tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4404239753284635082024-02-19T03:38:29.161-08:00Branch Campus LifeDr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-73229834319711369402016-04-20T17:01:00.000-07:002016-04-20T17:01:53.980-07:00The 2016 National Association of Branch Campus Administrators Conference
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<br />
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The 19<sup>th</sup> meeting of the National Association of
Branch Campus Administrators (NABCA) was held in Delaware last week, and as
usual, it was a fine success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
meeting was hosted by Wilmington University, with attendance approaching 100
individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Special credit goes to our
extraordinary executive director, joyce gilley gossum, as well as to President
Faimous Harrison, Conference Chair Rebecca Burton, Vice Chair Ali Crane, and
site hosts Melanie Baldwin and Tom Hurd.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The program was excellent, as we’ve come to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular, the two keynote addresses were
both entertaining and inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
Thursday, educator Scott Paine spoke on “Where the Story Begins,” and on
Friday, we heard from adventurer Matt McFadyen,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Journey to the End of the Earth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither speaker was specifically addressing branch campuses or their
issues, but they gave us a lot to think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good decisions by the program committee!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I continue to urge branch administrators to learn more about
NABCA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that people only realize
the value of associating with branch colleagues after they attend NABCA or the
Regional and Branch Campus Administrators conference in June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NABCA, specifically, provides access to
helpful information through its web site, <a href="http://www.nabca.net/">www.nabca.net</a>,
on Facebook, and through the annual conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, as I’ve said before, the greatest value may be the opportunity
to meet and talk with other branch administrators, and almost any attendee will
tell you that the conference is highly therapeutic!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Branch campuses represent a unique and critical delivery
form of higher education, yet each institution seems to invent its own wheel,
instead of taking advantage of those who have gone before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are best practices to be learned, and
NABCA is a great place to learn them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being the senior attendee at NABCA these days, I feel that I
should stress once again that the founders of NABCA would be immensely proud of
the organization it has become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a world
where so much seems to be random, NABCA’s founders were quite intentional about
their vision for its development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
not a founder, but have attended for 16 of the 19 years, having first visited
in 2001, I believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I think of the
years that I served on the executive committee, including as president, I can
say that we knew where we wanted to go, and the recent leadership has taken us
farther and faster than I could have imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well done!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, I want to publicly (to the extent that people read
this blog) thank President Harrison and the executive committee for the
distinct honor of receiving the Presidential Service Award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My time in the leadership of NABCA is long
past, but it was a special experience to receive this recognition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once again, please consider visiting the NABCA
web site, becoming a member, and attending next year’s conference in Tulsa, OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t regret the decision, and you might
make some new friends who understand your daily challenges at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll find NABCA’s members to be friendly,
concerned, helpful, and fun.</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-42708368665312685862016-04-03T10:50:00.000-07:002016-04-03T10:50:10.050-07:00Challenges for Branch Campuses
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<br />
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In my last few posts I’ve emphasized the need for branch
campus leaders to immerse themselves in data, studying enrollment trends in
order to better understand changes that are unfolding across the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recognizing trends is fundamental to
effective strategic thinking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve suggested some simple ways of following trends, also
urging leaders to aggressively tell the story of how their campus contributes
to the local community and serves an audience that is quite distinct from those
seeking either a traditional residential experience or a fully online program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, despite my belief that branch
campuses serve an important mission and audience, I am concerned about their
future, even as I observe the creation of new branches every year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To begin with, the continuing growth of online enrollment is
bound to affect branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Across
the country, institutions struggle to maintain enrollment and balance their
budgets, with the result that competition expands and intensifies, while at the
same time, online opportunities pull people toward more flexible and affordable
courses and programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you decide to compete for online students, remember that simply offering online options doesn’t mean that students will
choose your courses or programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are so many online choices to be made, and so many ways of gaining academic
credit for the effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The growth of
certificates and badges to document specific knowledge and skills may even make
traditional programs less relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
right program, offered at an attractive price to a targeted audience reigns
supreme.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the same time, dual enrollment opportunities for high
school students are a major trend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seems likely that more and more young people will graduate from high school
with at least a year’s worth of general education credit, having taken courses
that are critical to the financial model of most institutions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For example, I’m familiar with one university that feels
nearly forced to offer college courses on high school sites, either through
qualified high school teachers, for which the institution receives only $40 per
credit hour, or with their own instructors, for which they receive $80 per
credit hour, in either case taken from the school systems’ state support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the institution can cover direct instructional
costs with this income, it cannot cover the cost of support services,
facilities, and traditional faculty, which could undermine the institution’s
ability to maintain its core mission.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A major problem is that many institutional leaders (e.g.,
presidents, provosts and CFOs) do not appear to be especially strategic in thinking
about how to effectively promote their various delivery options, across their
main campus, branch campuses and online programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just saying you want more students and more
revenue is not a strategy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
recruitment and retention of nontraditional students cannot be accomplished
effectively by simply extending practices with traditional audiences.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, thinking specifically about university branches,
watch the trend of offering applied baccalaureates through community
colleges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My observation is that these
opportunities are not only expanding, but they are popular with students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hammered on one end by dual enrollment and on
the other by community college baccalaureate programs, things could get tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, my friends at community
college branches may have some exciting growth opportunities!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Higher education is in trouble, and branch campuses should
be part of the solution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see so many
dedicated people working hard to create opportunities on their branch campuses,
while key people at the main campus seem dedicated to blocking their growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want growth, then take time to learn
about how it happens or give the responsibility and authority to someone who
can get it done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To be sure, outcomes won’t be the same
everywhere; some campuses will thrive and some will struggle or close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I suggest that the greatest likelihood of
success occurs when campuses take steps to understand both threats and
opportunities, positioning them to drive their own future.</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-82807415850410932482016-01-27T13:51:00.000-08:002016-01-27T13:51:25.529-08:00Miscellanea for Branch Campuses
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Touching on several subjects, mostly personal:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days ago I passed 20,000 views on this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given how long I’ve been posting, 20,000 is
anything but “viral,” but it pleases me that some people either
subscribe/follow or simply stumble on the blog, and from the feedback I receive
find it to be helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Originally I started this blog to provide a service to the
National Association of Branch Campus Administrators (NABCA), as well as to
help me organize my thoughts for a book I wanted to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus
Life</i> was published almost two years ago, and I’m pleased to see that it
continues to sell, in both print and electronic versions on Amazon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of NABCA, if you haven’t attended the conference,
you should consider doing so (<a href="http://www.nabca.net/">www.nabca.net</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, it often isn’t until a person
attends that he or she realizes how valuable it can be to meet other people
working in the branch world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can
make it, you won’t be disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can almost guarantee that you’ll come away with some new friends and good
ideas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aside from pitching my book, I’d also like to remind readers
that I work as a consultant and coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
enjoy visiting campuses, because I meet interesting people and nearly always
discover something that I haven’t encountered before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Branches certainly share a number of
qualities, but they also have their unique stories, bringing a variety of challenges
and opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Branch work can be isolating or even lonely, especially for
new branch administrators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope this
blog and my book might help, and I’m sure that attending the NABCA conference
is therapeutic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working with a coach
provides a helpful and safe sounding board outside the organization, which also
contributes to professional growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
be sure, I’d like to have a few more consulting or coaching clients, but more
importantly, branch administrators need a source of support from someone who
understands the unique challenges that branch campuses face.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, from time to time I pass along resources that I
think may be of value to people leading branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggest you check out WCET Frontiers (<a href="https://wcetblog.wordpress.com/">https://wcetblog.wordpress.com/</a>), a
blog dedicated to e-learning topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
behooves advocates for branch campuses to stay on top of e-learning
developments, but I also find information of general value on this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out this post: <a href="https://wcetblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/21/ipeds-fall-2014-de-highlights/">https://wcetblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/21/ipeds-fall-2014-de-highlights/</a>,
