Online doctoral students face unique challenges in completing their dissertations, with faculty mentoring playing a crucial role in their success or attrition. This study explores online doctoral students' viewpoints of faculty dissertation mentoring, identifying distinct mentoring viewpoints. Using Q methodology, we examine how students…

This white paper discusses a model of best practices to better identify and address plagiarism issues with students using AI. It serves as an example to help younger institutions that may not have a policy in place to recognize the importance of hitting this head-on. By creating a taskforce, we were able to quickly come to a resolution for a…

In today's dynamic and high-tech learning environment, offering flexible and innovative assignment options is crucial for engaging students across varied learning preferences and backgrounds. Alternative formats, such as gamification and storyboards, can boost engagement, spark creativity, and enhance learning outcomes in college classrooms. By…

Background: While surveys that measure readiness for online learning are not new, gaps exists in ensuring such tools are student-centered and directly inform student support strategies. Thus, a new orientation support program was creating for all incoming online students at a large public university. The Online Readiness and Student Success…

Online learning has steadily increased since well before the COVID-19 pandemic (Seaman et al., 2018), but research has yet to explore online students' perceptions of online exam proctoring methods. The purpose of this exploratory study was to understand the perceptions of fully online students regarding types of proctoring at a large state…

This paper outlines the course, Essentials of Online Teaching, at Penn State's World Campus. The course leverages the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model to quickly develop effective online instructors by focusing on four key behaviors: communication, facilitation, feedback, and fostering a climate of belonging. The course aims to address the needs…

This research explores programs designed to support the mentorship of online instructional designers in higher education. The study investigated the characteristics of mentorship within institutions as well as professional development opportunities offered through external providers. Mixed-methods data was collected from instructional design…

In today's workforce, soft skills such as communication and adaptability are increasingly critical for career success, yet many graduates lack these competencies. As online learning continues to expand, questions arise about its effectiveness in cultivating essential workplace skills. This mixed-methods case study examines how synchronous and…

As faculty continue to focus on creating supportive learning environments for students, both on campus and online, it is essential to analyze the sense of belonging and how it is intentionally nurtured in our educational settings. With the expansion of online enrollment and the changing landscape of in-person classrooms, understanding students'…

As Ph.D. education continues to evolve, hybrid programs have gained popularity by offering flexibility and accessibility to diverse student populations. However, a critical gap exists in understanding how students develop and maintain academic relationships and scholarly community in these environments. Specifically, research has not sufficiently…

The adoption of distance learning tools (DTLs) is an important factor for higher education faculty when making decisions regarding teaching online. The higher the self-efficacy levels in the use of the tools, the more likely faculty are to continue to teach online. Professional development in the use of DTLs increases self-efficacy. This study…

Undergraduate students often indicate they prefer a flexible course schedule and pace when completing asynchronous online courses, often in an effort to balance their academic commitments with their personal and professional obligations. While students must focus on their time management skills when taking an online course, faculty often have…

National University's Master of Science in Educational Counseling underwent a revision in 2022 utilizing the approach of deriving program learning outcomes directly from the California Teaching Commission standards for school counselors. The program is offered solely in an online format. This study was undertaken to assess the program in terms of…

Today's undergraduate students often must balance coursework with other personal and professional commitments. While much attention has been placed on effective strategies for helping students manage workload, curriculum optimization has been largely overlooked. In an analysis of a university lower-level online STEM course, a course redesign…

University of Central Oklahoma's (UCO) Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR) leverages the Learning Management System (LMS), rubrics, an online dashboard, transcript services, and badging to assess students' employability and durable soft-skills. Featured by the Chronicle for Higher Ed, this Comprehensive Learner Record model has helped…