The Changing The Changing Ecology of Higher Ecology of Higher

Education and Education and LearningLearning

Ralph A. WolffRalph A. WolffPresident, WASCPresident, WASC

2

PropositionsPropositions

Both higher education and accreditation Both higher education and accreditation are broken and the fix isn’t clearare broken and the fix isn’t clear

Current business/organizational models Current business/organizational models are not sustainableare not sustainable

Increases in both federal financial aid Increases in both federal financial aid and regulation are also not sustainableand regulation are also not sustainable

We all need to learn from, not fight, We all need to learn from, not fight, disruptive changesdisruptive changes

2GGU Retreat 9-17-11

33GGU Retreat 9-17-11

InstitutionsInstitutions

Public 4-year institutionsPublic 4-year institutions 643 643

Public 2-year institutionsPublic 2-year institutions 1,045 1,045

Private 4-year institutions, nonprofit 1,533Private 4-year institutions, nonprofit 1,533

Private 4-year institutions, for-profitPrivate 4-year institutions, for-profit 453453

Private 2-year institutions, nonprofitPrivate 2-year institutions, nonprofit 107107

Private 2-year institutions, for-profitPrivate 2-year institutions, for-profit 533533

TotalTotal 4,3144,314

44GGU Retreat 9-17-11

Where Students GoWhere Students Go

Public 4-year institutions 6,955,013 (39%)Public 4-year institutions 6,955,013 (39%)

Public 2-year institutions 6,225,120 (35%)Public 2-year institutions 6,225,120 (35%)

Private 4-year institutionsPrivate 4-year institutions 4,285,317 (24%) 4,285,317 (24%)

Private 2-year institutionsPrivate 2-year institutions 293,420293,420 (1%) (1%)

TotalTotal 17,758,87017,758,870

81% of all freshmen in the fall of 2006 who had 81% of all freshmen in the fall of 2006 who had graduated from high school in the previous graduated from high school in the previous year attended colleges in their home states. year attended colleges in their home states.

For Profit SectorFor Profit Sector

Total enrollment: > 2 millionTotal enrollment: > 2 million Total market share: 10-11%Total market share: 10-11% Financial aid share: 24%Financial aid share: 24% Online market share: 42%Online market share: 42% First year default rate: 15%First year default rate: 15% Avg costs: $30,900 (cf. $26,600 at Avg costs: $30,900 (cf. $26,600 at

private, non-profit colleges and private, non-profit colleges and $15,600 at public institutions)$15,600 at public institutions)

5GGU Retreat 9-17-11

6

Our Real Inquiry

What would be lost if GGU (or WASC) did not continue to exist?

What are the key factors that could lead to your demise?

To your transformation?

GGU Retreat 9-17-11

7

A Three Horizon Framework for Engaging

the Swirl of Changes

H 1 – “Business as Usual” H 2 – “Innovations needed” H 3 – “First stirrings” of successors to

H1

Examples: mainframe, laptop, internet, smartphones

Schools: mass education; specialized schools; universal education without schools

GGU Retreat 9-17-11

8

Change #1: Change #1: DemographicsDemographics

Majority minority by 2020Majority minority by 2020 De-instutionalization of learning at De-instutionalization of learning at

undergraduate level – majority of undergraduate level – majority of students attend more than one students attend more than one institutioninstitution

Working more and studying lessWorking more and studying less More demanding of 24/7 support More demanding of 24/7 support

services – registration, financial aid, services – registration, financial aid, career counselingcareer counseling

8GGU Retreat 9-17-11

Change #2: Changing Change #2: Changing Institutional FormsInstitutional Forms

The new “providers” – for profit, national The new “providers” – for profit, national in scale – Phoenix, Walden, Cappella, in scale – Phoenix, Walden, Cappella, ArgosyArgosy

Aggregators – Charter Oak, Western Aggregators – Charter Oak, Western Governors, Excelsior Governors, Excelsior

““Charter” universities – High Tech High, Charter” universities – High Tech High, Pioneer University, Rudolf Steiner, Bergin Pioneer University, Rudolf Steiner, Bergin Institute, San Joaquin Valley CollegeInstitute, San Joaquin Valley College

Acquisitions and changing forms – NHU, Acquisitions and changing forms – NHU, USU, Trident, Ashford, etc.USU, Trident, Ashford, etc.

