A team of six faculty and staff from Lake Region State College attended the annual Higher Learning Commission Conference in Chicago, IL, April 5-8. The Higher Learning Commission is an independent agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. HLC is an institutional accreditor, accrediting the institution as a whole.
Two members of the LRSC team presented at the conference. Balancing Academic Rigor and Student Success was the topic of a presentation by long-time employees, Dr. Betsy Bannier and Mr. Andy Wakeford. Dr. Bannier is a professor of chemistry and has more than two decades of online teaching experience. Mr. Wakeford has two decades of student support experience, serving online and on campus students.
The presentation focused on the responsibility of both faculty as well as the students enrolled in online college courses. The topics of due dates, tutoring, withdrawals, general guidance as well as the personal responsibility upheld by students who seek higher education. The focus of academic rigor (keeping course content, challenging), while still supporting the ups and downs of students in life was discussed.
Bannier and Wakeford walked the group through four different case studies, from real situations in online courses at Lake Region State College in the past two decades to show students can still be successful when personal situations arise. The case studies removed any identifiable information to keep student privacy a top priority in the case studies. The case studies were discussed in small groups during the presentation. Individual findings were shared with the group for further discussion.
Dr. Bannier emphasized “It is largely the students’ responsibility to maintain communication with instructors and professors while enrolled in a class. Following academic due dates and checkpoints in a course is paramount.” Mr. Wakeford emphasized to the group that student success in college courses is attainable, with slight accommodation to the layout of the course timeline, when the instructor is in the loop of student life situations.
More than 200 participants attended the presentation. In total, more than 3,800 attended the four-day conference. Some participants stayed after the presentation for more than 20 minutes asking follow-up questions as well as discussing other potential scenarios.
Bannier and Wakeford were complimented on the transparency of the presentation and how real situations can resonate with college faculty and advisors.