Online education has become a significant focus for higher education institutions in recent years, as more universities have expanded their online offerings to attract a different kind of student. The benefits of developing online course offerings are numerous, and many institutions report greater student satisfaction, better retention, and improved student outcomes when they broaden their offerings.
Expanding online education, however, comes with its challenges. Online courses are not just virtual extensions of in-person methodologies and paradigms. To truly maximize the online education experience, institutions of higher education need to reframe their faculty support systems, pedagogies, and presumptions before unveiling expansive online offerings.
This can be a tall order for some institutions, and improperly planned virtual education programs can have disastrous consequences. By some estimates, around half of higher education instructors suffer from burnout, and without the proper planning and support systems in place, online education programs can exacerbate faculty burnout.
Instructional Connections has worked with some of the nation’s premier higher education institutions over the years, and we’ve learned what makes some of the nation’s best online education programs so successful. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is one such partner.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley at a Glance
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, based in Edinburg, Texas, is a public research university with approximately 35,000 students. The university is over 90% Hispanic, and popular programs include health sciences, education, and various business courses.
Online education programs are at the core of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s success. UTRGV offers a wide variety of online education programs, both traditional and accelerated, across many disciplines. The university also offers accelerated and hybrid programs, as well as online graduate programs. In fact, the institution offers over 500 online courses, and aproximately 50% of UTRGV’s student body is enrolled in at least one of them.
The significance of online education to UTRGV’s success cannot be understated. However, UTRGV’s unique situation does pose particular challenges when implementing online education. For one, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has a much higher percentage of first-generation college students than most universities, with approximately 55% of UTRGV’s students being in this group.
This cohort of students is much more likely to leave higher education or experience worsened student outcomes, whether in person or online. Additionally, UTRGV also attracts a large number of non-traditional students through these online programs.
The Academic Coach Model
UTRGV has invested considerably in supporting its online education faculty, and the Instructional Connections Academic Coach model is one pillar of the university’s support structure for its online instructors. Instructional Connections Academic Coaches are a common sight in UTRGV’s online programs, and our dedicated, seasoned coaches help UTRGV faculty perform at their best.
One of the most alluring advantages of online education, the ability to scale a program through virtual methods, can also be a massive downside. The increased number of students in an online course also increases the amount of routine work expected of an instructor.
Small, routine tasks like answering a grading question, responding to a student email, or hosting office hours can eat up massive amounts of time in an online course. Instructional Connections Academic Coaches help support instructors and free up their bandwidth to focus on higher-level and strategic pursuits.
Dedication to Continuous Improvement
UTRGV has also dedicated resources and faculty time to uncovering how to improve online education programs through the use of Academic Coaches. While Academic Coaches are a great resource in an online program, UTRGV has supported research into what makes for an effective and impactful program. Note this presentation on common challenges around the effective use of Academic Coaches. This research uncovered several campus-specific challenges related to the use of Academic Coaches, including:
- Detailed Rubrics
- Clear Communication With Academic Coaches
- Clear & Upfront Development Of Coach Expectations
This commitment to continually reviewing how Academic Coaches are employed and the common pitfalls they encounter on the UTRGV campus has proved invaluable. The result is an online education program that thrives on flexibility, expertise, and consistent review of best practices.
Learn More About the Academic Coach Model
Are you interested in learning more about the Academic Coach model and whether it’s a good fit for your institution? The nation’s top universities depend on Instructional Connections to charge their online education programs. Call Instructional Connections today to discuss further!