PASSHE Institutions Merging

[Fightingscot82]

I'm not sure that marketing this stuff beyond the northcentral region is part of that plan. The language used by PASSHE is all about supporting the regional economy. In SEPA, I think this market is saturated. PASSHE might be able to undercut the Villanovas, the Penns, the St. Joes, and Temples on price, who knows. Not to mention private companies that provide these courses. A lot of it is also sponsored by large companies so PASSHE will have to pry these group sales away from more trusted institutions.

As for fracking, I believe Mansfield put together a fracking certificate program, maybe even a major. It was quickly overrun by PSU which the employers bought into.

I think you're right. PASSHE will have to think outside the box - and in some ways they already are - so they'll have to get aggressive with pricing and marketing, something more typical for a regional private school trying to improve its profile. Maybe its time to charge undergrad rates for what is technically grad education. Or maybe instead of having faculty create without demonstrated demand (how we got to the excess degree programs issue) they'll take a needs assessment of regional employers then put it on faculty to create.

[iupgroundhog]

In higher ed, stackable credentials are what I mentioned. I think it spells an end for the MBA in the long run. If distance ed is the teaching format, they can market that throughout eastern PA. If classroom learning is the primary format, it will have to be extra sensitive to the local market. There's an interesting book on this stuff, "There Is Life After College" about the future of work and the disconnect between traditional degree programs and the changing needs of the workforce. I don't know exactly what that would look like. 5-10 years ago I would have said something with oil & gas but they've largely cut & run (maybe drilled & run) from the region.

I'm not sure that marketing this stuff beyond the northcentral region is part of that plan. The language used by PASSHE is all about supporting the regional economy. In SEPA, I think this market is saturated. PASSHE might be able to undercut the Villanovas, the Penns, the St. Joes, and Temples on price, who knows. Not to mention private companies that provide these courses. A lot of it is also sponsored by large companies so PASSHE will have to pry these group sales away from more trusted institutions.

As for fracking, I believe Mansfield put together a fracking certificate program, maybe even a major. It was quickly overrun by PSU which the employers bought into.

[Fightingscot82]

I think the stackable credentials/more adult education/workforce development is a good idea. I would go big-time, make it a program across all 14 schools i.e. statewide, and develop a formal relationship with the Department of Labor.

It's a competitive market (just like the online deal is for the west schools). If they can cut costs while developing new sources of revenue that will help.

If you're talking programs like FS82 mentioned (data analytics, project management) you also have to consider that Bloom-Lock Haven-Mansfield is located amidst a rural economy. How much local demand is there for these offerings?

In higher ed, stackable credentials are what I mentioned. I think it spells an end for the MBA in the long run. If distance ed is the teaching format, they can market that throughout eastern PA. If classroom learning is the primary format, it will have to be extra sensitive to the local market. There's an interesting book on this stuff, "There Is Life After College" about the future of work and the disconnect between traditional degree programs and the changing needs of the workforce. I don't know exactly what that would look like. 5-10 years ago I would have said something with oil & gas but they've largely cut & run (maybe drilled & run) from the region.

[iupgroundhog]

We already have the party reputation, so we don't need certificates on karaoke. Harvard has some interesting certificates: https://www.extension.harvard.edu/ac...e-certificates
It seems they take anyone with a degree, so why would someone go to Mansfield for a certificate. Harvard can sell these pieces of paper because the dupes want to say they went to Harvard. Harvard on the resume may get you somewhere.

I think the stackable credentials/more adult education/workforce development is a good idea. I would go big-time, make it a program across all 14 schools i.e. statewide, and develop a formal relationship with the Department of Labor.

It's a competitive market (just like the online deal is for the west schools). If they can cut costs while developing new sources of revenue that will help.

If you're talking programs like FS82 mentioned (data analytics, project management) you also have to consider that Bloom-Lock Haven-Mansfield is located amidst a rural economy. How much local demand is there for these offerings?

[Fightingscot82]

I wonder how many certificates a student could get in 4 or 5 years to stay eligible for athletic competition? Do you need a degree to get a certificate?

