STEM Enrollment Growth: Online Labs Drive Student Retention
Release Date: 10/22/2024
Short-Term Credentials: What College Leaders Should Know
Changing Higher Ed
As short-term credentials gain traction, higher ed leaders face a critical question: Are these programs truly cost-effective and accessible—or just shorter? In this episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Jinann Bitar, Director of Higher Ed Research and Data Analytics at Education Trust, about the cost-efficiency, accessibility, and policy implications of short-term credential programs. They discuss new research on program affordability, disparities across states and industries, and the limited long-term earnings data available. Jinann shares what institutions need to consider before...
info_outline
Washington Update: Dismantling the Department of Education and Redefining Oversight for Higher Ed
Changing Higher Ed
Tom Netting, president of TEN Government Strategies and a trusted Washington insider, returns to provide a critical update on sweeping federal changes affecting higher education. In conversation with Drumm McNaughton, he breaks down the Trump administration’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, a move that’s already led to major staff reductions and the redistribution of responsibilities across other federal agencies. Key Discussion Points Structural Overhaul of the Department of Education: Nearly 50% of ED staff have been laid off, including in core offices such as...
info_outline
Enrollment Marketing Strategy: How to Attract Students and Align Programs
Changing Higher Ed
Enrollment marketing strategy is no longer optional—it’s essential for institutions looking to grow in a competitive, high-cost digital environment. In this episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Max DesMarais, Director of Strategy at Vital, about how colleges and universities can use data, content strategy, and full-funnel marketing to improve student recruitment and ensure academic offerings align with demand. Building an Effective Enrollment Marketing Strategy Validate program demand before launch using research, polling, and student behavior data. Use student-friendly program names...
info_outline
Higher Education Innovation That Builds Workforce-Ready Graduates
Changing Higher Ed
80% of Champlain College graduates land jobs in their field of study—because the college designed its model to make students workforce ready. In this episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Alex Hernandez, President of Champlain College, about how higher education institutions can build their innovation muscle to with workforce needs and improve graduate outcomes. Building the Innovation Muscle —not a static document. Faculty co-design new academic models, driving institution-wide innovation. Innovation is embedded in culture, not dependent on top-down initiatives. Aligning Curriculum...
info_outline
The Hidden Enrollment Market in Workforce Education
Changing Higher Ed
There are 41.5 million Americans who left college without earning a degree—but many would return if given the right opportunity. In this episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Alana Rose, Vice President of Academic Networks at InStride, about how workforce education and corporate partnerships can unlock a hidden enrollment market. The Workforce Education Advantage Employer-funded education provides debt-free learning opportunities for employees. Workforce development programs help companies upskill employees and retain talent. Higher education institutions gain access to...
info_outline
Transforming College Advising: A New Approach to Student Success
Changing Higher Ed
Higher education institutions continue to struggle with student retention, career readiness, and underemployment among graduates. Traditional college advising models focus heavily on selecting a major, yet many students graduate with empty degrees that fail to translate into meaningful careers. In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Scott Carlson and Dr. Ned Scott Laff, authors of , about how institutions can rethink academic advising, faculty engagement, and to better serve today’s learners. Carlson, a senior writer for the Chronicle of Higher...
info_outline
Top Risks in Higher Education and Why Leaders Must Have ERM Programs
Changing Higher Ed
Justin Kollinger, Senior Risk Management Consultant at United Educators (UE), brings valuable perspective in helping colleges and universities develop strategic risk initiatives. As co-author of "Risk Management: An Accountability Guide for University and College Boards" and creator of UE's annual Top 10 Risks report, Kollinger works with institution leaders to develop strategic risk initiatives, prioritize risk management goals, and launch enterprise risk management programs. Higher Ed's Current Risk & Liability Environment The higher education sector faces what United Educators calls...
info_outline
ADA Compliance in Higher Education: What Institutions Need to Know
Changing Higher Ed
New Federal ADA Regulation Deadlines Are Approaching – Is Your Institution Ready? Colleges and universities must now meet stricter ADA compliance requirements for websites and digital content or risk legal consequences, fines, and loss of federal funding. With the , institutions must ensure all web content, mobile apps, and digital resources meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. For many schools, the deadline is approaching fast. In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, host Dr. Drumm McNaughton has a conversation with Eugene Woo, CEO and founder of Venngage, to discuss what these...
info_outline
The Glass Cliff in Higher Education: Challenges Faced by Women University Presidents
Changing Higher Ed
According to recent ACE presidential survey data, women now constitute 33% of university presidencies, yet a troubling pattern has emerged: these leaders are often appointed during times of institutional crisis, creating what researchers call "the glass cliff" phenomenon. In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, Dr. Lori Varlotta, former president of Hiram College and California Lutheran University and current Distinguished Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Cal Lutheran, shares insights from her research on the glass cliff phenomenon in higher education. Drawing from her first...
info_outline
Keys to Launching New College Programs that Build Enrollment
Changing Higher Ed
Creating new colleges, new college programs, and growing enrollment is not an easy task in our current academic environment. Building enrollment for a brand-new academic program is one of higher education's toughest challenges. Yet, the successfully recruited its first class by flipping the traditional mindset. Instead of expecting students to be "college ready," they designed their programs to be "student ready." In this episode of Changing Higher Ed®, Dr. Teri Reed, inaugural director of the University of Oklahoma Polytechnic Institute at OU Tulsa and veteran creator of innovative...
info_outlineThis episode features host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Caitlin Runne-Janczy, Chief Academic Officer for Scientific Interactive, a company that provides hands-on and virtual science lab experiments to students. Drumm and Cait focus on the growing demand for online science lab courses, particularly in STEM fields. Cait discusses the results of a recent survey that found a significant increase in online lab enrollment and a corresponding decrease in on-campus enrollment.