which reports on enrollment trends, online as well as across other sectors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If your campus is like many across the country,
you may have experienced declining enrollments over the past few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, most sectors of higher education
have experienced declines, but online continues to grow, with one in seven
students now enrolled exclusively online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Online options are a serious competitor to other choices, especially for
the audience served by branches, but my argument is that most institutions will
find that their main campus, branches and fully online programs serve different
audiences, inviting thoughtful strategies to exploit a range of opportunities
to build enrollment and generate revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Check out WCET.</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-54431323664612990072015-12-09T17:20:00.000-08:002015-12-09T17:20:55.883-08:002015 End-of-Year Thoughts on Branch Campuses: The Macro View
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel as if I should offer an end-of-the-year post, but I
don’t see a lot of change in the past twelve months that would affect what I
wrote last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See <a href="http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-few-end-of-year-thoughts-on-branch.html">http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-few-end-of-year-thoughts-on-branch.html</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and <a href="http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-few-more-end-of-year-thoughts-about.html">http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-few-more-end-of-year-thoughts-about.html</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do have a couple of suggestions for people interested in
branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, in the past I
wrote about immersing yourself in data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is only by digging into the information available to you that you can
confidently identify trends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
equally important to take a “macro” view of things that are happening broadly,
so that you can see the bigger picture beyond your own situation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are looking for that macro perspective, you might
consider using Google Alerts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have an
alert for “branch campus,” and nearly every afternoon I get an email with one
or more hits from the Internet that mention a branch campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the alerts are of little or no
significance to me, but some fill in information that I wouldn’t have received
from the daily electronic newsletters that I receive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes I see a newspaper story about a branch campus
served by a member of NABCA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
always entertaining, and if a friend is mentioned, I may shoot off an email of
congratulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other cases I may
learn about plans, or at least ambitions, for a new branch campus, or perhaps I
read about plans to expand programs on an existing campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Google Alerts doesn’t pick up everything,
because my own posts show up sometimes, but not consistently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scanning the environment on topics that interest me,
including branch campuses, has always been an important tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a great way to discover ideas, for one
thing, and it keeps me from being too focused on more narrow local
concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Newsletters, personal
contacts, and Google Alerts all help with that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, scanning doesn’t replace the need for good
research, but it does create impressions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I wrote recently about my concern that institutional leaders do not
appreciate the full strategic potential of their branch campuses, that view
came from my own experience, reinforced by what I read and discuss with others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s something that my scanning suggests, at least to
me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I am concerned about the
mission of existing branches being undermined by both external competition and
short-sighted internal decisions, I also see that there is a surprising number
of new branches being established in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these new branches seem to have a narrow,
focused mission, but others look like more established campuses, intended to
serve a region that needs better access to higher education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interesting, especially in a time when most
of the conversation is about online education.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My second suggestion is that you attend NABCA next April
(see <a href="http://www.nabca.net/">www.nabca.net</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opportunity to interact with others who
work on branch campuses and to attend a wide range of presentations during the
conference sessions is invaluable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
major point is that branches often appear to exist in isolation from one
another, and they do, in fact, come in a wide range of forms and missions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often I meet people who tell me that they
feel very alone in their work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attending
NABCA, combined with seeking out the research that is available, dwelling in
the campus data that are available to you, and continually scanning the
environment can go a long ways toward appreciating that your own branch campus
is surely part of something bigger.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My third suggestion is more personal:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t seen or read my book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus life</i>, please check it
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s available on Amazon, in both
electronic and print form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feedback has
been very positive, and you might find it to be helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might even want to buy several copies to
share with co-workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, just a
suggestion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Happy holidays!</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-17704408353055223442015-10-21T16:27:00.000-07:002015-10-21T16:27:15.835-07:00The International Branch Campus Trend
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps you’ve seen articles about universities establishing
branch campuses in other countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Check out this piece, which is the most informative I’ve seen on the
subject: <a href="http://theconversation.com/universities-that-set-up-branch-campuses-in-other-countries-are-not-colonisers-46289">http://theconversation.com/universities-that-set-up-branch-campuses-in-other-countries-are-not-colonisers-46289</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was written by Nigel Healey, at Nottingham
Trent University.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Follow the links embedded in the article, and I think you’ll
have a good overview of the trend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note
that quite a few international branches have failed and, if you are associated
with what I’ll call “domestic” branch campuses, you’ll also see that there are
extra challenges that come with working internationally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The article mentions that universities in the United States
currently have 50 international branches and United Kingdom universities have
27.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other countries have smaller
numbers, yielding a total of well over 200, in all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, these numbers are probably a tenth
of the number of domestic branches in the United States, alone, so the true
impact of international branches is likely to be modest, at least in terms of
numbers served or net revenue generated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I suspect the fact that a number of “elite” institutions have gone the
international route has done more to draw attention than anything else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My own experience with international branch campuses is
quite modest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve visited branches in
Russia, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Canada, but all of these campuses were domestic,
in the sense that the main campus was in the same country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, the experiences were informative.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ohio University, like most institutions has many
international relationships and has offered programs in other countries, but
we’ve not had anything I’d call an actual branch campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did have a center in Hong Kong for more
than 20 years, based at Hong Kong Baptist University, and that center reported
up to me in my years as vice president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
employed a small on-site staff and local faculty to teach traditional
face-to-face classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sent Ohio
faculty to teach intensive courses in the summers and during the winter
intersession we had at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hong
Kong students also had access to online or correspondence courses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved the Hong Kong center, and we learned a lot through
the work we did there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The center
occasionally helped with other relationships in the region, but it was never
highly profitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, the
center closed, partly because of the emergence of online programs, but mostly
because local universities expanded the opportunities they could provide in a
way that cut into our enrollment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suspect other institutions may find a limited timespan for international
branches, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That doesn’t make
them a bad idea, but it does suggest being careful about investment in
facilities or in permanent local faculty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Personally, I’m skeptical that international branches will
bring the sort of enrollment and financial contributions that domestic branches
often achieve, but there may well be other reasons to proceed, even if the
branch is likely to survive only for a relatively brief time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case, although the international story
is interesting, I wish domestic branches and their good work were receiving as
much attention as the international trend.</div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-50086183123788484242015-08-26T07:28:00.000-07:002015-08-26T07:28:55.994-07:00Branch Campus Quality: Tell Your Story
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Years ago, when I was associate dean of the Mansfield Campus
of Ohio State, I was talking with a department chair on the main campus who had
been especially resistant to allowing one of our tenure track faculty members
teach a course for which he appeared to be well qualified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chair said, “We have to be sure that the
quality of a regional campus course is equivalent to that on the main campus.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I jumped on his use of the word “equivalent.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You mean,” I said, “We should make sure we
have 300 or more students in introductory sections and make sure that we have
TA’s teaching most of the lower division courses, rather than using full-time
faculty?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chair was surprised by my
directness, but I was tired of the nonsense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took some more work, but eventually the faculty member was cleared to
teach the course.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At about the same time, a local business leader and main
campus alum challenged me on that same issue of quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My response was, “The only time we differ
from the main campus is when we can do better.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I repeated the point about class size and described our hiring standards
for full-time faculty, as well as our practice of following main campus
department requirements for hiring adjuncts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My point is that branch campus faculty and staff members know
that we often engage with students in ways that yield a stronger educational
experience than many students have at the main campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, we probably don’t have a climbing wall in
a fancy student fitness center, but our students aren’t looking for a climbing
wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t get a lot of recognition,
and the mythologies of higher education will never give us (or our students!)
