Our first question asked Kevin what trends he sees in career colleges that are trying to improve retention rates. His answer? Career colleges should make sure students “don’t feel like a number” by being responsive to student needs, especially through tutoring and academic support, as well as providing encouragement and individualized attention.

Next, we asked what career colleges are doing to enhance the student experience. Our expert predicted that institutions will focus more on job placement and begin adopting technologies students prefer, including mobile:

Later in the chat, we asked participants how career colleges can improve their offerings while reducing costs. Kevin’s response included a discussion on the benefits of blended learning, where digital and social media enhance traditional classroom learning. Our participants emphasized that blended learning is especially advantageous for non-traditional students, who must balance the demands of “work, home and college lives” and learn on their own time.
Finally, we asked if student technology preferences impact recruitment and retention at professional colleges and universities:

Overall, our biggest takeaway from the Twitter chat was that, in order to stay competitive, professional colleges and universities must harness technologies that enhance student learning. This means finding out more about the technologies that students demand and leverage them for learning, especially in a blended, mobile learning environment. We couldn’t agree more, especially as Blackboard continues to develop the solutions that career colleges can implement to enhance the student experience.

Thank you to again to everyone who participated in this engaging discussion. Be sure to stay tuned for future Twitter chat announcements by following @BlackboardProEd, and let us know if you have any ideas for topics to cover in our next #4profitchat!

Blackboard Learn™ for Career Colleges is aimed at addressing these needs in a way that is engaging and at pace with the busy lifestyles of adult learners.  We recently developed four videos that highlight some of the key ways Blackboard Learn enables these adult learners to reach their highest potential:

• Engage students: By leveraging web 2.0 technologies, Blackboard Learn creates streamlined learning portals for easy and intuitive navigation to course information, while also providing the opportunity to connect with other students for social learning experiences.
• Provide openness and choice: Blackboard Learn allows for a tailored learning platform that easily integrates with your institution’s partners, including publishers and other content providers.  This allows course developers to create engaging educational content in an environment that is secure, flexible, and open.
• Demonstrate successful outcomes: It is more important than ever that professional colleges and universities provide robust and accurate measures of student success.  Blackboard Learn can aid in that effort, as it provides efficient and accurate tools for measuring student achievement, including detailed rubrics and other data-driven assessments.
• Drive student success: Blackboard Learn gives instructors the ability to drive student success through consistent and timely feedback.  Built-in tools help instructors identify at-risk students so they can receive individualized attention, helping students overcome challenges and stay motivated to succeed.

Watch all four videos in full by visiting this page, and learn more about the various ways your professional college or university can leverage Blackboard Learn to foster student success.

Your professional college or university is already taking advantage of the latest technologies to create online classes and services for your students.  But how can you increase student engagement and persistence, and impact student success, all while taking your online learning programs to the next level? We’ll address these and other questions in a half hour Twitterchat on Thursday, April 19^th from 3:30 – 4:00pm EDT.

Our chat will be led by Kevin Kuzma, the Online Editor of Career College Central Magazine.  Follow Kevin on Twitter at @CareerCollegeCT or read his biography here.

Here are the rest of the details for our Twitterchat:

Who: Professional college and university deans of admissions, technology officers, and other administrators who are invested in online learning.

What: A Twitterchat is a real-time dialogue via Twitter at a designated time.  People are encouraged to participate, but “lurking” is okay, too.

Where: From your office or wherever you are connected to the Internet!  You can access Twitter from your desk or mobile device.

When: Thursday, April 19^th from 3:30 – 4:00pm EDT.

Why: Considering the growing trend towards online learning, it is crucial that your professional or career college implements the best strategies possible to connect with students and deliver engaging learning content online.

How: Put the hashtag #4profitchat into http://tweetchat.com/ and away you go!

Below is a list of just some of the events that Blackboard will participate in this summer.  Will we be seeing you at…?

Campus Management Users Conference (CampusInsight)
April 26-27
Orlando, FL

CampusInsight 2012 will provide those in the professional and career college space with the opportunity to connect with their peers to exchange knowledge on the latest in education technology.  The conference will give practitioners the opportunity to meet and discuss CRM solutions with experts in the field, and will also provide registrants the opportunity to participate in valuable pre-conference training sessions.