They also explore the challenges and opportunities of delivering quality online lab experiences, including safety considerations, lab setup, accreditation, and student learning outcomes. Cait highlights the importance of hands-on components in online labs and the potential for these courses to spark a passion for STEM beyond the individual student.
Podcast Overview
Some of the key insights and opportunities for higher education leaders who listen to this podcast:
- There is a growing demand for online science lab courses. Deans and department chairs report a greater than 70% increase in online lab enrollments and a corresponding 56% decrease in on-campus lab enrollments. 88% of students surveyed said it was important for them to have the opportunity to take an online science lab course, and 60% of those students would have enrolled elsewhere or not enrolled at all if an online lab option had not been available.
- Online science lab courses can be just as effective as on-campus courses if they include a hands-on component. Simulations have a place in the lab experience, but it must have some sort of hands-on element to really get students a comparable outcome to the campus counterpart. In the survey, 90% of faculty reported that students who take hands-on labs online have the knowledge and skills to continue in their degree progression.
- Online science lab courses can help institutions reach a broader range of students, including those who cannot attend on-campus classes due to work, family, or other obligations. This can help institutions grow their enrollment and retain more students. Online options also have a broader impact beyond just the individual student. For example, students who do lab kits at home with their families are expanding that love of science beyond just the individual student.
- Institutions need to be prepared to address the challenges of offering online science lab courses, such as ensuring student safety, providing adequate support to students, and meeting accreditation requirements. Safety is a key consideration for both students and institutions. Companies that provide lab kits typically cover liability insurance for the institution in case anything happens. Institutions need to provide adequate support to students who are taking online science lab courses, such as synchronous sessions, digital office hours, and digital lab partners. Accreditation bodies typically require online science lab courses to include a hands-on component to ensure that students have the transferable skills they need to continue in their degree program.
- Institutions should consider using online science lab courses as a way to improve student preparedness for on-campus lab courses. Students can do digital experiments before they get to campus so they can be familiar with the techniques and safety protocols that they will need to implement once they get to the lab.
- Institutions should partner with companies that have experience in developing and delivering online science lab courses. These companies can provide the expertise, resources, and support that institutions need to successfully offer these courses.
Three Takeaways for University Presidents and Boards
- Growing demand for online science labs is creating urgency around digital transformation. Students are actively seeking these options and may choose other institutions that offer them. Building out online laboratory options is becoming a strategic imperative.
- Hands-on laboratory work remains essential for maintaining equivalency with on-campus experiences. While simulations play a role, physical experimentation must be part of online lab courses to ensure comparable learning outcomes.
- Online lab options offer a broader societal impact beyond individual student success. By making STEM education more accessible and visible, these courses can inspire interest in STEM fields among students' families, peers, and broader communities.
Online science lab courses are a growing trend in higher education, and institutions that are prepared to embrace this trend will be well-positioned to meet the needs of their students and the demands of the 21st-century workforce.
These are just some of the key insights and opportunities you will hear in this podcast—listen to the full episode for more.
Final Thoughts
Accreditation is essential, and institutions must ensure that online labs meet the same standards as traditional labs. They need to understand the requirements of their accrediting bodies and have robust methods to assess and demonstrate student learning outcomes.
Partnering with experienced companies can be beneficial, but institutions are ultimately responsible for meeting accreditation standards and ensuring quality.
The idea of using virtual pre-labs to better prepare students for on-campus labs is promising and could improve student performance in both settings.
Institutions need to approach online science labs thoughtfully, balancing innovation with academic rigor and ensuring that students receive a high-quality education.
Read the transcript on our website at https://changinghighered.com/stem-enrollment-growth-online-labs-drive-student-retention/
#STEMOnline #HigherEducation #EnrollmentGrowth
About Our Podcast Guest
Dr. Runne-Janczy is the Chief Academic Officer and oversees all curriculum development and lab creation. She and her team endeavor to create the same lab experience in people’s homes that they might experience on campus, as well as digital simulations where appropriate.
She and her team of PhD experts have built, from the ground up, over 450 individual labs across 11 disciplines. She is passionate about increasing access to STEM education by delivering new modalities of instruction. Dr. Runne-Janczy is a graduate of Marist College and received her PhD from the University of Iowa.
About the Host
Dr. Drumm McNaughton is Principal Consultant and CEO of The Change Leader, Inc. A highly sought-after higher education consultant with 20+ years of experience. Dr. McNaughton works with leadership, management, and boards of both U.S. and international institutions. His expertise spans key areas, including accreditation, governance, strategic planning, presidential onboarding, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances.
Dr. McNaughton’s approach combines a holistic methodology with a deep understanding of the contemporary and evolving challenges facing higher education institutions worldwide to ensure his clients succeed in their mission.