Redefining Access and Flexibility in Higher Ed

About the Episode: Amy Smith from StraighterLine discusses the organization's innovative approach to making higher education more accessible, affordable, and flexible. With a focus on serving a diverse range of learners, from high school students to working adults, StraighterLine offers online courses that help bridge gaps in traditional education systems. Amy explains how StraighterLine partners with institutions to enhance student retention, persistence, and graduation rates, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the learners' needs and the evolving educational landscape.

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Key Takeaways

• Flexible Learning is the Future: Students increasingly demand affordable, asynchronous, and self-paced courses to accommodate their complex lives.
• StraighterLine Bridges Gaps: From summer bridge programs to degree completion, StraighterLine helps institutions retain and graduate students.
• Learner-Driven Education is on the Rise: More students are personalizing their learning journeys, combining credits from multiple sources to build degrees that work for them.
• Workforce Relevance is Essential: Courses and credentials that align with healthcare, IT, and other high-demand industries are driving enrollment trends.
• AI is Transforming the Learning Experience: StraighterLine is integrating AI tools into courses to enhance skill-building and keep curricula relevant.

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Episode Summary

What is StraighterLine?

StraighterLine provides high-quality, affordable online courses that help students earn college credit on their own terms. Whether meeting prerequisites, patching schedule gaps, or completing degree requirements, StraighterLine’s flexibility ensures students can maintain momentum toward graduation.

For institutions, StraighterLine offers a reliable partner to address enrollment, retention, and degree completion challenges. Students referred by partner schools take courses through StraighterLine and transfer credits back seamlessly, ensuring institutional retention and improved student outcomes.

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Adapting to Changing Learner Needs

Dr. Amy Smith shared how the pandemic accelerated demand for flexible learning options, altering how students approach education. Today’s learners—many of whom are working adults—prioritize affordability, accessibility, and relevance. StraighterLine helps meet these needs by offering asynchronous courses across diverse subject areas.

The rise in DIY degree paths is a clear trend. Students increasingly combine credits from various sources, including community colleges, online courses, and prior learning assessments. StraighterLine supports this trend by providing affordable, transfer-friendly courses that fit students’ busy schedules.

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Supporting Institutions Across the Student Journey

StraighterLine complements institutional goals at every stage of the student lifecycle:

1. Enrollment: Partnering with schools to offer prerequisite courses for incoming students or pre-admission confidence-building opportunities.
2. Retention: Providing students with flexible course options during breaks or semesters to stay on track.
3. Persistence: Offering hard-to-find or competitive prerequisite courses, ensuring students progress toward their degrees without delay.
4. Graduation: Helping students complete last-minute course requirements so they can graduate on time.

Through these partnerships, StraighterLine ensures students remain tethered to their home institutions while benefiting from the flexibility of online learning.

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Innovating for Workforce Relevance

Recognizing trends in healthcare, education, IT, and business, StraighterLine is expanding its portfolio to meet workforce needs. By offering courses like medical terminology and anatomy, StraighterLine prepares students for high-demand fields.

AI integration is another key innovation. StraighterLine incorporates AI tools into its courses, allowing students to build skills in using cutting-edge technology while mastering course content. This approach keeps learning experiences relevant and prepares students for real-world challenges.

Higher education is undergoing a profound transformation, and StraighterLine is at the forefront, empowering students to design learning pathways that fit their unique needs. By supporting institutions and addressing workforce demands, StraighterLine proves that flexibility and affordability are essential to the future of education.

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About the Show: The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/
https://twitter.com/HigherEd_Geek

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and  I Wanna Work There. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. 

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:
Exciting news — Dustin will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. 

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200. 

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!