Dive Brief:
- In a shift away from faculty preferences, many colleges and universities are elevating the needs of students and using new data analysis tools to make more targeted scheduling decisions.
- University Business reports New Mexico State University started analyzing data through the registrar’s office three years ago, determining which high-demand courses needed to be offered more frequently (and which low-demand courses should be offered less often), addressing bottlenecks that affected their graduation rates.
- Accelerated terms and subscription based course models can help with student success, and at Somerset Community College in Kentucky, targeted scheduling changes have decreased the time it takes many students to graduate and saved the institution millions because it has been able to avoid low-enrollment classes.
Dive Insight:
Colleges and universities that have embarked on new scheduling plans, including accelerated terms and subscription models, have faced pushback from faculty whose working hours are impacted by the changes. As with many new initiatives, communication is key. University Business reports Hodges University in Florida was able to overcome much of the faculty opposition by offering face-to-face training sessions and additional education.
Faculty face pressure to be available 24/7 for students who are given opportunities to study on their own schedules. Administrators must consider realistic expectations for faculty and also help them embrace the changes that are possible in this digital world.