Canadian National Association of Career Colleges (NACC)
May 2-4
Montreal, Quebec

The NACC is a national association representing over 400 career colleges from across Canada, as well as numerous companies in the education sector.  The Association’s upcoming conference, under the theme “Setting the Stage for Lasting Success,” will bring together industry leaders to share the latest innovations and effective practices in education.  Sessions will also be held to discuss a number of topics such as media relations, government policy, and accreditation programs.

Professional Colleges and Universities Summit (PCUS)
May 14-16
Indianapolis, IN

PCUS will give Blackboard users and prospective clients, as well as industry experts, the opportunity to discuss a wide variety of themes in the for-profit education space.  Attendees will not only have the opportunity to deepen their expertise in online learning, but will also build relationships with Blackboard, our sponsors, and others in the industry.

Ontario Association of Career Colleges (OACC)
May 30-June 1
Muskoka, ON

The Ontario Association of Career Colleges’ purpose is to ensure that private career colleges have a voice with the Ontario provincial government.  This year’s “Yours to Discover” conference will provide those in the career college space an opportunity to network with national colleagues, engage in professional development, and learn through a series of webinars and keynote speakers.

Blackboard’s partnership with Berkeley College has grown and evolved in a way that reflects the school’s commitment to frequent, open communication.  The school currently leverages Blackboard Learn 9.1 to create a centralized information portal, allowing students the ability to easily view grades, transcript requests, and tuition information online.  The Learn 9.1 platform even provides outlets for course enrollment, tutoring, and professional development for professors- all from one easy-to-navigate, online portal.

One of the most recent developments in our partnership with Berkeley College has been the school’s implementation of Blackboard Mobile Learn.  This powerful online tool allows student and faculty alike to access course content and information on a variety of devices, including smartphones and tablet PCs.  As a result, students are able to access crucial course information anytime, anywhere within the fast-paced and highly connected world in which they live.

Beyond providing a stable learning platform and mobile learning capabilities, here are some other benefits Blackboard brings to Berkeley College:

• Comprehensive Connectivity:  Communication-rich features engage students throughout their educational experience- from registration through coursework assessment.
• Exceptional Stability:  Berkeley College is one of more than 1,500 institutions that have adopted the Blackboard Learn 9.1 platform because of its stability and enhanced functionality.
• Valuable Partnership:  The responsiveness of the Blackboard team has been critical to maintaining Berkeley’s operations, and the long-term partnership has helped the school fulfill the promise of online education.

Do you want to learn more about how Blackboard is benefitting institutions like Berkeley?  Check out our recent case study “A Powerful Partnership: Blackboard Keeps Berkeley College Connected” to read more, and contact us to learn how you can leverage Blackboard for your professional college or university.

Chasen explains that technology can serve as a counterweight to the high costs and high demand that are putting pressure on the current education market.  Since technology lowers barriers to offering education, he argues, institutions are able to increase output to meet these surges in demand.

Interestingly, Chasen states that for-profit institutions play an important role in this education technology trend.  He believes that professional colleges and universities serve as an alternative to more traditional institutions for many of those who are seeking higher education.  Chasen then argues that for-profit institutions often adopt new technologies faster than their traditional counterparts, which helps them further meet the rising demand for education.

Will this education bubble ultimately burst?  Chasen doesn’t think so, and optimistic that technology will play an important role in easing us out of the bubble.  He concludes by saying:

“There’s a chance that with the technology and with the investment that’s being made today, maybe we can successfully bring down that cost of education and also expand the net to the amount of people who can go through the education system.  That’s the part that Blackboard plays in this ecosystem.”

To read the article, “Will the Education Bubble End Badly?” and to view the interview in its entirety, click the image below:

But adopting an online program doesn’t come without risk.  Universities must assess whether an online program fits within their institution’s overall culture and goals.  The accreditation process can be complex and time-consuming, especially when new courses are launched solely through online programs.  Professors must transition from face-to-face instruction to online teaching, which requires a different skill set. How can your professional college or university maximize the potential of online learning while minimizing these inherent risks?  Our recent white paper entitled “Smart Steps to Online Learning” provides a comprehensive guide to developing a well-planned online learning strategy.

