{"id":11277,"date":"2025-03-10T16:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T20:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/?p=11277"},"modified":"2025-06-16T17:08:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T21:08:45","slug":"2025-environmental-scan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/2025\/03\/10\/2025-environmental-scan\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating the Online Learning Landscape: SUNY Online\u2019s 2025 Environmental Scan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"312\" data-end=\"680\">As we move further into 2025, online learning continues to evolve\u2014shaped by shifting learner expectations, advances in technology, and increasing demands for flexibility, equity, and workforce relevance. SUNY Online\u2019s latest <em data-start=\"537\" data-end=\"557\">Environmental Scan<\/em> offers a wide-lens view of these dynamic forces and outlines how the SUNY system is poised to lead in this critical space.<!--more--><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"682\" data-end=\"720\">Why Conduct an Environmental Scan?<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"722\" data-end=\"841\">In a rapidly changing higher education environment, staying informed isn\u2019t optional\u2014it\u2019s strategic. This scan helps us:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"1111\">\n<li data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"887\">\n<p data-start=\"844\" data-end=\"887\">Identify national trends in online learning<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"888\" data-end=\"948\">\n<p data-start=\"890\" data-end=\"948\">Understand the evolving needs and expectations of learners<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"949\" data-end=\"1020\">\n<p data-start=\"951\" data-end=\"1020\">Align SUNY\u2019s priorities with workforce and economic development goals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1021\" data-end=\"1111\">\n<p data-start=\"1023\" data-end=\"1111\">Support campus leaders, faculty, and instructional design teams with actionable insights<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1148\">Key Findings from the 2025 Scan<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1150\" data-end=\"1385\"><strong data-start=\"1150\" data-end=\"1224\">1. Learners Expect More Than Flexibility\u2014They Expect Purposeful Design<\/strong><br data-start=\"1224\" data-end=\"1227\" \/>Today\u2019s learners want online experiences that are not only flexible but <em data-start=\"1299\" data-end=\"1321\">engaging, inclusive,<\/em> and <em data-start=\"1326\" data-end=\"1342\">career-aligned<\/em>. They are looking for programs that offer:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1386\" data-end=\"1504\">\n<li data-start=\"1386\" data-end=\"1421\">\n<p data-start=\"1388\" data-end=\"1421\">Clear outcomes tied to employment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1422\" data-end=\"1457\">\n<p data-start=\"1424\" data-end=\"1457\">Personalized support and feedback<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1458\" data-end=\"1504\">\n<p data-start=\"1460\" data-end=\"1504\">Seamless technology and user-friendly design<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1506\" data-end=\"1857\"><strong data-start=\"1506\" data-end=\"1557\">2. Demand for Non-Degree Credentials Is Growing<\/strong><br data-start=\"1557\" data-end=\"1560\" \/>Microcredentials, short courses, and stackable pathways are rising in popularity. Learners\u2014especially adult and working learners\u2014seek targeted learning that aligns with job market demands. SUNY campuses are responding with innovative offerings that bridge the gap between education and employment.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1859\" data-end=\"2185\"><strong data-start=\"1859\" data-end=\"1912\">3. Online Education Is No Longer a Niche Offering<\/strong><br data-start=\"1912\" data-end=\"1915\" \/>Online learning is mainstream. Most students now take at least one online course, and fully online programs continue to grow. SUNY\u2019s scale, reach, and diversity uniquely position it to deliver high-quality, accessible online education across disciplines and populations.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2187\" data-end=\"2494\"><strong data-start=\"2187\" data-end=\"2249\">4. Equity, Access, and Inclusion Remain Central Challenges<\/strong><br data-start=\"2249\" data-end=\"2252\" \/>Online education has the potential to reduce barriers\u2014but only if intentionally designed. The scan reinforces the need for equity-minded instructional practices, inclusive course design, and support structures that meet diverse learner needs.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2496\" data-end=\"2649\"><strong data-start=\"2496\" data-end=\"2552\">5. Faculty Engagement and Development Are Key Levers<\/strong><br data-start=\"2552\" data-end=\"2555\" \/>Successful online learning depends on empowered faculty. The scan points to the importance of:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2650\" data-end=\"2771\">\n<li data-start=\"2650\" data-end=\"2684\">\n<p data-start=\"2652\" data-end=\"2684\">Ongoing professional development<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2685\" data-end=\"2728\">\n<p data-start=\"2687\" data-end=\"2728\">Recognition of online teaching excellence<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2729\" data-end=\"2771\">\n<p data-start=\"2731\" data-end=\"2771\">Peer support and communities of practice<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2773\" data-end=\"2990\"><strong data-start=\"2773\" data-end=\"2833\">6. Data-Driven Improvement and Innovation Are Imperative<\/strong><br data-start=\"2833\" data-end=\"2836\" \/>From learner analytics to course design reviews, SUNY Online is focused on using data to inform decisions, improve quality, and scale effective practices.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2992\" data-end=\"3020\">What This Means for SUNY<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3022\" data-end=\"3252\">SUNY\u2019s system-wide infrastructure\u2014including the <a class=\"cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"3070\" data-end=\"3109\">OSCQR rubric<\/a>, shared services, and collaborative networks\u2014offers a powerful foundation for meeting the challenges ahead. But the path forward will require:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3253\" data-end=\"3463\">\n<li data-start=\"3253\" data-end=\"3322\">\n<p data-start=\"3255\" data-end=\"3322\">Strategic investments in instructional design and faculty support<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3323\" data-end=\"3377\">\n<p data-start=\"3325\" data-end=\"3377\">Continued innovation in online program development<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3378\" data-end=\"3463\">\n<p data-start=\"3380\" data-end=\"3463\">System-wide collaboration around learner success, equity, and workforce alignment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3465\" data-end=\"3651\">This environmental scan is a call to action: to align our collective efforts, adapt to the needs of our learners, and reaffirm our commitment to high-quality, inclusive online education.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3653\" data-end=\"3680\">Explore the Full Report<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3682\" data-end=\"4029\">You can access the full SUNY Online 2025 Environmental Scan <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1z9Ac7zP6JqhCA8mGcVXYvB_TwT5AifqUJiUSY-CmzN0\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"3742\" data-end=\"3846\">here<\/a>. We invite campus leaders, instructional designers, faculty, and stakeholders to review it, reflect on the insights, and join us in shaping the future of online learning across SUNY.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we move further into 2025, online learning continues to evolve\u2014shaped by shifting learner expectations, advances in technology, and increasing demands for flexibility, equity, and workforce relevance. SUNY Online\u2019s latest Environmental Scan offers a wide-lens view of these dynamic forces and outlines how the SUNY system is poised to lead in this critical space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8158,"featured_media":11278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[602,16],"tags":[603,503],"class_list":["post-11277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-research","tag-603","tag-environmental-scan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11277"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8158"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11277"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11279,"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11277\/revisions\/11279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}