9GGU Retreat 9-17-11

Change #3: New Change #3: New ApproachesApproaches

Unbundling – success coaching, Unbundling – success coaching, student services, recruitment, student services, recruitment, librarieslibraries

Outsourcing – Straighterline.com; Outsourcing – Straighterline.com; LearningCounts.orgLearningCounts.org

Joint ventures – USC and 2Tor; Joint ventures – USC and 2Tor; Northeastern and Embanet; Altius Northeastern and Embanet; Altius and Tiffen Univ. = Ivy Bridge and Tiffen Univ. = Ivy Bridge College College

10GGU Retreat 9-17-11

Change #4: Learning Change #4: Learning ContentContent

Open source; pull not push (iTunes U, Open source; pull not push (iTunes U, TED.com)TED.com)

Bricolage Bricolage approach to contentapproach to content Different ways of working together - Different ways of working together -

networkednetworked Concierge services; immediate

response to inquiries and assignments Online tutorials –Kahnacademy.com Social construction of learningSocial construction of learning

11GGU Retreat 9-17-11

12

You Tube: Kahn Academy

Name: Salman Kahn Channel Views: 3,959,888 Total Upload Views: 35,547,067 Joined: November 16, 2006 Subscribers: 97,071 Website: http://www.khanacademy.org It is our mission to accelerate learning for

students of all ages. With this in mind, we want to share our content with whoever may find it useful. The videos have been categorized within the playlists.

GGU Retreat 9-17-11

Would you agree?Would you agree?

13GGU Retreat 9-17-11

A teacher that can be replaced A teacher that can be replaced by a machine , should be…..by a machine , should be…..

Students can learn anything on Students can learn anything on their own…their own…

A teacher really needs to get out A teacher really needs to get out of the way of students’ of the way of students’ learning…..learning…..

The learners of the The learners of the future?future?

14GGU Retreat 9-17-11

New ApproachesNew Approaches

15GGU Retreat 9-17-11

16

A Model for the Future?Louis Soares, Center for American Progress

Current State

Institution Centric

Traditional college-going

Information poor

Static education model

Input/credit hour based

Accreditation

120 hour baccalaureate

Future State

Student centric

Flexible and varied options

Information rich

Business/education mix

Outcome based model

Independent credentialing

10,000 concepts and competencies

GGU Retreat 9-17-11

17

Some Options to Some Options to ConsiderConsider

Create a Third Horizon Task Force Create a Third Horizon Task Force across schools and disciplinesacross schools and disciplines

Study emerging changes within and Study emerging changes within and outside GGU’s disciplinary areas, outside GGU’s disciplinary areas, including your competitorsincluding your competitors

Conduct “learning journeys” and Conduct “learning journeys” and “learning fairs”“learning fairs”

Study change processes that have been Study change processes that have been successful - e.g., Google, IDEOsuccessful - e.g., Google, IDEO

Create a GGU “idea lab”Create a GGU “idea lab”17GGU Retreat 9-17-11

How WASC is How WASC is RespondingResponding

New focus on public accountability and New focus on public accountability and quality assurancequality assurance

Increased transparencyIncreased transparency Greater attention to student success and Greater attention to student success and

student learningstudent learning Focusing on degree level outcomes and Focusing on degree level outcomes and

proficienciesproficiencies Significantly revised institutional review Significantly revised institutional review

processprocess Ongoing study of the changing ecologyOngoing study of the changing ecology

18GGU Retreat 9-17-11

Student Success and Student Success and LearningLearning

External validation of disaggregated External validation of disaggregated graduation ratesgraduation rates

External validation of graduation External validation of graduation proficiencies in writing, critical proficiencies in writing, critical thinking and quantitative skillsthinking and quantitative skills

Piloting of the Degree Qualifications Piloting of the Degree Qualifications Profile Profile

19GGU Retreat 9-17-11

20GGU Retreat 9-17-11

21

Nothing is permanent, but Nothing is permanent, but changechange

Heraclitus 535–475 BCE Heraclitus 535–475 BCE

It is not the strongest of the It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most intelligent, but the one most responsive to changemost responsive to change

Charles Darwin 1809-1882Charles Darwin 1809-1882

21GGU Retreat 9-17-11

22

Thank you.Thank you.

22GGU Retreat 9-17-11