Navigating the Online Student

Navigating the Online Student

Lauren Havens and Kelly ClaytonNortheast e-Learning Consortium Conference

October 2015

Overview of our Presentation

• Overview of Wilmington University• Areas of Online Learning and University Support of

Online Students• Navigators Role in Online Student Support• Future Goals• Conclusion, Q&A

Where exactly is Wilmington University?everywhere.

8 Delaware Locations

5 Partnership Locations

100% Online

• Wilmington University started in 1968 as Wilmington College with a charter class of 194.

• WU now enrolls over 20,000 students with 13 locations in DE, NJ, and MD.

• Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

• Private non-profit, non-sectarian university.

Wilmington UniversityAbout

• Currently 8,099 students

are taking 1 or more

courses online

• Currently 5,281 students

are 100% online

97 Online Programs, Concentrations and Certificates

• Online Planning and

Administration

• Instructional Design

• Online Student Service

• Instructional Technology

• Training and Support

• Ed Tech System Administration

• Multimedia Services

COEL – College of Online and Experiential Learning

Online Learning & Educational Technology Team

Online Student Service Suites

Shea, 2002

Systematic Assessment

• Online Student Services Group- Directors meet 6 times a year

• Gaps and Opportunities

• Virtual options

• Online Navigator idea came from Student Services Group meetings

Keeping Connected at WilmU

How does the Navigator support OL students?

• Communication Campaign• Student Call Project• Student E-mail/Phone

Inquiries

• OL Orientation (095 pre-requsite)

• Chat Feature

• Online Student Association• Online Student Contests• Webinar Meetings

• Social Media Presence• Student of the Block• Surveys /Focus Groups

4 Part -Communication

• Before class• First day• Midway• Week 6

OL Orientation (DIS 095)

Click to Chat

Social Engagement

Student of the Block

• More personal attention in Online

classes

• Quick response by faculty

• Peer Mentors- available to online

students who need extra help

• Rich Multimedia/video

What supports do Online Students value?

What’s Next?

• Continue to receive student feedback- communicate online student needs, then react with initiatives

• Work with all service areas to implement better plans for our online population- online accepted student event and Navigators created through collaboration

• Create opportunities specifically for Online Students- Online Book Club, OSA etc.

References

Julie Bryant, AVP Noel Levitz. (2014). Reviewing and sharing your satisfaction data.

Shea, P. (2002). WCET LAAP Project Beyond the Administrative Core: Creating Web-based student services for Online Learners, retrieved on March 2010 http://wcet.wiche.edu/

Questions?

Kelly ClaytonOnline NavigatorKelly.t.clayton@wilmu.edu

Lauren HavensOnline Navigator Lauren.p.havens@wilmu.edu