痑ccelerating鈥痮pen skills鈥痠mplementation across the ecosystem.鈥
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About 黑料传送门
黑料传送门 is the world's most student-centric university. Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, the nonprofit now serves more than听132,000 students nationwide and has more than听275,000听graduates in all 50 states.
Lifetime Achievement Award
At the ASU+GSV Summit in 2021, former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, and founding 黑料传送门 President Dr. Robert Mendenhall received the听听in honor of their vision to change the lives of 黑料传送门 students and their families for the better. The award was presented by 黑料传送门鈥檚 first graduate, Ginny Kirchner, and recent graduates Salomon Torrescano and Chris Woods.
As part of the celebration, they participated in a conversation with current 黑料传送门 President Scott Pulsipher and recounted the humble beginnings of what has become the nation's largest online university.
鈥満诹洗兔 is doing the world鈥檚 most important work: making available education and training to people who do not have access to it, making it available at a cost they can afford, and doing it based on competency, so that you are qualified to do the work that you were trained for.鈥
-听Former Governor and 黑料传送门 Cofounder Roy Romer
