Affordable Degrees-at-Scale Symposium

This year, for the first time, the symposium's program was developed following a call for proposals from the at-scale community. Areas of focus for this year’s sessions will include innovations in scaled programs, artificial intelligence, micro-credentials, media & production, creating community, using data to align with market demand, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI&A).  

Keynote Speaker

Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, is president of University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland and recently designated a minorityserving institution by the U.S. Department of Education. At UMGC, he is leading a transformation that aligns the entire learning journey with the needs and expectations of nontraditional populations and the global workforce, informed by data science and aligned with industry best practices. Previously, he served on the leadership teams that built two of America’s largest universities— Southern New Hampshire University and Western Governors University—both of which serve nontraditional students in nontraditional ways. Dr. Fowler served as a board member and commissioner of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), where he worked with a team reviewing the shift to remote learning and its impact on the future of higher education. A two-time Fulbright Senior Scholar and a graduate of Morehouse College, Dr. Fowler holds master’s degrees from George Mason University and Western Governors University and a PhD from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.

Highlights include:  

• Feature presentation by Ray Schroeder, UPCEA Senior Fellow and Professor Emeritus 
• In-depth, hands-on workshop facilitated by:  
  • David Joyner, Executive Director of Online Education, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology 
  • Adam King, Senior Associate Director of Teaching and Learning Technology, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  
  • Tawnya Means, Assistant Dean for Educational Innovation and Chief Learning Officer, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  
• Lightning Talks, Panels, and More! 

Registration Fees  |  In-Person - $500*  |   Virtual  - $100 

In-person registration includes access to the full symposium, including all sessions and networking events like the welcome reception and dinner. This year's event will once again offer a select portion of the experience virtually for a reduced cost. 

Ready to register? Please visit this page.  

_{*Georgia Tech staff and faculty are eligible for a $200 discount, but it must be entered upon registration.  Please use this form to request a discount code.} 

Schedule 

Monday, December 4  

• 3:00 | Welcome   
• 3:15 - 5:45 p.m. | Afternoon Sessions*  
  • Scaled Programs – Where Are They Now?  
  • Students of Scaled Programs   
• 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Networking Reception  

Tuesday, December 5   

• 8:45 a.m. | Welcome*  
• 9:00 a.m. | Opening Keynote*  
  • Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, President, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) 
• 10:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Morning Sessions*  
  • Media & Production  
  • Curriculum & Teaching Assistants  
• 1:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | AI Afternoon  
  • Featured Presentation - Preparing for the Unanticipated: AI Applications in Higher Education  
  • Lightning Talks & Quick Dives  
  • Workshop - Leveraging Generative AI for At-Scale Courses: A Hands-On Experience  
• 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Afternoon Sessions   
  • Deep Dives & Lessons Learned  
• Evening | Dinner 

Wednesday, December 6  

• 8:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Morning Sessions  
  • Access and Admissions  
  • Careers & Outside Interaction   
  • Micro-credentials and Marketplaces  
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Closing Discussion and Lunch  

*Sessions offered for virtual attendees