UW Flexible Degree Option

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Task Navigation 

Post your questions about the Flexible Degree Option here

We know that learning begins with asking the right questions, not answers. Let's begin this expedition by gathering all the questions that we have about this new territory we are exploring.  Here are some questions to get us started. 

  1. Whose idea is the UW System Flexible Degree Option?
  2. What are the forces behind this idea?
  3. What is the problem for which this might be a solution?
  4. What exactly is a "flexible" degree?
  5. What is a "competency-based degree"?
  6. What universities or colleges are currently offering flexible degrees?  Competency-based degrees?
  7. How will the degrees be developed?  What will th campus role be?  What will UW Extension's role be? What will UWS's role be?
  8. What will it take in faculty and staff time to create a flexible degree?
  9. How will we ensure that the degree is high quality and highly valued?
  10. What special expertise do we need that we don't currently have to create this degree?
  11. How will faculty be compensated and rewarded for their work on the degree? 
  12. What professional development and support will be required for faculty and staff who work on this degree?
  13. Will students be given credit for "life experience"? 
  14. How will students' knowledge and skills be evaluated?
  15. Will the flexible degree option affect our accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission?
  16. In which disciplines will we offer the flexible degree?  What existing degrees would be most appropriate for conversion to this new method of delivery?
  17. Can any academic department participate?
  18. What is the timeline for creating and offering this degree?
  19. What is the relationship between the collaborative BAAS with UW Waukesha and the flexible degree option?
  20. How can we use the flexible degree option as an opportunity to create 'curriculum maps' for shared learning goals as well as the learning goals for specific majors?
  21. What internal division of labor will be necessary to successfully design, launch and maintain such as degree?  What will be the role of the colleges and academic departments?  CCP?  Enrollment Services?
  22. What is the role of the University of Wisconsin Extension in the flexible degree option?
  23. How does the Flexible Degree Option align with UW Parkside's academic plan and priorities?
  24. What is the role of shared governance in the decision-making process?

 

Please post your questions about the flexible degree option below.

Task Discussion


  • TCastor   Aug. 3, 2012, 4:13 p.m.

    * A flexible degree program would go against some currently standing policies we have regarding credit. Specifically:

    ·      No more than 30 credits may be awarded through examination.

     

    ·      Credits granted by examination do not count toward residency requirements (the 30 credits a student must earn at UW-Parkside and the 15 credits in 300-400 level courses in the major a student must earn at UW-Parkside).

     

    ·      No more than 6 credits granted by examination may be applied to any one of the major areas of the general education requirements

     

    (http://www.uwp.edu/catalog/pdfs/POLICIES.pdf, p. 7).

    We can change university policy, but at the very least should be aware of these policies and should perhaps explore why these policies were implemented in the first place. So, my question is, what was the basis for the university originally designating limitations on the amount of credit that may be awarded through exams and PLA?

    P.S. I could not find anything in System policy about this, but do know that other UW schools have similar policies.

  • Terry Brown   July 20, 2012, 12:34 p.m.

    In her blog, the Education Optimists, Sara Goldrick-Rab, an Associate Professor at UW Madison, poses the following question about the Flexible Degree Option:

    • What will be the balance between industry and educators in crafting these programs?  If they are too specific, the programs will have little value over the long haul.
    • Who will actually teach?  Will UW Extension put the resources in to ensure that full-time faculty add online teaching to their load, or segregate it to adjuncts?
    • Good technology isn't free. Will Walker invest in helping UW Extension with the resources needed to ensure the platform for delivery is of high quality?
    • Will some potential students perceive this as their ONLY option for higher ed in the state? Will this mean other opportunities will be constricted or narrowed? Will these programs serve as entry points to other blended or in-person forms of instruction?

    Check out her June 21 post on UW System's Online Endeavor.

  • TCastor   July 17, 2012, 10:54 a.m.

    I'm wondering about what kind of empirical or data-oriented questions we should be posing and answering, such as:

    * what is the profile of students who are successful in the online environment?

    * what is the profile of individuals for whom a flexible degree would be appealing?

    * how would employers view a flexible degree?

    The follow-up to the empirical questions is, then, has a study or studies already been conducted to address these, and if so, what were their findings? If no such study has been conducted, can we conduct studies to gather data to answer some of our questions?