the credit we deserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be sure, regional and branch campuses differ enormously in
their practices and just how closely they work with main campus departments on
faculty qualifications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes branches
emulate the main campus when it makes no sense for the branch mission, and I’m
sure that some branches have compromised quality at times in order to get
things done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But branch campuses deserve
positive recognition, when positive goals have been attained.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Institutional politics are real, of course, so one shouldn’t
react to every insensitive or uninformed comment that comes along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, I encourage faculty and staff
members to speak up in order to tell a positive story that documents an important
mission achieved. Tell your story!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To that end, here is a very positive, polished video from
the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit institution with branch
campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should note that I have no
experience with this university, so I am simply sharing an impressive message
that tells a nice four-minute story about the value of branch campuses:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M8NZic0lDss?ps=docs&controls=1">https://www.youtube.com/embed/M8NZic0lDss?ps=docs&controls=1</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-87956494176582674482015-04-30T08:59:00.000-07:002015-04-30T08:59:07.997-07:00The 2015 National Association of Branch Campus Administrators Conference
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 18<sup>th</sup> annual conference of the National
Association of Branch Campus Administrators (NABCA) was held in the Quad Cities
of Iowa and Illinois, on April 15-18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
perhaps the longest serving member who still attends, I thought it was the best
conference yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The founders of NABCA
should be proud of what they started, and as I told attendees, what NABCA has
become is very much what the founders intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(I was not a founder, by the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I began attending the conference, then known as the Western Association,
about five years after the launch.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, especially, I thought there was a spirit and
collegiality that was remarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Presentations
were excellent, and the organization of the event was spot on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone involved in planning and executing
the conference deserves praise, and I offer special congratulations to joyce
gillie gossum (executive director), James McCaslin (president), Allison
Fitzpatrick (conference chair), and Joseph Rives (site host).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were two keynote speakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Landon Darden, author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beyond 2020:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Envisioning the Future of Universities in America</i>, spoke on Thursday
offering her thoughts on how branch campuses can thrive in changing times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was honored to be the Friday keynote,
speaking on the mission and significance of branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are not a member of NABCA, I encourage you to visit
the web site: <a href="http://www.nabca.net/">www.nabca.net</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NABCA leaders have worked hard to create
significant value to membership, even beyond the annual conference.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please consider becoming a member, and I hope you also
consider attending next year’s conference, which will be hosted by Wilmington
University, in Wilmington, DE, April 13-16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you work on or with branch campuses, I promise you will enjoy and
appreciate an opportunity to spend time with people who do what you do!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Update</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am pleased that you found your way to this
blog post, and I hope you check out other posts I’ve made over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, if you find the blog helpful,
please take a look at my recently published book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus
Life</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is available on
Amazon, in both print and Kindle versions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can find it at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life/dp/0991498208/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418858536&sr=1-11&keywords=out+on+a+limb">http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life/dp/0991498208/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418858536&sr=1-11&keywords=out+on+a+limb</a>.
</div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-8086696245562044822014-12-07T18:45:00.000-08:002014-12-07T18:45:40.776-08:00A Few More End-of-Year Thoughts About Branch Campuses
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Continuing my end-of-the-year observations, I urge you to
spend a lot of time studying your budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take a close look at the gross revenue generated at your campus, as well
as your direct costs of delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(By
direct costs I mean actual costs of instruction, local staff and facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not include any overhead or other charges
levied by the main campus.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most
cases that I’ve seen, the net revenue per student credit hour is significantly
positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, generally, the net
revenue is higher at branches than at a residential main campus, precisely
because the branch has a more focused, limited mission.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your main campus finance people may insist that you consider
allocated costs from the main campus, such as for admissions and financial aid
support, registrar, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some
purposes they are absolutely correct, but at the same time, you should know
that the overhead you pay (or the branch income they keep) probably is free
cash to the main campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the main
campus really save money if your campus disappeared tomorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if your instructional cost is buried in
main campus academic budgets, I’ll bet the answer is no.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your president and others may need help to understand that
you are a profit center, but do your homework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ask your financial aid director how many positions could be eliminated
if you disappear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask your admissions
director, head librarian, registrar and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The answer will almost always be “none.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From an accounting perspective it may be legitimate to charge you a fair
share of underlying costs at the institution, but from a business development
perspective, I’ve found that branch-driven costs are almost always marginal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That may be the real reason your campus is
effectively a cash cow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, it is tempting to think that branches are an
outmoded delivery method and that online programs can serve the same audience
just as well and, perhaps, less expensively at scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I argue that branches serve a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">different</i> audience than either the main
campus or fully online programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
far too big a topic for a blog post, but I think many branches can make a
compelling case for an aggressive growth strategy that will generate enrollment
that neither the main campus nor online programs can attract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why shouldn’t an institution take distinct approaches
in all three worlds and expect all three to perform well?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s a little lagniappe:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Check out Marc Freedman’s piece in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harvard Business Review</i> blog on the opportunity presented by
Boomers. (<a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/08/universities-cater-to-a-new-demographic-boomers/?utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=Socialflow">http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/08/universities-cater-to-a-new-demographic-boomers/?utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=Socialflow</a>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please consider how you might create
innovative programs to serve this audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a special interest of mine, and I have written about the encore
stage, both in this blog and in my other blog, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creating the Future</i>, at <a href="http://www.drcharlesbird.com/creatingthefuture">www.drcharlesbird.com/creatingthefuture</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always, I am available to serve as a resource, coach or
consultant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get in touch if I can be of
help, and I hope you have a great 2015.</div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-15626341410922632902014-11-30T10:32:00.000-08:002014-11-30T10:32:29.802-08:00A Few End-of-Year Thoughts on Branch Campuses
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I post infrequently on this blog, especially since the
publication of my book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pleased that people are finding the book
through Internet searches and word of mouth, as well as through their
connection to NABCA (<a href="http://www.nabca.net/">www.nabca.net</a>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that matter, I’m also pleased that I
occasionally hear from someone who has discovered this blog and found it
useful. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I continue to scan the environment, visit various
campuses, and think about branch campus issues, I will occasionally comment on
what I observe, although I may wind up repeating ideas I’ve expressed
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, here are a few end-of-year
observations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, I feel increasingly frustrated by the failure of most
institutions to fully exploit the strategic potential of their branch
campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Check out this post: <a href="http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2013/04/revisiting-revenue-sharing-and.html">http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2013/04/revisiting-revenue-sharing-and.html</a>.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The branch campus audience is not the same as
that on a residential main campus, so why are people who have no experience
with the branch audience making decisions about recruiting, class scheduling,
and student support?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a look at my
