Strategic Priority 3

Increase online, hybrid and off-site offerings, adaptive scheduling, and curricular flexibility.

2024 Update and Accomplishments

Strategy 1: Support the growth of innovative, in-demand online programs while promoting inclusiveness and access within curricular flexibility.

1. Increase the total number of online programs.

• We have added 9 new online programs this calendar year, for a total of 57 fully online programs. These are promoted on the new majors and concentrations pages and on the MTSU Online home page.

2. Increase support for blended course development.

• We implemented a new Synchronous Flex course type, piloted by the College of Education

3. Instructional design

• We added an additional instructional designer to MTSU Online, which helps us grow the number of online courses and programs, and also guide course development to promote inclusivity.

Strategy 2: Enhance the support structures (technical, pedagogical, administrative, etc.) to accelerate expansion of online, hybrid, and off-site courses and programs.

1. Expand the use of open educational resources (OER).

• OER expansion is a major focus of the MTSU Community Engagement Advisory Group.
• MTSU added open educational resources librarian Ginelle Baskin. She publishes a regular newsletter about promoting OER.
• We established an agreement with the MTSU bookstore to accommodate and feature courses using OER materials. The textbook adoption process now facilitates OER use.

2. Clarify and streamline the recruitment and support of adult and returning students, most of whom are entering online programs.

• A University College team led by Peggy Carpenter is now recruiting adult and online students for all the online programs across every college within MTSU.

Strategy 3: Apply data analytics to strategically inform scheduling decisions, program development, and demand.

• Implemented the use of DegreeWorks Plans to support course planning and space utilization software at the department level.
• Entered into a partnership with AASCU and Ad Astra for the “Academic Planning for Equitable Success” project. Through this partnership MTSU will be able to analyze our course scheduling and registration data to identify areas of need and opportunities for improvement. The project started in Fall 2023 and runs through Fall 2024.

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2023 Update and Accomplishments

• 16 new fully online degree programs for a total of 32.
• 102 new online courses and 70 online course redevelopments.
• Standardized deadlines and timelines for course development.
• Collaboration with MTSU Marketing and Communications to promote online programs and MTSU Online branding.
• \Accelerated Public Safety degree program.
• Ten proposed degree programs based on market demand.
• Meeting with chairs and deans to confirm plans and status for online programs in development.
• New course types implementation.

Work Group

Co-Chair: Tyler Henson	Registrar
Co-Chair: Trey Martindale	MTSU Online
Erin Arnold	College of Media and Emntertainment
Kate Goodwin	College of Liberal Arts
Tim Greer	Jones College of Business
Brian Hinote	Provost’s Office
John Burchfield	University College
Sharon Parente	Walker Library
Sonya Sanderson	College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
Steve Severn	College of Liberal Arts
Jennifer Woodard	College of Media and Entertainment