What is Online Program Management (OPM) and why should we engage with it? Online experts have both argued for and against the phenomenon. In this presentation, we shall describe our institution's engagement with such a provider, the financial model involved and the rationale for emabarking on a pilot project.
Online Program Management (OPM) can be a dirty word in some circles in higher education. In a recent Inside Higher Education blog post, Joshua Kim and Eddie Maloney have argued for and against the phenomenon of hiring an outside firm to build courses, market them and manage enrollment. Institutions with international reputations as well as lesser known regional institutions have pursued relationships with OPMs to advance different aspects of their mission. Multiple financial models have emerged related to these arrangements, depending on the risk-reward calculation made at each campus. Institutions with resources to build in-house capacity haven't necessarily wished to take on the potential risk of new ventures. In this presentation, we shall describe our institution's engagement with such a provider (represented by the co-author) and the rationale for emabarking on a pilot project. While instructional and course (re)design capacity existed within our unit to take on the task, the decision to engage the provider will be presented in the broader perspective of other institutional initiatives and the potential of building a relationship that extends beyond a simple work for hire. Preliminary results from the partnership will be presented in terms of the outcomes of the initial task undertaken and how we are navigating the leadership and institutional structures to advance the goal of providing high quality online courses designed to maximize student learning and success.