Increasingly, institutions are partnering with online program managers (OPM's), to enhance the quality of the learning managment system, online classroom experience, non-academic experience of the students, faculty training and onboarding and the ability to assess and improve student learning. OPM's can provide institutions with a pathway to reduce risks, gain scale and ensure "best in class" technology. However, there are key safeguards that need to be built into agreements as well as adopted in the culture of OPM's and institutions, to protect academic integrity. compliance with accreditation parameters and ensure that student learning is the primary objective. This session will review recommended clauses and policies that should be included in OPM agreements.
Clauses and best practices to be reviewed include, right of the institution to control content, committment to complying with all applicable laws, regulations and accreditation standards, indemnity agreements, rights to review OPM business practices, risks and benefits of permissible shared-revenue models (when possible), protections in flat-fee arrangements, parameters of technology innovations and version control, intellectual property rights of the institution and review of each regional accreditor's policy on contractual agreements with non-accreditted entities. The session will explore what functions are most commonly delegated to an OPM's and the range of services typically provided.
Note: Dr. Harpool does not work for, or has he been compensated by, any OPM, at anytime in his career.