2025 ACHE Webinar Series
Please join us to learn more about innovative ideas and how you can implement them at your institution.
All webinars will be scheduled for Wednesdays at 1:00-1:50pm EST.
February 12
Meeting Where We Are: Engaging Cross Campus Collaboration for Improving Continuing Education
Increasing faculty and administrative engagement with continuing education programs increases the capacity of the programs to meet a larger number of students where they are in life, and to meet the educational needs of the student and the community. This improves the morale of 1) students, as they are in a position to be promoted or change employers; 2) faculty, as they are connected to another on-campus community and have more opportunities to teach; 3) academic administration, because they have a deeper bench of instructors for continuing education; 4) admissions officers, because they have a larger application funnel for certificate and degree programs; and 5) employers, because they have a more educated workforce to meet ever-changing demands. In this interactive session, the strategies, challenges, and successes of increasing cross-campus collaborations for continuing education at the University of West Florida will be presented.
Presenter:
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Dr. Dallas Snider, University of West Florida
Moderator:
- Jana Breburdova, University of Central Florida
February 19
Beyond Tradition: Innovating Recruitment and Admissions Strategies and Academic Policies for Nontraditional Students
This presentation addresses the critical importance of catering to nontraditional students to achieve equitable learning environments and enrollment goals. It delves into the complexities of recruiting nontraditional undergraduates and developing academic policies for their unique needs. The session emphasizes the role of flexible admissions criteria and tailored support services in enhancing accessibility and success for adult learners, veterans, working professionals, and those with family responsibilities. It highlights the necessity of collaboration among academic advisors, faculty, and administrative personnel to successfully implement these policies. Ultimately, the presentation underscores the transformative potential of innovative admissions strategies and inclusive practices in empowering nontraditional students and promoting a diverse and resilient higher education landscape.
Presenter:
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Dr. Janine Guerra, Drexel University
Moderator:
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Kim Chavis, North Carolina Central University
February 26
Case Study: Using Generative AI to Analyze Continuing Education Participant Feedback
There is general recognition that participant feedback provides indispensable insights that can be used by instructors, administrators, and staff to enhance teaching materials and improve the overall learner experience in programs. Processing and analyzing this feedback from relatively small sample sizes is a task that can be reasonably accomplished by many people in an organization.
But what happens when a large data set is pulled together? How can a team that does not have a qualitative expert on staff nor desire to engage in the time it would take to perform a formal analysis of the data proceed? You leverage the power of Generative AI and Large Language models.
Presenter:
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Kiel Norris, University of Georgia
Moderator:
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Mark Murphy, Middle Tennessee State University
March 5
Supporting Adult Student Success & Wellness Through Engaging Online Coursework
Adult students in higher education have unique experiences, especially in fully online programs, necessitating innovative support for their transitions, needs, and wellness. The University of Louisville’s Organizational Learning and Leadership program offers an online asynchronous course, Individual Strategies for Success, to help adult students acclimate and succeed. The course uses Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy, and SAMHSA’s Dimensions of Wellness to guide students in reflecting on their college experience and developing personalized action plans. The session discusses effective teaching practices and the integration of digital technology to engage adult learners. Key lessons learned for continuous improvement and fostering a supportive learning environment will also be shared.
Presenter:
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Dr. Thomas Teague, University of Louisville
Moderator:
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Dr. Sabrina Capps, Capps EduLead Consulting, LLC
March 12
Fostering student wellness through community: one university’s strategy and best practices for adult learners in an online environment
Join us for an engaging session that explores one university's strategy and best practices for fostering student wellness through community, particularly focusing on adult learners in an online environment, through the lens of Social Ecology. Loyola University Chicago focuses on fostering student wellness through community, emphasizing the values of 'Cura Personalis' to create a supportive culture for adult learners in an online environment. Their fully online orientation aims to facilitate meaningful connections for new students. The university supports adult learners from admission to graduation through a comprehensive approach that includes mentorship from faculty advisors and ambassadors. This session will highlight the importance of consistent engagement and recognition of individual achievements, and how these practices contribute to building a strong sense of community. Attendees will gain practical strategies for promoting student success and well-being in online learning settings.
Presenters:
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Dr. Eva Mika, Loyola University - Chicago
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Dr. Jennifer Gettings, Loyola University - Chicago
Moderator:
- Dr. Jonell Hinsey, Middle Tennessee State University