What are Communities of Practice and How Can They Help Me?

Burton BargerstockChair, Communities of Practice CouncilMichigan State University

Stacy SnowVice Chair, Communities of Practice CouncilUniversity of Missouri-Columbia

UPCEA Annual ConferenceToronto, Ontario

April 8, 2011

Communities of Practiceand Commissions

• A Community of Practice (CoP) is a network of professional members with a shared interest in similar functional areas and/or issues. – Each CoP can select a UPCEA Commission to align

with.

• Commissions – 4 think tanks that help the Association identify emerging policy issues and professional development needs of the membership.

Communities of PracticePurposes/Roles

• Provide professional development for members

• Create a context for members to network

• Help/assist members with work related

problems/issues

• Advance the profession/field

• Honor those who make noteworthy contributions

• Provide leadership opportunities

• Creation: Divisions to CoPs (late 1990’s)

• Recent Challenges

• Task Forces (2008-2009; 2009-2010)

• Creation of CoP Council (2010)– Support

– Accountability

– Collective voice

• Future of CoPs in UPCEA

Communities of Practice

CoP Membership

• Every UPCEA professional member is entitled to participate in communities of practice as part of her/his professional membership.

• Members have voting rights and may serve in the leadership of their primary CoP, but can otherwise participate in as many as they wish.

• To find out which CoP you are currently a member of, to select a primary CoP, or request participation in a CoP contact the national office.

Current Communities of Practice

• Conference and Professional Programs• Distance Learning• Liberal Learning• Marketing and Publications • Outreach and Engagement• Quality Assurance• Student and Customer Services

Conference and Professional Programs

Members of this Community of Practice are concerned with:• planning, marketing, and managing conferences and

professional programs• utilizing the Internet to support program goals• managing residential conference centers

Chair – Ed Donovan, Penn State University

Distance LearningMembers of this Community of Practice are concerned with:• creating and managing virtual learning environments• instructional design• planning the use of instructional technologies• developing learner support systems and advising services• inter-institutional articulation and partnerships• managing off-campus library services and copyright

matters• legislation and policies impacting higher education

Chair – Rick Shearer, Penn State University

Liberal Learning

Members of this Community of Practice are concerned with:• masters of liberal studies programs• museum continuing education• alumni continuing education• programs in humanities, arts, and sciences• summer session and youth programs• ESL programs

Chair – Deborah Baldini, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Marketing and Publications

Members of this Community of Practice are concerned with:• recruitment marketing best practices • developing strategic marketing plans• e-mail and relationship marketing, including customer

relationship management (CRM) best practices• primary and secondary market research• advertising and publications production (print and

electronic publications)• website optimization and conversion

Chair – Michele Moskos, Texas Tech University

Outreach and EngagementMembers of this Community of Practice are concerned with:• mutual exchange of intellectual resources and expertise between

the university and the broader external community of government agencies, business, non-profit organizations, community groups, and individuals

• the role of partnerships: who delivers the services? how are faculty, staff, and students engaged and committed to this work? how can faculty and staff participation be evaluated and rewarded?

• organizing an institutional agenda related with outreach and engagement and determining the associated set of products and services

Chair – Birgit Green, Texas Tech University

Quality Assurance

Members of this Community of Practice are concerned with:• evaluating programs• assessing learning outcomes• preparing for accreditation and unit reviews• credentialing• assessing prior learning• faculty development

Chair – David Kendrick, University of Northern Colorado

Student and Customer Services

Members of this Community of Practice are concerned with:• exploring innovative approaches to services • sharing best practices • student/customer services as their primary task• students in both credit and noncredit areas• serving university and corporate audiences• disseminating relevant research in the field

Chair – Heather Chakiris, Penn State University

Examples of What a CoP Offers

Distance Learning Awards

1. Distance Learning Course Awards2. Program of Excellence Awards3. Distance Learning Devoted Service Awards4. William Rainey Harper Research Grants5. Charles A. Wedemeyer Publications Award6. Nofflet Williams Up-and Coming Leader Award7. Gayle B. Childs Leadership Award

Examples of What a CoP Offers(Continued)

Outreach and Engagement Audio Conferences and Conference Sessions

• New GI Bill• Federal Stimulus• Chinese Partnerships that Work• Roles in Developing Research Parks• Situating Outreach and Engagement

Examples of What a CoP Offers(Continued)

Marketing and Publications Webinars

• Search Engine Optimization – Get Found!• Google Analytics – Measure Website Visitor

Activity!• Landing Pages – Turn Interest into Leads!• Conversion Optimization – Turn Visitors into

Enrollments!• Creating a Social Enrollment Plan

Examples of What a CoP Offers(Continued)

Student and Customer Service Blog

We have been brainstorming ideas on how to build community among our online/distance students. Does anyone have any experience with, or ideas, tips, pointers, etc. on how to use social networking/media tools (such as blogs, Ning, Facebook) in order to build a network of online students outside of their courses/learning environments?

When reviewing serious academic misconduct issues (plagiarism, cheating, fabrication) who at your institution determines the disciplinary actions? If it falls to a conduct review board, who makes up that board? Is the process different for undergraduate students and graduate students?

Examples of What a CoP Offers(Continued)

Liberal Learning – Join in on Current Discussion

How do we articulate and refine a Liberal Learning core for degree completion programs? This discussion is helpful for any institution delivering online degree completion programs or for institutions who wish to refine the liberal learning core.

Becoming Involved in Communities of Practice

Easy and a great way to share experiences, insights, and expertise.

UPCEA Connect – the current professional and social networking portal for members• Participate in discussions • Share relevant articles• Receive updates

Becoming Involved (continued)

PARTICIPATE• Network• Nominate someone or program for an award• Attend sessions, webinars, audio conferences• LinkedIn• Blogs• Send ideas, project proposals, and suggestions

to CoP Chairs

Becoming Involved (continued)

VOLUNTEER

Limited Time – serve on a CoP Committee – membership, awards, planning, election

Passionate about a topic- deliver a Webinar or Audio Round Table

Professional Development – become a CoP Leader – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary

Bring It Close to Home – Sponsor a Conference Session on behalf of your CoP at a Regional or National Conference

Don’t See a CoP That AddressesYour Interests and Needs?

UPCEA bylaws, policies, and procedures allow for grassroots efforts to develop new CoPs as long as there is broad interest, initial leadership, and a functional area or issue to coalesce around that is relevant to the Association.

To discuss starting a new CoP, contact: CoP Council Chair Stacy Snow, University of Missouri

snows@missouri.edu

• UPCEA.edu

– CoP Index page: http:www.upcea.edu/about/cops

• Connect.UPCEA.edu

– CoP Group Pages

• Contact the CoP Chair

To Learn More . . .