ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INTIATIVE #2
[currently in development]
CUT COSTS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO COLORADO HIGHER EDUCATION
It is recommended that the State of Colorado convert all lecture classes (excluding laboratory and experiential learning classes) to a modular, self-paced, 24/7 online format.
Education is now the number one economic priority in today's global economy.
- John Naisbitt, Author of Megatrends
CIO COLORADO INITIATIVE TEAM
The individuals currently working on the Team assembled to address economic development reform related to higher education in Colorado includes:
PROBLEM
As claimed in the report, The Dividend Degree, the quality and accessibility of higher education within the State of Colorado is falling.
Governor Ritter proposes to address this problem through increasing taxes and establishing new taxes. The imposition of new taxes on an already weakened economy will most likely push Colorado into a depression. Increased taxes will harm existing businesses, causes businesses to flee Colorado and discourage businesses from relocating to Colorado.
The State of Colorado needs to:
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Reduce the costs of higher education
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Improve the quality of education
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Enable state wide continuous access to higher education
The schools ain't what they used to be and never was.
- Will Rogers
Summary of Proposal Recommendations:
DELIVERY OF EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION
Recommendations
It is recommended that all colleges and universities within Colorado immediately end all face-to-face instruction of all lecture classes (excluding laboratory or experiential learning classes) and replace these classes with online instruction.
It is recommended that all classes at all colleges and universities within Colorado be standardized so that a single online class for each course subject be acceptable toward a degree at any higher education institution in Colorado.
It is recommended that the State of Colorado acquire existing online classes or contract for the development of an online class for each subject where a course does not currently exist.
Displaced instructors may be:
1. Repurposed to teach students how to learn
2. Repurposed to participate in the development of new courses
3. Repurposed to engage in research, or
4. Terminated
Advantages
1. Utilizing a single online course for each educational subject will avoid costs associated with the current redundancy of paying an instructor and providing a classroom for each class that is taught in more than one of the 28 colleges and universities within the State.
2. Additional cost savings may be realized by reduction of administrative costs associated with redundant
a. Curriculum development
b. Student recruitment
c. Enrollment
d. Payment processing
e. Implementation of federal programs
3. Reduction of costs will enable reduction of tuition and fees thereby making higher education more affordable
4. Online delivery will enable access to any class anywhere in the State of Colorado without requirement that an individual live in a city where a college or university is located.
5. Online delivery will enable access to any class anytime and thereby freeing students to work during the day
6. Improved quality of individual classes by increased use of rich media
7. Ability to rapidly change and/or expand curriculum to meet the current needs of Colorado employers
Disadvantages
1. It is expected that many of the instructors will not be suitable for other related educational activities with the result that they will be terminated and add to the current unemployment roles
2. Enabling students to work during the day may result in more individual available for employment within any new jobs, thereby pushing unemployment numbers higher
Implementation
In order to implement these recommendations, it will be necessary for the State of Colorado to:
1. Compile a list of all courses currently taught in a lecture format in all Colorado colleges and universities
2. Determine the availability of online courses that match all courses currently taught
3. Acquire rights to available online courses
4. Develop online courses where current courses do not exist
5. Lower tuition
6. Establish a system for student mentoring and qualify existing instructors to participate
7. Establish a program for development of new courses and qualify existing instructors to participate
FOR COMPLETE REPORT
Download Economic Development Reform #2 - Education Reform