I think they have to be in a degree program otherwise we'd see more 5th year guys in the existing certificate programs or picking up a minor full time. I could be wrong. Until Covid, I was expecting to hear the NCAA say that they must be enrolled in an on-ground program (international students can't come here and do an online only degree program).

[Bart]

Once for Main Line School Night I took a course in Harmonica at Lower Merion HS. It didn't really enhance my career prospects but it was a lot of fun. A friend of mine took the Drum Circle thing (Intro to ...) and that did come in handy at parties.

We already have the party reputation, so we don't need certificates on karaoke. Harvard has some interesting certificates: https://www.extension.harvard.edu/ac...e-certificates
It seems they take anyone with a degree, so why would someone go to Mansfield for a certificate. Harvard can sell these pieces of paper because the dupes want to say they went to Harvard. Harvard on the resume may get you somewhere.

[iupgroundhog]

"California, Clarion and Edinboro universities would function as a single unit specializing in online education, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield would focus on stackable and nondegree credentials, PASSHE officials have said. "


https://www.educationdive.com/news/p...m-cuts/588220/

What would a nondegree credential include? EMT, CPR, fracking equipment, CDL, lifeguard certification? You don't need a university for certificates.

Once for Main Line School Night I took a course in Harmonica at Lower Merion HS. It didn't really enhance my career prospects but it was a lot of fun. A friend of mine took the Drum Circle thing (Intro to ...) and that did come in handy at parties.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Curious to see things in 5 years. I have doubts Seton Hill stays up in D2 much longer. They are a perfect fit for the Presidents' Conference (D3).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Probably, even a football team with Edinboro's results the last few years brings in several hundred thousand more than it costs to operate. If it doesn't make sense to cut athletics, it only makes a stronger case to walk away from the integration.

Hopefully they keep them. But, it's starting to sound like Pitt-BFE playing Pitt-BFE.

But, hey, West Penn U can say it has three varsity football teams -- all in the same division. That's kind of weird. The academics will love it.

[Bart]

A certificate that has enough weight behind it to allow someone to leverage it for a career move or more importantly, a career pivot. They're more professional in nature: data analytics, instructional design, project management, etc. Not an additional degree or grad school. Harvard has been doing these for years.

I wonder how many certificates a student could get in 4 or 5 years to stay eligible for athletic competition? Do you need a degree to get a certificate?

[Fightingscot82]

Would this 'single unit' in the West have three football programs?


Sounds like some of these schools are headed toward glorified community college status.

Probably, even a football team with Edinboro's results the last few years brings in several hundred thousand more than it costs to operate. If it doesn't make sense to cut athletics, it only makes a stronger case to walk away from the integration.

[Fightingscot82]

"California, Clarion and Edinboro universities would function as a single unit specializing in online education, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield would focus on stackable and nondegree credentials, PASSHE officials have said. "


https://www.educationdive.com/news/p...m-cuts/588220/

What would a nondegree credential include? EMT, CPR, fracking equipment, CDL, lifeguard certification? You don't need a university for certificates.

A certificate that has enough weight behind it to allow someone to leverage it for a career move or more importantly, a career pivot. They're more professional in nature: data analytics, instructional design, project management, etc. Not an additional degree or grad school. Harvard has been doing these for years.

[IUPNation]

Would this 'single unit' in the West have three football programs?


Sounds like some of these schools are headed toward glorified community college status.

Headed? :-)

[IUPbigINDIANS]

"California, Clarion and Edinboro universities would function as a single unit specializing in online education, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield would focus on stackable and nondegree credentials, PASSHE officials have said. "


https://www.educationdive.com/news/p...m-cuts/588220/

What would a nondegree credential include? EMT, CPR, fracking equipment, CDL, lifeguard certification? You don't need a university for certificates.

Would this 'single unit' in the West have three football programs?


Sounds like some of these schools are headed toward glorified community college status.

[Bart]

"California, Clarion and Edinboro universities would function as a single unit specializing in online education, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield would focus on stackable and nondegree credentials, PASSHE officials have said. "


https://www.educationdive.com/news/p...m-cuts/588220/

What would a nondegree credential include? EMT, CPR, fracking equipment, CDL, lifeguard certification? You don't need a university for certificates.