What is BCcampus?

1. What is BCcampus? April 22, 2003 Thorne K. Won Ministry of Advanced Education

2. Outline • Chronology of Milestones • BCcampus – What, How and Why • Enrollments and Student Profiles • Lessons Learned • Next Steps BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

3. Chronology • Fall ’99 – Collaborative Online Programs for E-learners (COPE) – collaborative program development • Spring ’01 – E-merge – development of support services • Fall ’01 – BCcampus Pilot – collaborative development, delivery and support of online programs • Fall ’02 – Official Launch of BCcampus – involvement of all 27 public Post-Secondary institutions BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

4. Announcement Highlights: creation of Implementation Steering Committee includes all BC public post-secondary institutions includes all distance education courses 2-year implementation period seamless path from application to graduation for distance learners in BC October 30, 2002Announcement of BCcampus BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

5. Implementation Steering Committee • Ministry of Advanced Education (chair) • 4 university representatives • 1 university college representative • 1 institute representative • 2 college representatives (1 urban, 1 rural) • 3 industry representatives • 1 OU/OC representative • 1 C2T2 representative • 2 student representatives (1 urban, 1 rural) BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

6. BCcampus - Vision BCcampus is a collaboration of the public post-secondary institutions in BC providing a central online access point to post-secondary learning resources and support services for distance learners, faculty and course developers, staff and administrators. It will facilitate a seamless path from application to graduation for distance learners in BC. BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

7. BCcampus Objective To provide learners throughout the province with increased choices and opportunities for quality education and training by embedding online courses and programs in an environment that enhances learner success. BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

8. BCcampus Collaborative Development • Share development resources/joint development • Share best practices • Use of a common curriculum (where applicable) • Rationalize course/program development • Maintain and update online curricula Collaborative Delivery and Support • Enrollments throughout the province • Support services by non-instructing institution • Promotes ease of credit transfer and credentialing • Coordinated services such as financial aid BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

9. BCcampus Update - Coordinated Services • Course hosting server implemented to manage all e-Merge online courses (24x7 operation) • Extended hour (24x6) Helpdesk for technical assistance for students and faculty implemented • Initial online advising services available through the online course directory BCcourses.com • Negotiation of system-wide licensing of software • Evaluation of alternate Course Management Systems • Development of a central registration facilitation system BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

10. How Does BCcampus Work? • Information Gathering • academic advising; in person and online • course directory; online and hardcopy • Application/Admission/Letter of Permission • registration • Instruction • Completion/Credentialling BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

11. Key Institutional Components • Home Institution • institution providing on site support services and coordination • Instructing Institution • institution providing instructional services • Credentialling Institution • institution admitting student to program and credentialling upon completion BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

12. Why BCcampus? • Improved Access • to programs/courses not available locally; due to space, inconvenient time, not offered • Improved Choices • of programs/courses available from all institutions • Improved Support • for program/course selection, registration, instruction and credentialling • extended hour tech assistance; course hosting BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

13. Improved Efficiency and Effectiveness • Collaborative development • Shared resources • Reduced duplication • Use of distributed resources and new technologies • Shared best practices BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

14. Funded BCcampus FTEs * Unique institutions BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

15. Enrollments BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

16. Student Demographics BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

17. Students’ Status Profile BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

18. Access Location BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

19. Lessons Learned • Collaborative involvement at all levels is necessary for success. • Provision of a single point of access for online and other distance learning in BC also focuses other activities. • Collaborative delivery has improved retention and success. • Coordinated support services contribute to student success. • Pilot approach to development and implementation has been successful. • Short, medium and long term strategic planning is required for the continued success and sustainability of BCcampus. • A feedback loop is vital in the continued improvement of products and services.  BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003

20. Next Steps • Establish BCcampus Project Office • Continue FTE growth for online programs • Include universities in FTE growth • Develop registration facilitation system • Assess and build on existing systems, services and activities supporting distance education • Develop performance measures • Establish task groups to address outstanding issues BCcampus Core Presentation – April 22, 2003