Published by Acadeum
In today’s rapidly evolving higher education landscape, institutions are facing unprecedented challenges, from declining enrollments to rising costs and shifting workforce demands. To remain competitive and fulfill their missions, colleges and universities must innovate and collaborate.
Acadeum is increasingly working with institutions to think more intentionally about implementing consortial course sharing to efficiently and effectively support their academic portfolio. One powerful strategy that has emerged is program sharing, which allows institutions to pool resources and expertise to enhance academic offerings. This approach not only benefits the institutions involved but also provides students with enriched educational experiences.
Program sharing through the Acadeum network enables colleges and universities to access or share high-quality courses across in-demand programs. It also offers institutions a low-risk way to enrich educational experiences on campus by integrating courses from regionally accredited partner institutions and vetted in-demand workforce certification partners to launch or enhance undergraduate and graduate programs, concentrations, or minors while maintaining institutional mission and values.
By working together, institutions can offer a broader range of courses, share faculty expertise, and provide students with more diverse learning opportunities. This cooperative model not only helps institutions optimize their resources but also enhances their ability to meet the evolving needs of students and the workforce.
The Benefits of Program Sharing
Program sharing represents a paradigm shift for higher education institutions as they approach program development and delivery. Rather than operating in isolation, higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing the value of collaboration as a way to address common challenges.
Program sharing is more than just a cost-saving measure; it is a strategic tool that allows institutions to enhance their academic offerings and remain competitive. By integrating courses from regionally accredited partner institutions, universities can launch or enhance in-demand programs, concentrations, or minors.
A prime example of this collaborative approach is the partnership between Woodbury University and Mount Saint Mary’s University, two Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) in Los Angeles, which have joined forces to offer a shared MBA program through the Acadeum network.
For institutions like Woodbury and Mount Saint Mary’s, offering multiple concentrations can lead to smaller cohorts, which is not always financially viable. However, through program sharing, these institutions can optimize resources, diversify learning experiences, and make fiscally responsible decisions. As Dr. Starkey of Woodbury University notes, “Program sharing and not being the expert on all subject matter is a way to save expenditures and is a fiscally responsible decision for the university.”
For institutions facing budget constraints or declining enrollments, program sharing offers a low-risk way to expand academic offerings without the need for significant upfront investment. By collaborating with other institutions, universities can offer a wider variety of courses and concentrations than would be financially or logistically feasible to implement independently. This approach not only attracts a broader range of students but also allows institutions to respond more nimbly to changes in student demand and workforce needs.
Moreover, program sharing fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation within the academic community. By partnering with other institutions, universities can tap into a broader pool of expertise and resources, enhancing the quality of their academic programs. Program sharing offers institutions a low-risk way to enrich educational experiences on campus by integrating courses from regionally accredited partner institutions and vetted workforce certification partners to launch or enhance in-demand programs, concentrations, or minors.
Faculty and administrators from different institutions can share best practices, curricular innovations, and pedagogical strategies, which leads to a richer educational experience for students. This collaborative approach also encourages institutions to think creatively about how to leverage their unique strengths and resources to benefit a larger student population.
A great example of program share powered by the Acadeum platform is Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D), which offers some of the only art and design-focused courses within the Acadeum platform, including fashion, esports, and data visualization. PCA&D has created pathways for other institutions that may not offer specializations like graphic design. The partnerships also help other institutions attract the modern-day learner and embed specializations and courses into their curriculum that they otherwise might not offer.
In addition to academic benefits, program sharing can also strengthen institutional resilience. As higher education faces mounting challenges from shifting federal policies, economic pressures, and demographic changes, the ability to adapt and collaborate has become increasingly important.
Albright College began its program sharing journey to meet the demand of returning students, especially those who had graduated from the online degree completion program and were looking to earn a master’s degree. Reflecting on this demand, Dr. Wilder said, “Earning a master’s degree is a way students are standing out in the marketplace. We knew we had the internal demand and then doing some research, we felt like the idea of a specialized master’s in business was a better fit for our students rather than starting from scratch.”
Many of the Albright students looking to earn a master’s degree have completed an undergraduate in business and want to go on to more specialized fields with relevance for either their current or desired occupation. The college has found that many students want more education after they’ve settled into a position that requires a more specialized set of skills than they anticipated. Albright wanted students to customize and add variety to their graduate program pathways, but, from an institutional point of view, customization and variety can be very expensive and lead to difficulties in offering courses when students need them.
By offering a master of science in business curriculum, the Albright team focused on customization in an attainable way. The course sharing team decided to create stackable credentials in different fields of business for a thirty-credit, ten-course master’s degree. Students select among concentrations and also choose two specializations from accounting, data analytics, digital marketing, inclusive leadership, or even courses from Albright’s psychology, athletic leadership, or education programs.
Program sharing allows institutions to build stronger networks, share risks, and pool resources, making them more resilient in the face of external pressures. By working together, institutions can create more sustainable and adaptable academic models that better serve their students and communities.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Collaboration
As institutions continue to navigate the complexities of the higher education landscape, partnerships like those covered in this blog will become increasingly important. This collaboration exemplifies how program sharing can lead to increased opportunities for student success. By sharing programs, these universities are not only fulfilling their own missions but also modeling the community-centric values and the benefits of collaboration for their students.
More broadly, program sharing is emerging as a critical strategy for the future of higher education. As institutions navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing landscape, the ability to form strategic partnerships and collaborate on program offerings will be essential for long-term success.
By embracing program sharing through the Acadeum network, universities can not only enhance their academic programs but also strengthen their institutional resilience, making them better equipped to adapt to the challenges ahead. Ultimately, program sharing represents a shift toward a more collaborative and interconnected higher education ecosystem. By breaking down traditional barriers and working together, institutions can create new opportunities for students, foster innovation, and ensure that they continue to fulfill their missions in a competitive and ever-changing world.
