Higher Education in America: A 4-Day Foundational Course

Last updated December 9, 2022

Course Length

56m

Last Updated

December 9, 2022

Students on a university campus

Higher Education in America: A 4-Day Foundational Course

Last updated December 9, 2022

Table of Contents

Introduction and Overview
Introduction and Overview
2:05 Closed lock icon
Higher Education Landscape
Types of Institutions
4:36 Closed lock icon
Carnegie Classifications
5:41 Closed lock icon
Demographic Shifts
4:18 Closed lock icon
Financing Higher Education
Federal and State Funding
3:57 Closed lock icon
Tuition and Fees
3:50 Closed lock icon
Additional Funding Sources
3:53 Closed lock icon
Organization, Structure, and Governance of Institutions
Organization and Structure
6:00 Closed lock icon
Governance
3:57 Closed lock icon
Governing Boards
3:49 Closed lock icon
State Systems
3:19 Closed lock icon
Institutional Effectiveness, Accountability, Accredidation, and Strategic Planning
Institutional Effectiveness and Data
3:31 Closed lock icon
Accountability and Accreditation
4:24 Closed lock icon
Strategic Planning
3:31 Closed lock icon

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure and landscape of American higher education. Join our program to receive bite-sized lessons on higher education basics daily for 4 business days. Complete the program to get a certificate!

Overview

American higher education includes over 4000 institutions of varying size, structure, and focus, with each serving an increasingly diverse and dwindling number of traditionally college-aged students. But there are still some commonalities in how institutions are governed, financed, organized, and assessed—not to mention the fact that institutions face similar enrollment and retention challenges across the board.

This course is designed to give you a broad overview of the American higher education landscape. Our expert instructor, Dr. Kelly Wesener Michael, will walk you through the different types of institutions that exist, how these institutions are typically funded, who is involved in governing both public and private universities, and how institutions set and assess the effectiveness of their mission and goals. Accompanying the course is a workbook designed to help you gain familiarity with the processes and mission of your own institution—how governance works for you, what the demographics of your student body are, where your funding comes from, and how your institution does strategic planning. This course will be highly beneficial to anyone who is new to higher education, either in a first professional role or who is transitioning to higher education from another industry. Additionally, faculty or staff whose experience in higher ed has been narrowly focused will gain knowledge of the overall landscape of American higher ed and how their institution fits into that.

Who should attend?

This course will be highly beneficial to anyone who is new to higher education, either in a first professional role or who is transitioning to higher education from another industry. Additionally, faculty or staff whose experience in higher ed has been narrowly focused will gain knowledge of the overall landscape of American higher ed and how their institution fits into that.

Agenda

For 4 days, you will get daily emails with bite-sized videos that you can complete in 30 minutes or less each day. The emails come with optional activities to learn more about your own institution, if you choose. If you complete all modules within one week, you will have the chance to request a certificate. New cohorts start every Monday.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure and landscape of American higher education.

Day 1 | 17 minutes

Introduction and Overview, and the Higher Education Landscape

Watch: Introduction and Overview, Types of Institutions, Carnegie Classifications, and Demographic Shifts
Optional Activities in the Workbook: Activity 1: Types of Institutions, Activity 2: Carnegie Classifications, Activity 3: Demographic Shifts

 

 

Day 2 | 12 minutes

Financing Higher Education

Watch: Federal and State Funding, Tuition and Fees, and Additional Funding Sources
Optional Activities in the Workbook: Activity 4: Federal and State Funding, Activity 5: Tuition and Fees, and Activity 6: Additional Funding Sources

 

 

Day 3 | 17 minutes

Organization, Structure, and Governance of Institutions

Watch: Organization and Structure, Governance, Governing Boards, and State Systems
Optional Activities in the Workbook: Activity 7: Organization and Structure, Activity 8: Governance, Activity 9: Governing Boards, and Activity 10: State Systems

 

 

Day 4 | 12 minutes

Institutional Effectiveness, Accountability, Accreditation, and Strategic Planning

Watch: Institutional Effectiveness and Data, Accountability and Accreditation, Strategic Planning
Optional Activities in the Workbook: Activity 11: Institutional Effectiveness and Data, Activity 12: Accountability and Accreditation, Activity 13: Strategic Planning,
Action Planning Exercise

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Completed our Higher Education in America foundational program?

Please fill out this form to request a certificate.

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Portrait of Kelly Wesener Michael

Kelly Wesener Michael

Practitioner-Scholar in Residence, Northern Illinois University

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