posts over the past couple of years on branch campus trends and on concerns
that may interfere with branch campus enrollment growth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, if you are a branch campus administrator, dig into
your enrollment patterns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talk about
“dwelling in the numbers,” and it is so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understand what students are telling you
through their decisions on courses and programs and let their preferences help
drive your marketing, scheduling, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make sure you understand what your competitors are doing, as well, and
the extent to which your own potential students are choosing them over you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this same way, take note of trends across the
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some branches are growing
rapidly and others are fading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how is technology affecting enrollment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should you be doing more with hybrid delivery
and online options?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joining NABCA and
engaging more with colleagues from other institutions may help jumpstart your
thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the way, right now would be a good time to buy copies of
my book for your staff and to create a reading circle to discuss ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judging from the response to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb</i>, it has helped plant seeds
for some folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you can even
engage some main campus people to consider new options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I feel as if I should put a smiley face
here, but I’ll resist the urge.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Next week I’ll offer a few more thoughts for the
end of the year.</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-64901336782438711762014-10-08T14:31:00.000-07:002014-10-12T05:28:30.695-07:00Branch Campuses and the Planting of Seeds: A Local Story<style>
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Last time I wrote about planting seeds and suggested that
the mission of branch campuses is to plant seeds in the lives of their students
and then nurture their growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in
mind, however, that a “campus” is just a place; it is people who plant and
nurture those seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that context, I
want to acknowledge the importance of individuals who had the vision and
determination to establish those branches and launch the opportunity for their
contribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anywhere you see a branch
campus, you can be sure that the campus reflects someone’s vision for reaching
out to serve place bound students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
motivation for that vision may have been financial, political, or pushed by
some other force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, a seed was
planted, an idea was nourished, and it made a difference.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel drawn to offer a “shout out” to a few individuals who
launched and built Ohio University’s branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of these men has a branch building, let
alone a campus named for him, but without their vision and commitment, the
campuses never would have developed as they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ohio University’s campuses were founded in 1946, primarily
to serve returning World War II veterans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An economics professor, Al Gubitz, was appointed to oversee their
operation, which was expected to last only a few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Gubitz recognized that the branches,
offering only evening classes in area high schools, were meeting an important
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the president’s support, the
University gained state approval to continue operating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never met Al Gubitz, but I’ve talked with people who knew
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They describe him as smart and
crusty, and I’ve heard that he operated the campuses out of the trunk of his
car, carrying textbooks, sometimes money, and other things from site to
site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beginning in the mid-1960s, under the leadership of Ed Pinson,
our “campuses” acquired land and put up buildings to support broader day and
evening programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that time
enrollment began to grow significantly and the campuses thrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do know Ed, who is a great guy, living in
Athens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ed went on to become a
university president and, later, a consultant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that substantial physical plant on five branch campuses owe their
existence to his good work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still later, my predecessor, Jim Bryant, brought 24 years of
steady, well-grounded leadership to our campuses, as they continued to
grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim was an outstanding dealmaker
and partnership builder with great understanding of higher education
finance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From him, I inherited a
financially solid organization.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, hundreds of administrators and faculty members
contributed to Ohio’s branch campus success, and quite a few community members
and politicians stepped up at critical times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My point, here, is that we all need to keep in mind the importance of
planting seeds and nurturing their growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">More often than not, planting seeds won’t get us
in the history books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet branch
campuses exist because someone cared and chose to make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone planted the seeds and across
generations others continue to plant, nurture and harvest the results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a bad legacy.</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-26108180334733964322014-08-25T09:03:00.000-07:002014-08-25T09:03:07.374-07:00Branch Campuses and the Planting of Seeds
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A couple of years ago I wrote a post for my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creating the Future</i> blog, titled
“Coaching, Consulting, and the Planting of Seeds.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are interested, you can find it at <a href="http://drcharlesbird.com/creatingthefuture/2012/03/coaching-consulting-and-the-planting-of-seeds/">http://drcharlesbird.com/creatingthefuture/2012/03/coaching-consulting-and-the-planting-of-seeds/</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I mention it because four years into my encore career I’ve
found myself feeling more and more as if planting seeds has been the underlying
significance of almost everything I’ve done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I enjoy the variety of professional activities that fill up my days,
from consulting, coaching and speaking, to writing my blog posts and (at long
last) finishing my book on branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Looking back, I also enjoyed teaching and administration, which surely
are seed planting endeavors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I maintain that the mission of branch campuses is access and
outreach, providing opportunities for students to pursue their dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although online programs may be changing
things, branches often are the best option for place bound students who want to
continue their education, suggesting to me that branches are places where seeds
are planted and their growth nurtured.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I don’t mean to be melodramatic here, but typically we don’t
know the long-term outcome of our work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(We don’t experience the harvest, to continue the metaphor.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we may be planting seeds without
even knowing we are doing so, especially as we affect the development of our
institutions, contribute to our communities, and teach our classes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Awhile back, a former colleague sent me an email, telling me
the story of a fellow he met who had started his college education at Ohio
State Mansfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This student went on to
professional and financial success, but he told my friend that it was my
general psychology course that turned him around and got him moving in the
right direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was great to hear,
of course, but the truth is that I don’t remember this student at all, and I
have no idea how a general psychology course could have had that type of
impact.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Most educators have these types of stories, and I wish we
heard more often how our work has mattered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a little scary, though, because we also know that students sometimes
hear a message we didn’t even intend to deliver!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve often said that we know education transforms lives, but
on branch campuses we see the impact in especially dramatic ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a fine thing to plant seeds and nurture
their growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes a difference to
students, to their families and to their communities, even if we sometimes feel
unappreciated or frustrated by the hurdles put in front of us by people who
just don’t get it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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By the way, on the subject of planting seeds, I continue to
hear encouraging feedback on my book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out
on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this context, what has been most gratifying
has been hearing from campus leaders who bought copies for co-workers and are
holding discussions around the chapter topics, as well as some who have
persuaded their president or provost to read the book and consider the ideas
around program development and finance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb</i> is available through
Amazon in paperback (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life/dp/0991498208/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408830215&sr=1-11&keywords=out+on+a+limb">http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life/dp/0991498208/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408830215&sr=1-11&keywords=out+on+a+limb</a>)
or on Kindle (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life-ebook/dp/B00J274TLS/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408830321&sr=1-13&keywords=out+on+a+limb">http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life-ebook/dp/B00J274TLS/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408830321&sr=1-13&keywords=out+on+a+limb</a>).</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tell your friends!</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-81258680471862560642014-07-11T12:36:00.000-07:002014-07-11T12:36:35.858-07:00Emerging Branch Campus Trends?
