Important Alternative Models for
Best Serving the Student
Steve Ernst
VP Innovation and Strategy
Interim Dean – School of Business and Technology
Excelsior College
 Private, non-profit, open access, online higher
education institution
 Regionally accredited: Middle States Commission on
Higher Education
 Comprehensive array of degree programs
 Founded in 1971; more than 150,000 graduates
 Current enrollment: 37,000
 Highly personalized learning/services model
 Affordable high quality education
 Students who have loans from Excelsior: 10%
 Average debt burden of students with loans: $9,600
 Cohort default rate: 4.6%
Excelsior College
Founding Philosophy
“What you know is more important than
where or how you learned it”
Excelsior College
Alternative Models: Four options
 Prior Learning Assessment
 Credit by Exam
 Competency-based Education
 Online Courses
NOTE:
 All models leverage a common learning
outcomes and competency framework
 Low residency requirement
Excelsior College
Prior Learning Assessment:
 LearningCounts (CAEL)
 Evaluation and transfer of non-academic
credit
Excelsior College
Credit by Exam:
 High-stakes psychometrically evaluated
 Self-study, with option for faculty
mediation
 Proctored exams
Excelsior College
Competency-based Education:
 Time-independent (with time
restrictions to meet financial aid rqmts)
 Detailed learning outcomes and
competency unit framework
 Based on credit hour (can quickly
switch to competency unit-based)
 Faculty-mediated
 Leverages adaptive learning + projects
+ simulations
Excelsior College
Online Courses:
 Time-dependent (term structure)
 Higher-level learning outcomes and
competency unit framework
 Faculty-led
 Incorporates adaptive learning, projects
and simulations on an as-needed basis
Important Alternative Models for
Best Serving the Student
Steve Ernst
VP Innovation and Strategy
Interim Dean – School of Business and Technology
“Excelsior College v4.0”
 Personalized learning, advising and student
services
 Adaptive learning models and systems
 Project- and simulation-based learning
 Learning analytics
 Faculty focused on areas of greatest need
 Outcomes-oriented (start at the end)
 Outcomes-based and competency-based
 Aligned to real-world skill requirements
 Smart use of technology plays a key role
 Interoperability of relevant technologies