Here are some top tips highlighted in the white paper:

• Get a full commitment—of both time and money—from senior administrators before delving into an online program: An online initiative is an enormous undertaking that can only be accomplished with full support from administrators. Show that online learning is viable by providing financial proof points as well as surveys that demonstrate student interest.
• Know your technology! Understanding your technical needs is critical when first starting an online program. Some early questions to ask include: What is the technology budget? Can it grow as online learning expands? Does the university have the technical resources to manage Web hosting?
• Build accreditation-worthy policies and best practices from the start: Using well-known, best practices in distance-learning pedagogy will help ensure a more efficient and successful accreditation process.
• Convene a diverse task force, made up of faculty and administrators who will get input from students:  Combine strategic big thinking and operational steps by articulating what success will look like.  What is the best method for delivering online content? How would it enhance the student experience? Answering these and other practical questions will help visualize the framework needed for your online program.
• Pilot an online course: Piloting is essential.  Test the technology and methodology of your online program by piloting a general course that will draw a variety of students. This will allow you to collect valuable student and faculty feedback so you can make adjustments before launching the full online program.

Are you ready to launch an online learning program at your professional college or university? Check out “Smart Steps to Online Learning” for further best practices and tips, including ways that Blackboard can help boost your institution’s enrollment and revenue online!

You may already know that professional colleges and universities are well-suited for students with active lifestyles, including parents and individuals with full-time jobs.  What you may not know, however, is that many professional colleges have specific programs and services that benefit members of our military, their spouses, and veterans.

Here are a few of the top ways that professional colleges and universities serve members of our military:

• Schools such as Harrison College have specific policies in place that minimize penalties to service members who must withdraw from classes upon being called to active duty.
• Herzing University, which has been listed as a top military-friendly school, is one of many professional universities that offer credit for military training, experience, and testing.
• Many schools, such as Capella University, have experienced teams dedicated to supporting members of the military and their families. (Capella even has specialized military social networks!)
• Career colleges often provide grants, scholarships, and discounts off tuition to veterans, current members of the military, and even military spouses.

In addition to these specific programs and benefits, professional colleges also offer flexible course schedules and online degree programs that can help service members complete their degrees on time.  To learn more about the various ways in which professional colleges and universities are serving our military, search for military services on your school’s website or visit the individual pages above.

Institutions that adopted the flipped classroom model have already seen significant positive results, including significant decreases in the number of students who earned failing grades.

Though this particular infographic highlights a K-12 setting, it isn’t difficult to imagine the benefits a flipped classroom could bring to professional or career college students.  By combining robust online resources with individualized guidance when needed, students with busy lifestyles can learn at their own pace while still receiving the instruction they need for success.

Has your professional or career college implemented the flipped classroom concept? To learn more about this learning model, view the infographic below or visit the Knewton website:

Here are some of my favorite findings from the study, which Steiger also highlights in her post:

•  During the 2008-2009 school year, for-profit colleges produced 5% of all bachelor’s degrees, 18% of associate’s degrees, 42% of professional certificates, and 10% of master’s degrees.

•  For-profits produce 33% of all associate’s degrees in business, management, and marketing; 51% of those in computer and information sciences; 23% of those in health professions; and 34% of those in security and protective services.

•  Enrollment in for-profit colleges has tripled in the past decade, from 4.3%  in 2000 to 10.7%  in 2009 while overall higher education enrollment increased by just 22 percent during that same time period.

•  Students at for-profit colleges are 9 percentage points more likely than their community college peers to obtain a certificate, and are also more likely to stick with their program beyond their first year.

Steiger also includes this graph on her blog, which quantifies the for-profit shares of college majors discussed in The National Bureau of Economic Research’s study:

For further reading, check out Steiger’s full post entitled “For-Profit Colleges By the Numbers.” And if you are interested in learning how your for-profit institution can best leverage online learning, be sure to sign up for our upcoming webinar: Smart Steps to Online Learning – How to Grow Reach, Enrollment and Revenue.