Online education is transforming, and leaders like Caleb Simmons from the University of Arizona are helping to shape its future. As the Executive Director of Online Education, Dr. Simmons oversees the operations and academic programs of Arizona Online, with a focus on innovation and access.

In a conversation with MindMax CEO Lee Maxey, Dr. Simmons emphasizes the importance of having a clear North Star when navigating major changes in higher education. “We’ve made a lot of progress…thinking about access and student success and how we really keep students at the forefront,” Dr. Simmons says, reflecting on how the integration of their global campus has helped bring new perspectives.

As more institutions merge and scale, Dr. Simmons advocates for finding the right balance between serving online and residential students, ensuring that education remains flexible and accessible to all.

Watch the full conversation.

Participants:

– Lee Maxey, CEO, MindMax 
– Caleb Simmons, Executive Director of Online Education, University of Arizona

Core Themes:

– Importance of a North Star in guiding educational institutions.

– Integration of traditional and online education for future scalability.

– The role of the global campus in expanding access to higher education.

– Navigating transitions in higher education.

Key Concepts Covered:

– The impact of acquiring the global campus, including leadership changes and a shift in focus toward access and student success. 

– The institution’s goal of serving underserved populations in Arizona while considering a global approach to education. 

– Hope for greater collaboration among Arizona’s higher education institutions, supported by recent personnel changes. 

– The decision to move away from most OPM contracts due to unviable revenue shares. 

– The varied perceptions of online education after the pandemic, highlighting the importance of presenting value in instructional design.

– The value of well-designed online courses, contrasting them with hastily created ones during the pandemic. 

– Challenges facing higher education, including rising tuition and the need to articulate value beyond workforce readiness.

– Concerns about rapid federal regulations affecting online education, potentially compromising flexibility and increasing costs.