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I’ve
mentioned this before, but it interests me that the most read post on this blog
is the very first one, which followed an opening introduction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That post concerned branch campus characteristics,
and it has been viewed more than twice as often as any other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be seen at <a href="http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2007/07/characteristics-of-branch-campus.html">http://branchcampus.blogspot.com/2007/07/characteristics-of-branch-campus.html</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dating back to 2007, it continues to get
regular hits, which I assume means that I chose a good title that shows up on
Google searches.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Other
frequently and persistently viewed posts mostly relate either to some aspect of
branch characteristics, or to financial matters and revenue sharing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With regard to branch characteristics, in
presentations at NABCA and RBCA this year I discussed some emerging trends that
I believe are worth watching. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As usual,
what I have to say represents personal observation, rather than any sort of
systematic data collection.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One
trend is to open branches at greater distance from the main campus than we’ve
typically seen in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small
privates may cross neighboring state lines to place branches in areas they
believe are underserved, whereas some larger institutions (also usually private
nonprofit) may open branches that lie many states away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a state, I see both public and private
institutions opening branches that directly compete with other institutions in
a way that ignores explicit or implicit service boundaries established years
ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I’m not even going to get into the
issue of international branches, which I suspect has a dynamic all its own.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps
related, more institutions seem to be opening single-program branches or
branches that tie only to one or two colleges at a university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, some institutions are developing
and delivering programs that specifically meet the needs of a major employer,
whether a corporation or, in some cases, state government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Community and technical colleges have done
this for a long time, but it has been less common at universities.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Not
unlike programs that target the military, these trends make good sense to me,
but I also think they stretch the “characteristics” of a typical branch, as I
described them in 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly, whereas
long-established branches may have been developed to expand access or to block
competition, my guess is the newer trends are specifically intended to attract
new student audiences and increase revenue.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It
also appears to me that more institutions either are pursuing or considering separate
accreditation for their branch campuses, or are recognizing their branches as
part of a distinct college within the university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both separate accreditation and college
status strike me as an attempt to give branches more autonomy around program
development, allowing them to create distinctive programs to serve their own
audience/market, without undue interference from main campus politics and
process.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">All
of this is happening in a context where institutions consider multiple delivery
options, create certificate and badge programs that are less than a full
degree, or offer accelerated programs that shorten the time to a degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taken together, all these trends suggest a
need for targeted marketing/recruitment strategies, in order to make sure that
the message gets to the intended audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, however, I’m seeing more conflict than ever between
branch and main campus marketing and recruitment efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I urge institutional leaders to make sure
they have the right structure in place to support success at different campuses
serving radically different audiences.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">To be clear, I’m
neither advocating nor opposing any of these trends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if I were leading a more established
branch campus, I believe I’d want to learn more about what other institutions
are doing and how I might appropriately reflect those trends at my own campus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scanning the environment is more important
than ever.</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-66080248017826771522014-06-18T12:28:00.000-07:002014-06-18T12:28:52.918-07:00The 2014 Regional and Branch Campus Administrators ConferenceThe annual Regional and Branch Campus Administrators Conference (RBCA) just concluded today. For a number of years the conference has been held in June, meeting at the Longboat Key Club resort, which is a stunning venue. RBCA limits attendance to about 60 participants and typically has just one program track for everyone, which has worked well for this group.<br />
<br />
As usual, organizers did a fine job. Jim Smith, campus dean at Ohio University Lancaster was the conference chair, and the program committee clearly worked hard to create a strong set of sessions. I have attended RBCA most years since 1995, and I always have a great time. Indeed, I believe that the annual NABCA and RBCA conferences are highly complementary, and I encourage branch leaders to consider attending one or both, whenever possible.<br />
<br />
This year, I provided the opening keynote, discussing my new book, as well as offering some thoughts on future opportunities and risks for branch campuses. On Monday, I was extremely pleased and flattered when it became apparent that at least a few folks had read my book and found it useful. Book sales continue to go decently well, I think, although I have no benchmark for comparison. My deep hope is that <i>Out on a Limb: A Branch Campus Life</i> will be helpful to those who work on branch campuses, especially if they are newly arrived. <i>Out on a Limb </i>is my attempt to tell a branch campus story, but I also believe interested individuals could find quite a few potential research projects to test out whatever "claims" I've made.<br />
<br />
I know that people working on branch campuses can feel under appreciated, and very often they have limited opportunities to network and share ideas. RBCA and NABCA help speak to those issues, and I hope my book does, as well. On branch campuses faculty and staff are all about providing access and opportunity to people who otherwise may have no reasonable expectation of realizing their educational dreams. It is important work, done by remarkably dedicated professionals. They deserve support and encouragement!<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-52666096849779118522014-05-26T09:36:00.000-07:002014-05-26T09:36:39.249-07:00An Appreciation of Branch Campus Visits
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Continuing to share from my personal experiences, I’ve been fortunate
to visit a wide range of branch campuses both across the United States and
internationally (Hong Kong, Russia, Mexico and Canada).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the domestic visits tied to meetings
of NABCA or RBCA, whereas others were consulting jobs, mostly over the last
five years.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The consulting work shaped my understanding and opinions more than I
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the absence of a
substantial literature or research that identifies best practices, institutions
developed branches for their own reasons at varying times in their history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every institution I visited had a unique
story to tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were common themes,
of course, such as struggling to bring programs from the main campus, wrestling
with interference from certain main campus offices that think they know more
about the branch audience than the people who work there, and making sure that
courses and class schedules actually meet student needs.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On the other hand, I’ve been impressed by the way branch leaders
manage to get things done in the service of their access mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Financial arrangements, partnerships of
various sorts, and persistent advocacy often produce remarkable results, even
if the organizational structure or institutional politics throw up one barrier
after another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good job, I say.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The challenges faced by small enrollment branches, with, say, 300-500
students, as well as the way an enrollment of several thousand students changes
how a branch operates intrigue me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
every stop I’ve met people who wear more hats than is fair, with job
descriptions from the main campus that don’t begin to describe their days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve learned about unique strategies
developed by campuses that deserve to be shared with other institutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also talked with students who are
passionate advocates for their campus and community leaders who cannot
understand why a program needed in their town can’t be delivered at their local
branch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My experiences are necessarily anecdotal, I suppose, and they may help
explain why it is so difficult to do good research that is not simply
descriptive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started this blog mostly
as a way to share my thoughts and experiences, and my book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i> was an attempt to
organize those thoughts and experiences in a way that might be useful to others
who want and need to know that they are not alone.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The future of branch campuses can and should be bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worry that institutional leaders won’t
understand the distinctive characteristics of this unique delivery form of
higher education that serves audiences in different ways than a traditional
campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Branches have an important role
to play, in combination with online programs and traditional residential
campuses, with each meeting a different need, but contributing meaningfully to
the institution’s bottom line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can
be of help, please let me know.</span></div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-85905195150850880092014-05-14T07:21:00.001-07:002014-05-14T07:21:28.689-07:00Out on a Limb: Drawing on the Experience of Leading a Branch Campus System
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps the most interesting career transition for me came with my
promotion to vice president at Ohio University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In that position, I was responsible for five campuses, with a combined
enrollment (at the time) of approximately 9000 students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each campus had a dean, as well as local
faculty and support staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition,
I was responsible for the Division of Lifelong Learning, which supported a
variety of programs, including paper-based correspondence courses, summer
programs, conferences and workshops, and other activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we had a center in Hong Kong that
reported to the dean of Lifelong Learning, so in a sense, we even had a branch
on the other side of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later,
we also provided administrative support for online courses and programs, which
drew my work in new directions.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Although having a vice president specifically focused on branch
campuses and other outreach programs may not be unique, I do believe it is
relatively uncommon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, Ohio
University moved away from having a vice president and now has an executive
dean, who reports to the provost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There were advantages to being a vice president, and in measurable
terms, things worked well. We were entirely independent, financially speaking,
and paid an overhead of about 8% of gross revenue to the main campus, in
addition to other transfers that came to an additional 4% of our revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my consulting work, I learned that it is
unusual for branches to be completely self-funded and self-supporting, but I
appreciate the advantages that came our way because of our approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We assumed the risk for our campuses, but we
also received most of the financial gain from enrollment growth, allowing us to
add programs, hire faculty and staff members, improve marketing, and stay
