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SUNY Online+ Programs

Why nominate your program as a SUNY Online+ Program?

The SUNY Online team is excited about expanding the circle of degrees and certificates that exemplify the best of what SUNY has to offer in online-enabled education.  We hope that you share in our excitement, because we are confident that the SUNY Online+ Programs (formerly Open SUNY+) will open doors for your students, faculty, program, and institution.

Having your online program designated as a SUNY Online+ Program means:

  • Reaching more prospective students and growing program recognition through visibility on the SUNY Online website and search priority in the Online SUNY Program Navigator.
  • Having a seat at the table to shape future SUNY Online services and supports by providing input and feedback to the SUNY Online team.
  • Privileged access to opportunities and resources as we pilot and launch new services and supports for SUNY Online.

SUNY Online+ Programs represent a partnership between campuses and SUNY system.  The following information outlines the signature elements and sub-elements that define quality for SUNY Online+ Programs.  Embodying these signature elements will require collaboration and effort on the part of campuses and system, and we are eager to work in partnership with you to continue to raise the bar of online-enabled education at SUNY!

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

A set of elements are shared by all SUNY Online+ Programs

Personalized student services to minimize time to degree and promote student success
Engaging learning experiences based on industry-relevant content in “High Needs” or “High Demand” areas
Comprehensive faculty support to ensure quality in course design, development, and delivery
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 enable continuous quality improvement
Strategic commitment to growth supported by robust financial model to ensure scalability of resources as enrollments grow

The elements of SUNY Online+ Programs will be provided via a partnership between SUNY institutions and SUNY system

SUNY Online+ Programs Elements

 Primary responsibility for providing?
Students in SUNY Online+ Programs must have access to… SUNY system SUNY campus

1.  Personalized student services to minimize time to degree and promote student success
 
  • Searchable navigator of all online-enabled programs, with special designation for of SUNY Online+ Programs
  
 
  • ·Online student readiness website, including readiness assessments and tips for success
  
 
  • Concierge/mentor/advisor providing personalized support to online students
  
 
  • Concierge model, guide, and resources to support campus Concierges
  
 
  • 24/7 support*
  
 
  • Online academic tutoring for limited subjects*
  
 
  • Early alert monitoring and interventions*
  

2.  Engaging learning experiences based on industry-relevant content in “High Needs” or “High Demand” areas
 
  • Experiential learning opportunities
  
 
  • Systematic process to keep courses refreshed in line with industry trends
  
 
  • Programs with clear connections to demands of NYS employers
  
Faculty of SUNY Online+ Programs must have access to…

3.   Comprehensive faculty support to ensure quality in course design, development, and delivery
 
  • Course development/refresh process based on instructional design standards
  
 
  • Rubrics and tools to support development/refresh of high quality courses
  
 
  • ·Assistance with adherence to accessibility standards
  
 
  • ·24/7 support*
  
 
  • Opportunities to build community and competency (via SUNY Center for Professional Development and SUNY Online Teaching)
  
SUNY Online+ Programs must have access to…

4.   Robust technology environment for online learning and effective/innovative uses of technology in all aspects of the online program
 
  • Comprehensive technology plan
  
 
  • Suite of applications to ensure course integrity (e.g., identify verification, proctoring, plagiarism detection)*
  
 
  • IT solutions to support high quality course delivery (e.g., collaboration tools, content repository)*
  

5.   Institutional commitment to quality assurance for online learning
 
  • Strategic vision/mission that includes an explicit strategy for online learning
  
 
  • Organizational structure/roles to support quality online learning
  
 
  • Ongoing institutional assessment to guide towards continual improvement (e.g., SUNY Online Institutional Readiness process, including periodic review and update of the institution’s self-assessment and implementation plan)
  
 
  • Facilitation support for the SUNY Online Institutional Readiness Process
  

6.  Assessment of program effectiveness to enable continuous quality improvement
 
  • Appropriate registration and approval through NYSED for distance learning program
  
 
  • Industry-appropriate accreditation (if applicable)
  
 
  • Acceptable course and student retention rates relative to the population served
  
 
  • Course learning outcomes aligned with overall program objectives
  
 
  • Assessment mechanisms to measure overall program effectiveness
  
 
  • Collection and access to data to assess effectiveness of the SUNY Online+ program supports
  

7.   Strategic commitment to growth supported by robust financial model to ensure scalability of resources as enrollments grow
 
  • Enrollment projections and financial model aligned with institutional strategy for online learning
  
 
  • Resource planning for online learning as part of institutional financial planning and budgeting process
  
 
  • Budget model and resource allocation that enables scaling of resources with enrollment growth and allows for investment in program renewal (e.g. Scalability plan from the SUNY Online Enrollment Roundtable)
  

*Options may be available from SUNY system for campuses to utilize and/or procure services through University-wide contracts or other procurement vehicles

If you are interested in nominating a degree program to the SUNY Online+ Programs, please contact Dan Feinberg (dan.feinberg@suny.edu) for the requisite forms.