Walden University Recognized by Online Learning Consortium

Innovative programs of Walden’s Writing Center and Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) have been recognized by the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) as effective practices that help advance quality of and access to online programs. Effective practices are peer reviewed and evaluated within the framework of OLC’s five pillars of quality in online education: access, learning effectiveness, faculty satisfaction, student satisfaction, and scale.

“I am so pleased our two centers were recognized for their innovative efforts and practices in advancing online education,” said Jonathan Kaplan, president of Walden University. “We remain committed to meeting our students where they are and providing them with the tools and resources needed to succeed at our university.”

The Writing Center’s interactive modules provide on-demand student writing support. The 12 free, open-access, self-paced modules cover grammar, plagiarism prevention, and American Psychological Association (APA) style and include interactive activities, quizzes, and formative feedback to allow students to test their knowledge as well as practice with the module’s content.

To enhance faculty development, CFE created the Walden Junto model, a series of time-limited, facilitated dialogue groups designed to support a community of practice among colleagues. The 4-week Junto includes synchronous and asynchronous sessions with the goals of enhancing feelings of engagement within the university and developing skills among participants that will transfer to classroom performance.

Walden staff members from the Writing Center and CFE will attend the OLC Innovate conference in April in New Orleans to present their effective practice and accept the 2016 OLC Effective Practice Awards.