current with technology, among other things.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">All of this is discussed in more detail in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus
Life</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure that my view of
branch campuses and how they either thrive or struggle was enhanced by the opportunity
to work at the level of an executive officer of the institution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last several chapters of the book
represent my attempt to capture something of the view from that executive
level.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Although branch campus administrators should be committed to the
development of their own campus, I believe they often could be more effective
lobbyists and advocates in the political environment of a college or university
if they better understood how things look at the main campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope my descriptions have some value on
that score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly, I hope
they encourage a more strategic perspective that supports a “mutual gains”
approach to negotiation for resources, whether programmatic or financial.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">If you work on a branch campus and choose to read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb</i>, perhaps you will recognize your experience in the
first six or seven chapters, then find some helpful ideas in the remaining
parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a main campus person
who works with branches, I hope the book brings some clarification and
encourages deeper conversations with your branch campus colleagues.</span></div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-5977259424424112682014-04-30T07:09:00.000-07:002014-04-30T07:09:49.422-07:00Thriving "Out on a Limb"
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I consider myself to be an advocate for branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At their best, branches create access and
opportunity for individuals and contribute to the economic development of the
communities they serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i> I go into much more
detail about why branches matter, but for present purposes the key point is
that branches serve an audience that is different than the audiences served by
a traditional main campus or by a fully online program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are excellent opportunities for
campuses and programs to partner in multiple ways, but it is a mistake to
overlook the differences.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Institutional leaders certainly recognize that the world of higher
education is much more complicated and more competitive than it was just a few
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Count me among those who believe
that the financial/business models are broken, and the impact of technology has
forever changed delivery options in ways that are exciting but also increase risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion, despite recognizing the
issues, most leaders remain stuck in frames and practices that are unlikely to
be effective in this “new world,” but that’s a story for another day.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The last few chapters of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on
a Limb</i> are more explicitly strategic about the conditions that allow branch
campuses to thrive and the likely challenges they will face in the future. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are outstanding opportunities, but institutions need a comprehensive strategy
that includes distinctive approaches for their traditional audience, for online
programs, and for their satellite operations.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">For branch campuses, I believe the greatest threat to growth occurs
when the main campus attempts to control too many decisions that are better
made locally, in the mistaken belief that they understand the branch audience
or that they need to guard against branch campuses somehow undermining the
institutional brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prospective branch
students are not the same as main campus prospects, and their priorities are
quite different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Specifically, I believe that course scheduling, marketing/recruitment,
and those support services that are directly visible to students should be
administered locally, whereas those that are more of the “backroom” sort, such
as financial aid needs assessment, registrar, and bursar functions can most
efficiently be centralized at the main campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Any given institution may vary somewhat from the ideal, but enrollment
success depends on connecting effectively with the audience. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Failure to appreciate the perspectives and priorities of different
audiences is a serious mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For both
online and branch programs it is important to give them enough independence to
avoid getting trapped by the demands of the “production engine” (see
Govindarajan and Trimble, 2010, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Other
Side of Innovation</i>), which will try to rein in anything that is truly innovative,
simply because the established academic and administrative units will view that
innovation as a distraction, perhaps as a threat, and for sure as inferior to
their own efforts on behalf of the institution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It isn’t easy to support entrepreneurship in an established
organization, but those who thrive in the future will figure out how to make it
happen.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">is available in print
and Kindle versions on amazon.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hope you will check it out.</span></div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-83309540608029180422014-04-15T08:21:00.000-07:002014-04-15T08:21:53.484-07:00NABCA Conference for 2014
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I attended the annual conference of the National Association of Branch
Campus Administrators (NABCA) last week, and it was a great time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The program was strong, but as usual a lot of
the value in attending was the opportunity to network with people committed to
the branch mission of providing access to higher education.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I presented a session, titled “Get Strategic to Compete:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Directions for Branch Campuses” which
turned out to be a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
audience was engaged and participated enthusiastically, which in turn gave me
all the more energy for my topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a
later post I’ll share more about some of the new directions I’ve observed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i> was available for
purchase at the conference, and I was pleased to have 34 copies picked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also noticed an uptick in purchases of both
print and Kindle versions on Amazon, so maybe word is getting around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not aware of any comparable book that is
relatively comprehensive on the branch campus topic, but it is difficult to
promote it in the absence of any sort of broad database covering branches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In fact, I found sessions tied to members of the NABCA research
committee to be especially interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That committee has come a long ways over the last several years, and I
noted enthusiasm for further steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
challenge simply to identify branch campuses and their characteristics is
enormous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As one who has been around for most of NABCA’s existence, I felt real
pride in the work of the current leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wish the original founders could have attended this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their vision seems to have reached a tipping
point, and the organization is definitely on a roll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NABCA seeks to be a national, broad-based
organization in support of branch campuses, and I was struck by the diversity
of campus missions represented on the program, including both public and
private institutions and growing participation from community colleges.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">For years we hoped to establish a position of executive director to
provide consistent leadership and better organization, and joyce gilley gossum is
making a huge difference in that role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My congratulations to joyce and to the members of the executive
committee who hired her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Susan Cooper,
dean at California State University, Fullerton—Irvine Campus has been president
for this past year, and her campus also hosted the conference:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great job!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Leigh Atkinson, from Ohio University, was conference chair, and Allison
Fitzpatrick, from Brookdale Community College was co-chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They and their committee had everything well
organized, and if there were any glitches, I didn’t notice them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">If you see this post,
then by all means track down NABCA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can become a member, “friend” NABCA on Facebook, and join their LinkedIn
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out <a href="http://www.nabca.net/">www.nabca.net</a> and keep returning, because
things are moving ahead quickly.</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-71150745340853892372014-03-31T05:35:00.000-07:002014-03-31T05:35:18.840-07:00Comments Regarding "Out on a Limb: A Branch Campus Life"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Early feedback on my book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out
on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i>, has
been gratifying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pleased that people
find it an interesting read, but even happier when they find helpful information
or ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so few resources for
people working on branches that I hope my contribution might provide some
support or encouragement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A few friends have asked about my intended audience, and that’s a good
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I’d like to think that
lots of people might find <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb</i>
interesting, the specific reader I kept in mind as I wrote was a campus chief
administrator (dean, director, or whatever the title).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular, I was thinking about an
individual who recently landed on a branch campus without having an extensive branch
background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know from meeting people
at NABCA and RBCA meetings that one can feel a little lost and alone out on
that limb, and so I wanted to extend a helping hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Secondarily, I also was thinking about a main campus administrator who
has branches reporting to him or her and wants some help in thinking through
the branch mission, opportunities and challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve met a number of individuals, from
presidents on down, who have more or less inherited branch responsibility, and
they may quickly begin to realize that working with branches is different than
anything they’ve done before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">More broadly, I think the book will be of particular interest to
administrators and other professional staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Faculty members may or may not be interested in most of the topics
covered, although I personally believe the more anyone understands about how
branches grow or decline, the better they will be able to contribute to the
success of their own campus and to design a satisfying professional career.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I’ve also been asked about my decision to approach the book more or
less as a memoir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly, that decision
was the most difficult planning choice that I made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was driven partly by the lack of research
or other sources that could have supported the broad presentation that I wanted,
but also by my desire to present something of a branch campus story, rather
than necessarily a work of scholarship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually, the book concept fell in place for me, when I organized
chapters to follow my career trajectory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thus, my decisions about audience and to use what I call a
“quasi-memoir” approach were conscious decisions on my part that gave the
project its focus and structure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Just as a reminder, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a
Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i> is
