A Proper Thank You

There are few times in life when an event can render you speechless. This happened to me at approximately 12:54pm on Tuesday, April 25th. At the DEAC Annual Conference, institutions gather for an awards luncheon in which outstanding graduates and famous alumni are publicly recognized for their achievements. We have the opportunity to hear their inspiring stories and learn about their incredible journeys as they pursued their higher education dreams.

Following the stories of the graduates, DEAC nominates individuals who have made a positive impact on distance education, in the lives of students, and through committed service. It is an accomplished group of individuals who are deserving of the awards they receive. Given the caliber of nominees, it was surprising when the last name called for the Person of the Year award was mine. As I looked up from the text message I was sending on my phone and after hearing my name, I thought there had clearly been a mistake.

As I walked up to the podium and stared out across the attendees, there were no less than a dozen other faces of individuals who were more worthy of receiving this award. It was humbling and because it was a surprise, when I needed them most, words failed me.

So, this is the proper thank you I wanted to convey.

I have been fortunate over the past four years to work with some amazing individuals through the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. As a consultant, I have been presented with opportunities to come alongside the Accrediting Commission and member institutions to help them meet the needs of the students they serve. One of the most fulfilling aspects is the chance to learn from others. For me, this is less of a job than it is an occasion to wake up every day and be inspired by the individuals I am lucky enough to call, not just clients, but friends. We make a difference because we are better together. This award is less about me then it is about reflecting on all the people who provided encouragement, advice, and opportunities along the way. I want to say thank you, not only for the award, but for every individual who made me a better person today than I was yesterday.

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled
by a spark from another person. Each of us has
cause to think with deep gratitude of those who
have lighted the flame within us.”
~ Albert Schweitzer

Better Together

Rarely are great things accomplished alone. We can find successful teams all throughout history, the Wright brothers; Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson; Rogers and Hammerstein; The Beatles; and the 1985 Chicago Bears because some dreams never die. These individuals came together sharing a single vision and brought their collective talents to make a difference in the world. They were better together than they were alone. It was not always easy or without setbacks, but their passion persevered and together they accomplished the impossible.

EduCred Services is excited to add three mentors who desire to support the reinvention of higher education by mentoring clients, fostering leadership, and enhancing programs, policies, practices, and organizational structures to meet the needs of the 21st century learner. EduCred Services collaborates with institutions and accrediting organizations to offer pathways that help make students’ dreams come true by removing obstacles to their success. Please join me in welcoming Myk Garn, Rhonda James, and Tim Mott to EduCred Services. We believe that together is better.

Myk Garn: Myk fashioned his career by building an understanding of, criteria for and assuring quality in, new learning models. As an advocate for distance, online, and most recently competency-based education (CBE) models, Myk embraces innovative approaches that can answer enduring challenges in novel ways including how the protocols and evidence of the past may not truly explain the outcomes of new models. His career began as a photography that led to being a photography instructor at Lansing Community College, and then as producer of the "Techniques of the Masters" photography series on cable and satellite for Eastman Kodak. It was through this work in broadcast and then Internet-based instruction that his passion for new ways of engaging and teaching students in exciting new modes began. Over the course of his thirty-plus years in education, he has become a recognized expert and leader in the design, development, deployment, and assessment of traditional, technology-based and online educational delivery and administrative models. Myk has worked with accrediting organizations, educators, administrators, and policymakers to craft and apply principles of quality as founding Chief Academic Officer and then Executive Director of the Kentucky Virtual University (KYVU), founding research partner of Quality Matters, Standards for Online Courses at the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), the iNACOL revised quality standards for online courses, and Principles for High-Quality CBE Programs for the Competency-Based Education Network (CBEN). Myk's expertise has qualified him to serve on substantive change and accreditation reaffirmation teams for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Myk earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Arts in Educational Systems Design from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Photography from Brooks Institute. 

Rhonda James: In 1991, Rhonda entered the higher education industry and explored career options as she held various roles in the areas of compliance, student services, regulation, accreditation, Title IV regulations, and financial aid services. These experiences fostered her passion and expanded her unique portfolio for sharing knowledge of financial best practices designed to support student success. Rhonda appreciates the importance of the student life cycle and this drives her desire to provide excellent student service with a 360-degree best practices approach. Her efforts emphasize assuring students access to quality education and enhancing the student experience. She recognizes the necessity for benchmarking institutional effectiveness to make positive and continual improvements affecting operating procedures and financial acumen that results in meeting regulatory and accreditation standards. Her approach includes a comprehensive self-study of unique institutional processes highlighting areas for improvement and implementing successful strategies to achieve the educational organization's desired outcomes. Rhonda uses her extensive skill set to enable her to compile detailed data and relevant information into reports yielding strategic recommendations for improvement that incorporate full institutional collaboration. This approach results in institutional advancement and growth. Rhonda James earned a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Webster University, and an Associate of Science in Architectural Engineering from Florida Junior College. 

