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SUNY Online+ Programs

Why nominate your program as a SUNY Online+ Program?

The SUNY Online+ designation recognizes degrees and certificates that exemplify the best of what SUNY has to offer in online-enabled education.  SUNY Online+ Programs open doors for your students, faculty, program, and institution.

Having your online program designated as a SUNY Online+ Program gives campuses the opportunity to:

  • Reach more prospective students and grow program recognition through visibility on the SUNY Online website and search priority in the SUNY Online Explore website
  • Shape future SUNY Online services and supports by providing input and feedback to the SUNY Online team.
  • Gain privileged access to opportunities and resources as we pilot and launch new services and supports for SUNY Online.

SUNY Online+ Programs represent SUNY Campus’s and SUNY System’s shared commitment to the highest standards of quality and excellence in all facets of online educational programming, student opportunity, and success. The Signature Elements affirm that SUNY Online+ academic programs represent a comprehensive commitment to student success, faculty support and program integrity.

What does it mean to be a SUNY Online+ Program?

A set of elements are shared by all SUNY Online+ Programs. The elements of SUNY Online+ Programs will be provided via a partnership between SUNY institutions and SUNY system.

  • Personalized student support to promote student success.
  • Engaging discipline and career-related learning experiences.
  • Comprehensive faculty support to ensure quality in course design, development, delivery and evaluation.
  • Robust technology environment for online learning and effective/innovative uses of technology in all aspects of the online program.
  • Institutional commitment to quality assurance for online learning.
  • Assessment of program effectiveness to promote continuous quality improvement.
  • Institutional strategy for sustainability and growth.

SUNY Online+ Program Elements

Student Support

Online student support begins at the point of inquiry and continues seamlessly through admission, enrollment, persistence, program completion, and alumni status.

Students in SUNY Online+ Programs have access to…

1. Personalized student support to foster student success and accommodate the distinct needs of online learners as well as the unique needs of a diverse population that optimizes retention, persistence, and completion.
  • Searchable website of all online-enabled programs, with special designation for SUNY Online+ Programs. (SS)
  • Online student readiness website, course, and/or survey that includes readiness assessments and success strategies (e.g., SUNY Online Student Success Inventory, time management, study methods, textbook reading, note taking, etc.). ** (SS, SC)
  • Single point of contact (individual or individuals) who provide personalized proactive and responsive program-specific and -related guidance before and throughout the duration of the program. (SC)
  • Online student support staff trained on the SUNY Online student support model or an equivalent model.** (SC)
  • Student services, success, and technology support that meets the needs of students prior to and throughout the academic year (e.g., Technology Help Desk, Admissions, Financial Aid, Bursar, Orientation, Advising, Success Coaching, Veterans Services, Library support, etc.).** (SC)
  • Tutoring and academic support that aligns with course subject matter and outcomes (e.g., professional and/or peer tutoring, individual and/or group tutoring, writing/math/science assistance, structured learning and/or supplemental instruction for courses with high D, F, W rates, etc.).**(SC)
  • Early alert monitoring and personalized interventions used to support student success.** (SC)
  • Academic advising that assists students with academic pathways and completion plans. (SC)

SS = SUNY System is responsible to provide.
SC = SUNY Campus is responsible to provide.
*May be provided by a campus-wide unit, school/college, academic department, or other campus unit.
**Options may be available from SUNY system for campuses to utilize and/or procure services through university-wide contracts or other procurement vehicles.

2. Engaging discipline and career-related learning experiences.
  • Experiential learning opportunities (e.g., research, service learning, practicum, internship, clinical, co-op, study abroad, client-based projects, capstone, etc.). (SC)
  • Systematic process to keep courses refreshed in line with discipline and career-related trends. (SC)
  • Programs with clear connections to NYS employers. (SC)
  • Career development support that assists students with post program completion objectives (e.g., job search, graduate school search, resume and cover letter review, interviewing skills, etc.). (SC)

SS = SUNY System is responsible to provide.
SC = SUNY Campus is responsible to provide.
*May be provided by a campus-wide unit, school/college, academic department, or other campus unit.
**Options may be available from SUNY system for campuses to utilize and/or procure services through university-wide contracts or other procurement vehicles.

Faculty Support

Online faculty support begins at course design and continues through delivery, evaluation, and the refresh process.

