College Rebuilds Online Education Program Under CELT Affiliation • For Iowa Faculty • Iowa State University

Iowa State University this month announced plans to reorganize the university’s online teaching staff into one new unit, Iowa State Online. This unit will be part of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT).

Expanding Iowa State University’s online education programs is a priority for the institution, which aligns with new strategic plans for the university and the state’s board of trustees, according to Governor Jonathan Wickert. The unit received his $600,000 in “jump start” funding from President Wendy Wintersteen to support the January 1, 2023 planning start.

“Iowa State Online will be a seamless integrated unit for course design and delivery, new program and market development, and a consistent brand of online programs,” said Wickert. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring together all faculty and staff across all disciplines and modalities to provide the best possible service to our students and instructors and align our efforts with the best practices of other institutions.”

The creation of Iowa State Online also addresses two recent review efforts. The Online Learning Strategy Task Force has completed a thorough analysis of the university’s online learning environment. and the Regent’s Distance Education Task Force.

Details of the restructuring

Expanding CELT into an online program creates four educational focuses:

• 
  iowa online, Includes features for marketing, new programs, corporate outreach, business development, and student success.
• 
  Instructor training, Includes core support for instructors, training for faculty and graduate students, faculty fellows, and a comprehensive classroom program.
• 
  Course design and quality, Including instructional design, quality and faculty support.
• 
  Enterprise education technology, Includes media production, Canvas management and learning tool integration, and an online testing center.

Sarah Marchetti

CELT’s mission is enhanced by the addition of remote and online support staff currently working in departments and universities. Her CELT Director, Sara Marcetti, will continue to lead the unit, changing her title to Vice Chancellor and Executive Her Director of CELT. Susan Arendt, currently a Fellow of the Provost of Online Education and her Fellow, will serve as the first Director of Her Online in the State of Iowa.

The integrated unit, including the CELT staff currently housed in Morrill Hall, will move to How Hall in the second half of the fall semester and during winter break.

Prepare for the future of online education

Ann-Marie van der Zanden, vice president of academic programs and architect of the restructuring effort, said the creation of Iowa State Online will enable the university to pursue new opportunities for online education.

“We offer certificates and stackable ‘micro-credentials’ that help working professionals develop additional skills and grow their careers, from undergraduate and graduate degree programs, services for adult learners, and We focus on a full range of programs up to degree programs. Said.

VanDerZanden, who represents Iowa in the Iowa Business Council’s Business Education Alliance, also sees the future of customizable programs that leverage faculty expertise to meet the specific needs of Iowa employers.

next step

The Office of Senior Vice Presidents and Provosts has worked with the University Human Resources Department and the Iowa State Online Implementation Team over the past several months to develop position descriptions and job profiles, including the creation of several new manager and supervisor positions. has been updated.

Additional elements of the timeline are:

• August: Individual meetings with staff, all positions posted, interviews for manager positions.
• September: Interviews for supervisors, etc.
• October: Training for new roles/employees, staff planning decisions, and winter session support.
• November: Current CELT staff move from Morrill Hall to Howe Hall.
• December: Staff currently working in university units assist faculty with end-of-term issues and complete spring semester courses/projects. All other staff will move to Howe Hall during the winter break.