Tim Mott: Throughout Tim's higher education experience a common theme emerged that innovation in higher education presents unique challenges regardless of institution type. Small and mid-sized organizations, particularly those with out-of-the-box programs designed for specialized niche populations, are often challenged with the expectations associated with the accreditation process. It is Tim's passion to serve as a resource to these educational organizations and assist with accreditation responsibilities in a way that streamlines compliance requirements in the future. The result to educational organizations is measured in terms of improved student satisfaction by engaging in high quality programs, improved efficiencies to business operations, and overall performance improvements. The educational organizations that integrate accreditation and compliance systems into the normal course of business operations fare well during initial and ongoing renewal of accreditation and compliance reviews. Tim's experience includes leadership positions at public, private, adult-focused, online, undergraduate, and graduate level programs through the Doctor of Philosophy degree, each representing unique accreditation and compliance challenges. Tim Mott earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Education and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

“Success always takes help.” ~ Simon Sinek

5 Reasons for Another Educational Blog...

Education: What it is and what it’s not…

Education is said to be a lot of things. It’s a pathway to a better job and a better life. It’s a bridge between people and cultures. It’s unique to the individual. It’s what you make of it. It’s an opportunity. 

There are some things that education is not. It’s not static. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s not cheap. It’s not easily regulated. It’s not always accessible. It’s not easy to avoid. 

Education affects every part of life. It affects those who have it and those who don’t. It affects those who want it and those who don’t care about it. Regardless, of an individual’s chosen path, education matters.

 The Good…

Education provides an opportunity to grow, change, improve, and alter an individual’s life course or a whole generation. The individuals who choose to make education their life, do so out of a passion or desire to make it better. Why? This is a question I have often asked myself. I too entered the field of education out of necessity, but over time found it was really my passion. A passion I believe is shared among others in the same field, to make a difference and ultimately to make education better, more accessible. 

With millions of people arriving on U.S. soil to attend U.S. colleges and universities, the question is raised, is it worth it and is education in America all that better? While no institution is perfect, change is always possible and the academic freedoms afforded many in this country are worth taking a closer look at why many choose to seek a U.S. education.   

The Bad…

Education continues to be an emotional topic. There are strong opinions about the good, bad, and improvements needed in education. The recent spotlight placed on education from the federal government highlights areas which need improvement resulting in investigations by many federal oversight groups. Along the way, shifting regulatory policies and procedures challenge institutions to respond accordingly. This places institutions in a reactionary mode, leaving them with little time to make necessary changes and often reducing the focus on the students’ best interest. When these actions and opinions are played out in the media the result is often a public perception of the reduced value of education. This increased intrusion into nation-wide educational practices has left a negative impression in the public’s mind. 

The Misconception…

Education is not one-size-fits-all. There is not a set of uniform rules which can be imposed to “fix” what everyone feels is wrong about education. Also while education is not completely “broken” as some would say, it does have substantial room for improvement as evidenced by the mixed performance across all 50 states and in comparison to other countries. Sometimes in the search for a solution and an easy answer, the most important focus of education is lost…the students. A notable disconnect are the needs of employers relative to the education earned by students. There has been a cultural shift in the U.S. from a comprehensive curriculum, a balance between humanities and arts and technical or specialized educational content, to a curriculum specifically focused on job-based training. The results of this shift have become increasingly apparent as employers consistently cite the difficulty in finding qualified employees. Meanwhile, this feeds the public perception that education in the U.S. is losing its value. It seems that something is getting lost in the translation between employers’ needs, institutional curriculum, and graduates’ abilities.

The Solution…

There is no single solution. But there are characteristics, tools, resources, and patterns which can be identified and implemented to produce desired results. Strategies which work for one institution may not work for all other institutions, but it’s an opportunity to begin a dialogue. It’s also an opportunity for institutions to be proactive in evaluating the needs of students in a changing economy and help provide opportunities to meet their needs on a regular basis. Strategies include eliminating barriers for student access and success by assisting students in identifying their passion to ensure the education they pursue provides them the most effective way of achieving their goals. It’s time education got out of students way and instead provide a roadmap to a better understanding of what is available and accessible. 

The Continued Conversation...

This is not just another blog. But it is a forum to come together in order to agree, disagree, and exchange ideas. It’s an opportunity to ask questions of those who have been there before, to gain another perspective, and build on ideas. It’s an opportunity to review changes in regulations and understand their long term meaning and impact. It’s a chance to offer assistance and varying perspectives to other institutions struggling to fill an educational need. It’s a chance to change and gain insight into the “whys” of education’s history and the “what now” of education’s future. It’s more than just talk, it takes action; however small, to begin a habit of improvement and a positive change in education.