Task Force for Online Education

The President has charged the Task Force for Online Education with identifying and analyzing options and opportunities for online education at Fisher and preparing a report that will allow the Fisher community to engage in an informed consideration of its online strategy. We envision three phases to the task force’s summer business. During Phase One (May through early July), we will identify and gather information relevant to our charge. July meetings (Phase Two) will present an opportunity for updates and to hear from outside presenters, and the month of August, (Phase Three) will be used to put together the white paper that will serve to inform the College community of the task force’s finding.

Elements of Task Force Charge and Report

Identify and create market profiles for the various types of online presence (local, regional, or national), online services (e.g. course, program, credit, non-credit, etc.), and credentials (degree or certificate) that could serve undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education populations;

Identify and analyze internal and external options for instructional design, course development and creation, course hosting (learning management systems), student services (e.g. advising, BANNER/Registrar, OIT, library, and special needs, etc.), financial services (billing and financial aid), enrollment management, and marketing;

Identify needs, current capabilities, and options for policies, practices, and guidelines addressing intellectual property, faculty load, compensation, assessment, and academic oversight;

Identify models for the governance and administrative support of online programs and offerings;

Propose a strategy for online education at Fisher, including a tactical plan for initial entry into the market;

Recommend a process for community review and discussion of online options and identify steps needed to secure approval (e.g. faculty and college governance, notification of accrediting bodies, state approval, etc.) and implementation of an online strategy.