CLASS NOTES Penn State World Campus Shows Robust Growth as It Turns 15 In January 1998, Penn State became one of the first universities to offer online education, launching its World Campus with just 41 students in five academic programs. As it celebrates its 15th anniversary, the World Campus boasts nearly 12,000 students, studying more than 90 undergraduate, graduate and professional education programs. “For 15 years, we’ve led the way in the online delivery of high-quality degrees from a high-quality institution,” said Wayne Smutz, executive director of Penn State World Campus and associate vice president for academic outreach. “This is accomplished by working in partnership with Penn State’s academic colleges and faculty to offer programs to adult learners who may be balancing career, family and education.” Today, World Campus students come from every state in the nation and the District of Columbia, as well as three territories and 54 countries. The popularity of the World Campus has led to five straight years of double-digit enrollment growth. Enrollment of veterans and active duty military personnel has also risen significantly in recent years, reaching 15 percent in 2011-12. A major factor contributing to the growing enrollment is a vigorous commitment to academic quality and student support services. These efforts have been widely recognized, including Top 25 rankings of several online degree programs by U.S. News & World Report and the Award for Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education by the Sloan Consortium.
“Veterans in Society: Changing the Discourse” Conference Scheduled at Virginia Tech Virginia Tech’s Veteran and Military Student Support Initiative will host a conference called “Veterans in Society: Changing the Discourse” on April 14-15, 2013, at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. The goal of the conference is to call attention to the emerging research and growing need for interdisciplinary efforts relating to all aspects of veterans’ experience, from access to higher education, health care and employment; the efficacy of psychological and medical services; veterans’ identity, diversity and inclusion; higher education; to veterans’ engagement with civil society. In the 11 years since 9/11, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of veterans, particularly those with combat experience. With Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, our troops are returning home and finding their places in society. As a result, the topic of veterans’ reintegration into society has become both a key priority and a challenge for federal and state governments and educational institutions of all types. Scholars and researchers conducting research related to veterans’ reintegration
into society are the intended audience for the conference. This audience includes university professors, doctoral students and researchers affiliated with institutions of higher learning. Research tracks are: • Depicting veterans through films, memorials and public discourse • Listening to and studying language about women veterans • Healing the wounds of war: motive, motivations and interventions to assist veterans • Teaching and learning: pedagogical strategies and programs for veterans • Integrating veterans: an investigation of veteran-specific needs and policies • Connecting spheres: veteran engagement with their communities To date, no other university has convened an academic conference solely focused on veteran-related research. The VSC2012 planning committee envisions this conference as an annual event and the first step towards making Virginia Tech the leader in the emerging field of veterans’ studies.
ACE Announces Launch of Association of Chief Academic Officers American Council on Education (ACE) announced plans in February for the launch of the first national professional organization representing chief academic officers from all sectors of higher education. The Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO) held an initial organizational meeting during ACE’s 95th Annual Meeting, March 2-5 in Washington, D.C. The new organization, which will represent chief academic officers (CAOs) such as provosts and vice presidents for academic affairs from all accredited higher education institutions, will provide a forum for discussing important academic affairs issues, as well as an environment where CAOs can communicate with, inform and educate one another. A steering committee of the planned ACAO, chaired by New Mexico State University executive vice president and provost emerita Wendy K. Wilkins, has been laying the groundwork for the launch. “While there are professional associations that serve presidents and deans and others in the higher education community, there has
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been a void when it comes to serving the professional development and networking needs of CAOs across sectors,” said Jayne Marie Comstock, director of ACE’s Executive Leadership Group. “ACE, in our role as a convener for higher education associations, is pleased to be able to assist in the start-up of this important new organization. This is consistent with ACE’s mission to support, prepare and inspire higher education leaders.” “Chief academic officers strive as part of their primary mission to promote academic quality, set the academic vision of their institutions and ensure student success,” said Wilkins. “This exciting new organization will be a fulcrum for higher education innovation and a place where CAOs can support each other and pursue professional development.” Interested CAOs are welcome to attend the initial organizational session, at which their institutions will have the opportunity to become charter members of the association. The formation of the ACAO is supported by a generous contribution from a leading independent academic and professional publisher SAGE.
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