available through Amazon, in either a print or Kindle version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell your friends and colleagues!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-16258854234313310802014-03-18T18:13:00.000-07:002014-03-18T18:13:03.559-07:00Out on a Limb: A Branch Campus Life
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I’m pleased to announce publication of my new book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been a long time coming, but it is now
available on Amazon, in both a print (paperback) version and a Kindle e-book
version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find it at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life-ebook/dp/B00J274TLS/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395098891&sr=1-15&keywords=Charles+Bird"><span style="color: #0000f6; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life-ebook/dp/B00J274TLS/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395098891&sr=1-15&keywords=Charles+Bird</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> (Kindle version) or </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life/dp/0991498208/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395099416&sr=1-11&keywords=Charles+Bird"><span style="color: #0000f6; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.com/Out-Limb-Branch-Campus-Life/dp/0991498208/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395099416&sr=1-11&keywords=Charles+Bird</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> (Print version).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Chapter topics are:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A Partial Memoir</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Characteristics of a Branch Campus</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Politics, Purpose, and Practice</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Students</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Branch Campus Faculty Members</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Branch Campus Support Staff</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Agendas and Stakeholders</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Financing and Managing Budgets on Branch Campuses</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Lessons Learned:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leadership on
and in Support of Branch Campuses</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Future Challenges and Opportunities</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Writing for my blogs, especially Branch Campus Life, definitely helped
organize my thoughts and ideas around branch campuses, but I drew directly from
previous material on only a few occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No doubt, the book was enhanced by the many opportunities I’ve had to
visit institutions around the United States and, in a few cases, in other
countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each campus has its own story
to tell, yet there are relatively consistent themes that I encounter everywhere
I go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My goal with the book was to tell a story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because there is so little research on branch
campuses, I drew heavily on my own experience, and I make no claim that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb</i> is a work of
scholarship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, I’d be
pleased if it led others to look thoughtfully and creatively at some of the
issues I raise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Toward the end of the book I became more direct about what I believe
to be critical for branches to succeed in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These campuses are an important resource for
students and for institutions, but if people don’t understand the unique nature
of branch campuses and the keys to their success in a highly competitive
environment, then opportunities are likely to be lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As I wrote, I especially had branch chief administrators in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leading a branch campus is a challenging
role, but it also can be immensely rewarding and can open the door to higher
education for people who otherwise would be pushed to an online environment for
which they are not prepared, or forced to turn away from their dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Branches change lives in myriad ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you work on a branch campus you should be
grateful for the opportunity and proud of the difference you make.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I hope readers will find <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on
a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i>
interesting and helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know
people who might enjoy reading the book, I hope you will let them know it is
available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always, I’m also
interested in opportunities to provide coaching or consulting services, visit
institutions to facilitate a planning conversation, or speak at meetings with
an adult learner or nontraditional student theme.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Finally, I want to express my appreciation for the many friends and
colleagues I have around the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your support and willingness to share ideas has made a great
contribution to my work.</span></div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-31505909916433124412014-01-08T10:54:00.001-08:002014-01-08T10:54:44.263-08:00Time for a Break
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think it is time for me to take a more extended break from
regular posting to this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
covered a lot of topics over a number of years, and although I will continue to
post from time to time if I feel I have something to say, I’m not sure I can add
much more value by trying to make monthly or bi-monthly posts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, all of my previous posts will be
available on this site.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My intention with the blog was to provide a resource that might
be of use to people who work on branch campuses or who have some main campus
oversight responsibility for branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Personal feedback over the years has been gratifying, so I think I
reached my goal, even if the number of monthly visits was in the hundreds, not
the thousands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number of
international readers was a surprise to me, but very pleasantly so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, I am more interested in working with
individuals or with institutions in a more personal way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy my work as a consultant, and I am a
certified professional coach, which supports working with individuals or
leadership teams as they look to the future. On a few occasions I’ve been
employed by an institution to participate in a one-time discussion about their branch
organizational structure or their strategies to encourage enrollment growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On other occasions I developed and
facilitated planning workshops to engage various stakeholders in a conversation
about the future of branch campuses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a coach, I’ve worked with individuals who find themselves
in a new leadership role, in which having a coach (a “trusted advisor”) outside
of the home institution can be helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve also worked with younger administrators who have been identified as
having potential for advancement, but may benefit from coaching around
strengths-based leadership, building a strong team, or the development of
negotiation skills.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to mention here that another reason my posting has
been less frequent is that I am completing a book on branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is tentatively titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out on a Limb:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Branch Campus Life</i>, and it should be
out in the spring in both electronic and print versions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will announce its publication here, and I
hope readers of my blog consider buying a copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Better yet, if you are in a branch campus leadership position, buy
enough copies for everyone on your staff and invite me for a teleconference or
a visit!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I enjoy sharing ideas and exploring possibilities, and these
are increasingly challenging times for many institutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Branch campuses have so much to offer, but it
is important to get the programing, services, and finances right, to understand
marketing and entrepreneurship, and to build the right types of internal and
external partnerships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please get in
touch, if I can be of help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watch for that book announcement!</div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-4734592783689281642013-11-26T09:50:00.000-08:002013-11-26T09:50:37.152-08:00Should Branch Campuses Consider Separate Accreditation?
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the past year, I’ve spoken with several people whose
institutions are considering whether to pursue separate regional accreditation
for their branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
University of South Florida did that, just a few years ago, but now I wonder if
there might be broader interest in the idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the past, I’ve made a strong distinction between
multi-campus institutions, such as the University of North Carolina, where
campuses have a relatively high level of autonomy, and institutions with a main
campus and branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shared
accreditation and curriculum oversight from the main campus are almost part of
defining what it is to be a “branch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(See my previous posts on branch characteristics; the blog is
searchable.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nevertheless, I can understand why separate accreditation
for branches might be attractive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
branch campuses become more deeply engaged in their communities and mature as
institutions in their own right, they need to provide those courses and programs
that students seek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Separate
accreditation might provide relief from arbitrary, unreasonable interference
from main campus departments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition, the most attractive programs on branch campuses
are likely to be in business, health care, and education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, programs that often are accredited
at the program level, as well as falling under the broader umbrella of the
institution’s regional accreditation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In many cases, the requirements of program accreditors apply
on all campuses, and at times they may be difficult to achieve on branch
campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, if your business
program is AACSB accredited, your branches should meet the same requirements
for faculty credentials as your main campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If that means hiring faculty with Ph.D.’s in business, it can be very
expensive, provided you can even recruit qualified individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other AACSB limits placed on teaching loads
may make it difficult to work efficiently with main campus faculty members, as
well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A third consideration is that more institutions seem to be
developing unique programs on their branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t believe unique programs necessarily require separate regional
accreditation—it certainly didn’t at Ohio University—but maybe there are some
advantages to giving campuses more freedom to develop curriculum, without undue
interference from the main campus’s process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can imagine this being especially true if the branch is in a clearly
distinct service environment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still believe that branches gain more than they lose by
being an integral part of their home institution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “brand” supports marketing and
recruitment, a single curriculum helps assure quality, and most institutions
award the same diploma to students, regardless of which campus they
attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much is at stake in a world
with heightened competition, and many students care more about program,
flexibility and cost than they care about brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaders should take care about seeking separate
regional accreditation, but maybe it isn’t the non-starter that I thought it
was.</div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-61512969650210097412013-10-14T06:15:00.000-07:002013-10-14T06:15:40.471-07:00Where are the Tipping Points?
