UNCF to Provide HBCU Faculty with Free Training in Effective Online Teaching and Course Design
April 28 2021 - 8:05AM
UNCF (United Negro College Fund), has announced they will provide
online learning professional development training for up to 1,500
faculty members at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). The training
is available through a partnership with recognized online learning
provider Strategic Education, Inc., whose institutions have a long
history of providing high-quality, accessible education for working
adults.
Last year, UNCF and Strategic Education quickly joined forces to
help HBCUs stem the disruption in education delivery caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic by offering support for faculty that had to
rapidly transition to online instruction. The organizations’ 2020
pilot program provided training to 400 HBCU faculty members at 14
institutions, with impressive results. Participant survey data
indicates that faculty confidence to design learning activities to
facilitate learner engagement grew from 50% to 95% and their
confidence to guide and maintain discussions online grew from 48%
to 89%.
Building upon the success of the pilot program and recent
efforts, UNCF is now providing a full scholarship for all eligible
HBCU and PBI faculty to participate in a four-week professional
development workshop on building and delivering online learning.
The effort is designed for faculty as they navigate new territory
in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty will also receive a
$200 stipend upon completion of the program.
“The sudden shift to remote learning last year left traditional
HBCU and other PBI faculty members – a majority of whom
transitioned to online learning for the first time – overwhelmed
but resolute,” said Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF.
“Now more than ever it is critical to support these faculty members
with relevant, professional development training that will equip
them with the skills to deliver a successful online learning
experience for their students. We are excited to build upon our
partnership with Strategic Education, a leader in virtual learning,
to support HBCU faculty in engaging their students
online.”
“For more than a century, HBCUs and other PBIs have been
instrumental in addressing gaps in higher education and granting
minority students a pathway to economic mobility,” said Crystal
Moore, vice president of Higher Education Partnerships at Strategic
Education. “As higher education moves further into a digital
landscape, Strategic Education is honored to build upon its legacy
of educating working adults and to help UNCF to provide
best-in-class online teaching professional development to the
dedicated, talented faculty at these institutions across the
nation.”
“Our transition to online learning was accelerated due to
COVID-19 and our faculty needed effective, timely training to
continue to serve current and incoming students in this new
normal," said Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt, provost and vice president
of academic affairs at Jarvis Christian College. The college was
one of the participants in the 2020 pilot program. “The partnership
between UNCF and Strategic Education provided our faculty with an
opportunity for free professional development workshops to sharpen
their skills and be better prepared. The mix of hands-on course
building and facilitation allowed our faculty to immediately put
their training into practice and better engage with students in a
new virtual space.”
Among the criteria for qualifying faculty are stipulations that
they are employed at a federally recognized HBCU or PBI and fairly
new to delivering online instruction. The program, available on a
first-come, first-serve basis, is expected to continue through
December 31, 2021.
To learn more about the professional development training and
apply for a scholarship, please visit this website.
###
About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the
nation’s largest and most effective minority education
organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF
supports students’ education and development through scholarships
and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and
universities, and advocates for the importance of minority
education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other
historically black colleges and universities are highly effective,
awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate
degrees. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more
than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo
features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely
recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn
more at UNCF.org, or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF
on Twitter at @UNCF.
About Strategic Education, Inc. Strategic Education, Inc.
(NASDAQ: STRA) (www.strategiceducation.com) is dedicated to helping
advance economic mobility through higher education. We serve
working adult students all over the globe through our core focus
areas: 1) U.S. Higher Education, through Strayer University and
Capella University, each institutionally accredited, and
collectively offer flexible and affordable associate, bachelor’s,
master’s and doctoral programs including the Jack Welch Management
Institute at Strayer University; 2) Alternative Learning,
encompassing Sophia Learning, self-paced general education courses
that are ACE-recommended for college credit; Workforce Edge, a full
service, online employee education management portal; Digital
Enablement Partnerships, helping advance capabilities in course
development, online delivery and student support; and non-degree
web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright
Academy and Strayer University’s DevMountain; and 3) Australia/New
Zealand, comprised of Torrens University, Think Education and Media
Design School operations in Australia and New Zealand. This
portfolio of high quality, innovative, relevant, and affordable
programs and institutions helps our students prepare for success in
today’s workforce and find a path to bettering their lives.
Monique LeNoir
United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF)
202-810-0231
monique.lenoir@uncf.org
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