How to Position Your Institution for Success when Considering Online Programs
Online education has long been considered a disruptor in Higher Education. This has resulted in extensive research and innumerable articles written about critical success factors that an institution should consider when launching online programs. In my experience, institutions often express trepidation about not knowing where the market opportunities exist, what resources are needed, what key performance indicators are necessary and what factors contribute to the success of the initiative.
At Bisk, we’d like to contribute to this ongoing discussion. We recognize that offering an online program is no small undertaking. Whether you are embarking on this journey independently, considering partnering with a provider or currently offer online programs and would like to test your existing model, there is much to be considered beyond “how it works.” For almost a decade, I’ve worked with both large public institutions and smaller private ones to assist them with bringing their programs to the online space as efficiently as possible without compromising quality or Institutional brand.
To begin, it’s critical for institutions to understand the impact from the decision to go online and how to employ strategies and tactics that ensure a greater chance of success. When referring to critical success factors, how these factors are prioritized can be defined by an institution’s goals, budget, structure and external conditions that may affect the initiative. In other words, while we will explore these factors in detail, it is up to an individual institution to define how these factors are considered.
It’s critical for institutions to understand the impact from the decision to go online and how to employ strategies and tactics that ensure a greater chance of success.
To provide some structure to the discussion of critical success factors, we group them into themes. The foundation for developing successful online programs is collaboration and communication. These themes aren’t meant to be an all-inclusive list, though should help identify potential focus areas you can tailor to meet your needs.
Strategic Planning
Institutional Aptitude and Readiness
Marketability of Offerings
Marketing Your Programs
Recruitment and Enrollment Management
Crafting the Student Learning Experience
Measuring Success
If your institution has asked any of these questions, you’re on the right track. What we present is meant to be a guide, as what is critical in one institution may not be at another. I’ve spent my career in higher education helping institutions expand their presence and bring their online programs to market and am excited for what the future holds for this space. I welcome your thoughts and feedback. If you’d like more information on a topic or would like to contribute to our dialogue, please feel free to contact me directly.