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t know much about branch campuses, you could be
forgiven for thinking that the only innovation in higher education is happening
through MOOCs (massive open online courses) or the creation of branch campuses
in Asia and the Middle East.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not
nearly that simple.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MOOCs will continue to evolve in interesting directions,
including the direction of awarding academic credit for course completion and
offering badges or certificates for completing a set of related courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find international branches much less
interesting, because I think other countries will develop their own programs,
over time, and invite American institutions to go home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More importantly, however, there is much, much more going on
than MOOCs and international branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The range of online and hybrid/blended programs is astonishing, and no
one knows which approaches will prove to be most attractive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For sure, however, we know that online
enrollment continues to grow faster than other categories, and my personal
sense is that, when all is said and done, the cost of enrollment in online
courses is likely to be much less than the cost to attend a physical campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it won’t surprise me if the price of
online general education courses falls to near zero, which would create a
budget nightmare for a lot of institutions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There also are complicating conditions that have all sorts
of implications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 18-year-old
population is declining, which is a negative for traditional enrollment, and
that knowledge led many institutions to work harder to attract adult
learners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, then, this fall there was
a nation-wide decline in enrollment of approximately 500,000 students, and
about 80% of those were adult learners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Distinguishing
between macro and micro trends isn’t easy!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moreover, although lots of people worry about the way
tuition has increased faster than almost anything else, the implication is
subject to debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly, the trend
for athletic spending and spending on student “amenities” continues to grow,
and many institutions continue to take on debt that I believe will become a
heavy anchor if competitors begin dropping prices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the private non-profit world, a small but growing number
of institutions are choosing to dramatically cut their so-called “sticker
price,” instead of stating a high price, presumably to demonstrate quality,
then discounting that price by 40% or more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The effectiveness of deep tuition cuts vs. the risk of maintaining the
higher rates is yet to be determined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, there are those pesky accreditors, legislators, and
both state and federal bureaucrats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
me, they represent wild cards that can distort, slow, or speed up change, but
they are unlikely to determine the ultimate outcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Employers, another important stakeholder,
could have significant impact, but I’m not convinced that people in business
have any clearer idea of what they really want than do governors and
legislators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them would do well
to take a refresher course on the difference between causation and correlation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember, tipping points only become apparent
after the fact, and in a disruptive environment, risk is high for
everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay attention!</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-50680394686691714802013-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:002013-09-20T14:44:01.963-07:00Getting Strategic With Branch Campuses
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<div class="MsoNormal">
How strategic is your institution in considering the role of
its satellite operations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on my
experience, I’d guess that the answer for most is “not very.” (I'm not addressing the recent trend of some institutions opening overseas branches, which I assume involve more strategic considerations.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Typically, branch campuses and other outreach programs were
created to serve some relatively specific purpose:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To block expansion of another institution, to
respond to political pressure, or (most commonly) to pick up additional
revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that context, branches have
much in common with main campus programs for adult learners, as well as those
sorts of online programs that represent a cautious exploration, rather than a
major strategic commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And none of
these efforts has been approached strategically at the highest levels of
leadership, at least at most institutions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given the relatively radical experiments that we’ve seen in
the past few years, it is easy to imagine that cash-strapped institutions might
prefer to focus on scalable online programs, investing in course design and
student support, rather than considering growth at branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, at first glance, main campus academic
units might imagine that online programs will do more for their budgets,
depending on how revenue is shared and expenses recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s that phenomenon of being drawn to bright
shiny objects:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new stuff seems
sexier than empowering growth on the branches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I’ve written many times before, the development of branch
campuses reflected the technology of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Branches provided a space for faculty members to teach, advisors to
offer advice, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interactive television
brought an additional element of cost effective outreach, but branches remained
a relatively straightforward extension of what happens on the main campus, and
generally, institutional leaders didn’t expect them to grow all that much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, a comprehensive enrollment strategy might well
include new recruitment and retention strategies at the main campus, as well as
the selective pursuit of online enrollment from students located almost anywhere
in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, I think most
institutions will find that branches still bring certain advantages that should
be developed, not marginalized.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At least at present, there is a strong argument to be made
that blended or hybrid programs are more appealing and tend to produce stronger
learning outcomes than fully online programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Note also that, with hybrid delivery, commuter campuses can expand their
recruitment radius to 75, or even to 100 miles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We know that adult learners and other place bound students are
concerned about flexibility and price, in addition to getting access to the
program they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the pieces for a
strong branch strategy are in place:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pick the right programs, develop focused services and an aggressive
marketing plan, and provide a facility that is comfortable and includes state
of the art technology.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given the opportunity, branches can attract more enrollment
than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Institutions still can seek
growth online and at the main campus, but there is no reason to hand over your
potential branch enrollment to more aggressive institutions that recognize the
hybrid advantage.</div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-50339418639403084912013-05-20T18:52:00.000-07:002013-05-20T18:52:12.700-07:00Five Concerns That Can Interfere With Branch Campus Growth (Continued)
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last time I wrote about two concerns I
have, regarding branch campus administration, if institutions hope to see an
entrepreneurial attitude and significant enrollment growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These choices stem from not understanding
innovation and entrepreneurship, and they get in the way of an outreach
mission.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My third concern came as a shock to me,
when I began consulting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many institutions
actually have their academic departments at the main campus develop the class
schedule for their branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This never, ever works well</b>. When the
schedule is set at the main campus, I hear about courses required for
graduation that are scheduled at 10:00 am, when the intended audience is working
adult learners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear about courses
added and deleted, without anyone bothering to tell the branch administration
about the changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even worse, I hear
about programs being offered without any predictable plan for delivery of
required courses, at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stop it!</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fourth concern may be less certain,
but it reflects my strong opinion about the importance of establishing
structures that encourage collaboration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe it is unwise to have separate units pursuing online and branch
campus growth, without some structural element that assures cooperation and
cost efficiency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Expecting these units to partner in
good faith generally will not work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
need to see each other as collaborators, and there should be financial
advantages to the online unit for supporting growth at the branches, through
hybrid courses that make use of online content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without an executive (not the academic vice president, who lacks the
necessary time) bringing oversight, they are more likely to compete than to collaborate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally, in nearly all cases, marketing
and recruitment need to be audience specific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Understaffed main campus offices that are not engaged in the branch
communities on a daily basis cannot effectively recruit or make marketing
judgments for their branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can
and should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">partner</i>, and the main
campus has a legitimate need to insist on consistency of messaging and design,
but people who get up every day thinking about the branches, not something
else, should lead the principal work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
more or less ranting in my last few posts, I think it is time for me to take a
break and concentrate on other projects, for the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creating access and opportunity is important,
and if I can be of help, either as a consultant or as a coach, please get in
touch.</span></i></div>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440423975328463508.post-91392979347678953302013-05-13T10:40:00.000-07:002013-05-13T10:40:30.211-07:00Five Concerns That Can Interfere With Branch Campus Growth
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it isn’t apparent, my recent posts
reflect growing concern and frustration with the way institutions administer
their branch campuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having spent some
years working with online programs, as well as studying the implications of
disruptive environments on organizations, I also see important strategic
connections between branches and online delivery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moreover, virtually every consulting
role I’ve filled was at least in part tied to a president who wanted to see
enrollment growth at their branches and in their online programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I’m pleased and impressed that these
presidents recognize the potential significance of branch growth, the press of
day-to-day crises at the main campus makes it nearly impossible for presidents
to personally lead specific initiatives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I should add that, again in my own
experience, provosts or academic vice presidents seem less consistently
concerned than presidents about enrollment growth through new audiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deans have been mixed in their engagement, as
well, but typically seem most focused on their main campus mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This is not meant as a sweeping
generalization, but simply my own too-common observation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve known and worked with some terrific
deans and vice presidents.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although this is understandable, given their
background and priorities, it means that presidents and branch campus leaders
may be on one page, whereas the administrators between them are, at best, less
committed to branch growth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is just
one reason for my belief that presidents and boards should create relatively
autonomous units to attract and serve adult learners and others who prioritize
cost and flexibility over a residential experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With that overview, in this post and
the one to follow, I will raise five concerns I have about the way branch
campuses are administered that will reduce the likelihood of enrollment and
revenue growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similar points can be
made about online programs, as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first concern is that branches
typically are buried in an institutional structure that is designed for
predictability, not entrepreneurship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The branch structure should allow nimble, quick response to
opportunities, assure that branches can offer the courses and programs for
which they have local demand, and encourage deep, engaged partnerships with the
community served.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, both
branches and online program executives should understand entrepreneurship and be
aggressive in pursuit of enrollment growth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second concern arises if the budget
covering faculty salaries and the delivery of courses on branch campuses
resides in the main campus academic units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Truthfully, this seems so obviously wrong to me that I’m stunned by how
often I see it happen. Deans and department chairs need to see clear financial
benefit from supporting branch courses, or else they will see branch courses as
a drain on their resources. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Put the academic budget on the
branches, and then let units receive a share of the revenue generated, outside
of their normal operating budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
choose to pursue responsibility-centered budgets, which I endorse, treat branch
campuses and online programs as revenue centers, not as service units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dollars still can eventually wind up in
the academic units, but it is those units that are serving the branch audience,
not the branches that are serving academic units.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Next time, three more concerns!</span>
Dr. Charles Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17027920885585688203noreply@blogger.com3