From The Ground Up: Building Student Services for Distance Learners
Session Type
Doing (Workshop): 90-120 minutes
Session Description
This session will focus on assessment, planning, and development of a student support system designed for distance learners, and features a hands-on workshop to help participants get started in the assessment process and learn from other attendees. Participants will also be provided access to WKU's planning resources, including: Student Resource Portal, Online Community in Blackboard, Online Orientation for semester and non-semester based students (housed in Blackboard), strategic plan for implementation of support services, including raising awareness of student body that services are available, Success Coaching Plan for semester-based students.
Session Focus
Student/Client Support Services
Session Audience
Student Services Providers
Primary Presenter
Cindy Troutman, Western Kentucky University
Brief Bio
As program manager for WKU Online/Online Program Services in the Division of Extended Learning & Outreach (DELO) at WKU, Cindy is responsible for student support and recruitment. More specifically, her focus lies in the areas of research, development and implementation of student support service for distance learners. This includes developing in-house support services, creating partnerships across campus to enhance and expand services, and supporting university student success and retention initiatives. WKU’s student services for distance learners have been recognized as being among the top in the nation. Additionally, Cindy works with academic departments and the DELO marketing team to promote online degree programs, and raise awareness of the many online options available at WKU.
Cindy came to DELO in 2008 after being hired to provide direct student support for distance learners. Since coming to DELO she has also worked in the areas of faculty support, campus outreach, project and budget management, and special event planning/coordination. Her career at WKU began in 2001. She came to the university after working in the non-profit sector for five years in the areas of training development, CEU training, community education, and event planning.