Faculty in SUNY Online+ Programs have access to…

3. Comprehensive faculty support to ensure quality in course design, development, delivery and evaluation.
  • Course development/refresh process based on instructional design standards (e.g., OSCQR, Quality Matters (QM)).** (SC)
  • Rubrics and tools to support development/refresh of high-quality courses (e.g., OSCQR rubric). (SS)
  • Support for compliance with SUNY’s Electronic Information Technology (EIT) accessibility policy and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) standards.** (SC)
  • Technology and design support to meet the needs of faculty prior to and throughout the academic year (e.g., support during peak times of the academic year and each term).** (SC)
  • Opportunities to build community and competency (e.g., SUNY Center for Professional Development, SUNY Online Teaching, SUNY Online Summit, etc.). (SS)
  • Access to and training on early alert system and/or process to refer students to campus support services. (SC)
  • Opportunities to utilize open educational resources that support high quality course content and low cost/no cost options for students.** (SC)

SS = SUNY System is responsible to provide.
SC = SUNY Campus is responsible to provide.
*May be provided by a campus-wide unit, school/college, academic department, or other campus unit.
**Options may be available from SUNY system for campuses to utilize and/or procure services through university-wide contracts or other procurement vehicles.

    Program Support

    Online program support is a coordinated and a shared commitment among the faculty, staff, department, school, campus, and SUNY system.

    SUNY Online+ Programs integrate…

    4. A robust technology environment for online learning and effective/innovative uses of technology in all aspects of online program.
    • Institution’s comprehensive technology plan (e.g., infrastructure, staff, hardware, software, network, server, learning management system, applications, support strategy, etc.). (SC)
    • Information technology solutions to support high quality course delivery and student success (e.g., collaboration tools, content repository, early alert).** (SC)

    SS = SUNY System is responsible to provide.
    SC = SUNY Campus is responsible to provide.
    *May be provided by a campus-wide unit, school/college, academic department, or other campus unit.
    **Options may be available from SUNY system for campuses to utilize and/or procure services through university-wide contracts or other procurement vehicles.

    5. The institution’s commitment to quality assurance for online learning.
    • Strategic vision and mission that includes an explicit strategy for online learning. (SC)
    • Organizational structure/roles to support quality online learning (e.g., online learning coordinator/manager/director/department, instructional designer, steering committee, advisory board, etc.). (SC)
    • Ongoing institutional assessment to guide towards continual improvement (e.g., SUNY Online Institutional Readiness process, including periodic review and update of the institutions self-assessment and implementation plan).** (SC)

    SS = SUNY System is responsible to provide.
    SC = SUNY Campus is responsible to provide.
    *May be provided by a campus-wide unit, school/college, academic department, or other campus unit.
    **Options may be available from SUNY system for campuses to utilize and/or procure services through university-wide contracts or other procurement vehicles.

    6. Assessment of program effectiveness to promote continuous quality improvement.
    • Appropriate registration and approval through NYSED for distance learning program. (SC)
    • Industry-appropriate accreditation (if applicable). (SC)
    • Alignment with or above course completion and student retention rates for comparable populations at the campus and SUNY level. (SC)
    • Course learning outcomes aligned with overall program objectives and institutional and/or school learning outcomes. (SC)
    • Assessment mechanisms to measure overall program effectiveness and make continuous improvement. (SC)
    • Collection and access to data to assess effectiveness of the SUNY Online+ program supports. (SC)

    SS = SUNY System is responsible to provide.
    SC = SUNY Campus is responsible to provide.

    7. The institution’s strategy for sustainability and growth of program.
    • Enrollment projections and financial model align with institutional vision, mission, strategy for online learning. (SC)
    • Resource planning for online learning is part of institutional financial planning and budgeting process and is reviewed systematically/regularly. (SC)
    • Budget model and resource allocation that enables scaling of resources commensurate with enrollment growth and allows for investment in program renewal. (e.g., Scalability plan from the SUNY Online Enrollment Roundtable). (SC)
    • Continuity of education plan that ensures sustainability of courses, maintains quality instruction, and ensures timely student completion. (e.g., template courses, short and long-term course planning, etc.). (SC)
    • Program designed to achieve and sustain target enrollment levels, including potential scalability opportunities that align with the program goals. (SC)

    SS = SUNY System is responsible to provide.
    SC = SUNY Campus is responsible to provide.

    To nominate a degree program or certificate for SUNY Online+ designation, please submit the SUNY Online+ Program Nomination Form. The form can be saved and edited later before final submission. To view the full form, please download the PDF

    Questions? Contact Maureen Kinney, Campus Partnerships Project Manager:  Maureen.Kinney@suny.edu