Calling all workforce innovators!

In June, �Թ����� Global joined an innovative partnership with MIT Solve, Morgridge Family Foundation, and IBM to identify, support, and scale promising solutions that accelerate pathways to current and future employment opportunities—especially for members of underserved communities. 

�ճ���� seeks the most promising solutions that focus on non-coastal states, U.S. heartland regions, and/or racial justice. A $625,000 prize pool, as well as an opportunity to conduct validation pilots with innovative U.S. workforce boards, is available to winners. 

Have a solution?

MIT Solve is hosting  to help applicants develop and refine their solutions to the challenge through design-thinking methodology.  for the Solveathon in your region in. We hope to see you and your team members there!

•  1-4 p.m. ET, Oct. 8
•  7-8:30 p.m. ET, Oct. 15 

Former �Թ����� Global President and CEO Dr. Becky Takeda Tinker will join the Oct. 8 Solveathon workshop to discuss how fully online platforms and lifelong learning can benefit students, employers, and the economy in the wake of COVID-19.  

�Թ����� Global took part in Founders Day at the Colorado State Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, to celebrate �Թ�����’s (�Թ�����) 150th birthday. As part of the celebration, Dr. Tony Frank, chancellor of the �Թ����� System, accepted the official proclamation, sponsored by State Senator Joann Ginal, joined by representatives from the �Թ����� System and �Թ����� Global President Dr. Takeda-Tinker. �Թ����� President Joyce McConnell, �Թ�����-Pueblo President Timothy Mottet, and �Թ����� System representatives accepted the official proclamation in the House of Representatives sponsored by Representatives Jenny Arndt and Cathy Kipp

�Թ����� was founded in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College under the , known today as the Land Grant College Act of 1862, which donated public lands to several states and territories in order to create higher education institutions with the primary teaching focus of mechanical arts and agriculture. Inspired by its land-grant heritage, today, �Թ����� is committed to excellence, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service, and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States, and the world.

The State Board of Agriculture created the �Թ����� System in 1985, consisting of �Թ�����, the University of Southern Colorado, and Fort Lewis College.  to support, enhance, and protect the unique missions of the �Թ����� System’s constituent institutions, and to encourage collaboration that would benefit students and Colorado. In 2002, Fort Lewis became a separate entity, and a statute was enacted to change the University of Southern Colorado’s name to �Թ�����-Pueblo (�Թ�����-Pueblo). Today, the �Թ����� System campuses educate nearly 60,000 students every year, lead the state in service to first-generation students and military veterans, and have an active presence in every Colorado county through the three universities, Extension, 4-H, the State Forest Service, the Agricultural Experiment Stations, regional hub campuses, and the new  at the National Western Center, which will break ground in April.

�Թ����� Global is proud to be a part of this long-standing heritage with our sister schools and the �Թ����� System. As pioneers in the space of online learning, we have more than a decade of expertise in engaging, supporting, and educating the modern student. �Թ����� Global is committed to enhancing the quality of life for citizens in the state of Colorado and beyond by providing access to programs that are developed with our students’ careers in mind, with a curriculum that aligned with industry demands.

In part one of this two-part series we got to know �Թ����� Global President, Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker on a more personal level. Now in part two, we dive into the future of online higher education as it relates to challenges, future innovations, and international impact. Keep reading to see how Takeda-Tinker is using technology, culture, and experience to not only grow �Թ����� Global, but advance American competitiveness.

�Թ����� Global:  What is the biggest challenge online universities are facing now? How is �Թ����� Global addressing that challenge?

BTT:  Interestingly enough, the age-old struggle around retention and graduation of students for all types of institutions is still the first and foremost challenge. I see that the struggle has a lot to do with student priorities. There are so many things that can distract students, and college isn’t easy. If they have to weigh out where they’re going to spend their time and money, they are going to do so where they get the highest financial or emotional return.

At �Թ����� Global we have above-industry retention rates for our students and really positive salary trajectories post graduation for our alumni. As staff and faculty, we are absolutely focused on the return-on-investment for our students’ time and money. Starting from their enrollment experience, to their classes, which are focused on applying the theories they learn in their workplace, to 24/7 free student-centered learning resources, like live tutoring , tech support, and career coaching.

We know that our students are constantly evaluating the value of the time they spend with us and whether or not it’s worth it. Fortunately, our data tells us that most students think the education they receive is well worth the investment.

�Թ����� Global:  When looking at the future of online education, what do you think universities need to be aware of for the next 3 years? 10 years?

BTT:  Keeping up with the needs of students who have grown up with technology is going to be increasingly challenging. The technology lifecycle is about 18 months to two years long, so today’s and tomorrow’s students expect their technology-driven lives to be replicated in the online classroom for ease of use and individualized learning experience.

If we think about 10 years in the future, institutions today need to be getting ready for the most diverse student bodies they’ve ever experienced. Students will likely be more racially diverse, expect that their individual learning styles will be met, and that online access to course materials and instructional support be on-demand and completely intuitive. I believe that within the decade we will see online institutions and entities either grow large and survive, or cease to exist simply based on the intensive resources required to keep up with dynamic, and technologically-driven needs.

Fortunately, �Թ����� Global has a lean structure and an efficiency-based culture. We have a healthy reserve position and manage our budget to ensure student services come first, followed by allocations for innovation. It is a necessary model for our future sustainable success.

�Թ����� Global:  What educational models in the U.S. and internationally do you look to for inspiration? Who is doing what right, and how can we apply those principles to advancing students in the U.S.?

BTT:  I am currently very interested in how we might be able to utilize apprenticeship models for university credit opportunities. Both nontraditional adult students and high school students would benefit from “test driving” the industries and jobs they’re considering for their future careers. An apprenticeship would help determine if what they’ve been considering really is the right fit. The experience would also make students more immediately effective in new jobs and positions, which goes back to our return-on-investment paradigm. Providing learning experiences that are worth the time and money for our students will be increasingly important as the next generations seek organizations and higher education institutions that meet their needs. 

I’ve looked at the Swiss model, and �Թ����� Global has been working with a Colorado organization solely focused on creating apprenticeship models for high school students. �Թ����� Global’s career center has also been chartered with creating experiential pilots that integrate internship and apprenticeship practices, with faculty oversight for possible credit awards, so we’ll see what transpires this fall.

�Թ����� Global:  The international schools market has tripled since 2000, how does �Թ����� Global stay competitive in this fast growing industry?

BTT:  At �Թ����� Global, working with institutions abroad fits our mission. The coming together of different cultures and best practices for student success, with international exposure for all students, is so compelling. �Թ����� Global currently works with a state institution in Saudi Arabia, and we have students from China, and 53 other countries.

The staff and faculty really enjoy the level of interaction that happens when we all work together. It’s about getting to the same goals no matter the nationality or language differences. When I see the communication going on in the classroom, and between students and faculty of different nationalities, it gives me hope that exposure between races and cultures in education can provide a more peaceful future. Perhaps that’s idealistic, but it inspires me to see what a difference �Թ����� Global is having in lives across the globe.

�Թ����� Global:  How does �Թ����� Global accommodate international students better or differently than our competitors or peers?

BTT:  �Թ����� Global evaluates international student readiness in real terms. While we do have Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, score requirements, we run our own proctored writing assessment to ensure international students have the English reading and writing skills needed to be successful in our online environment.

For all �Թ����� Global students, we look holistically at their enrollment applications and even evaluate work history to see their level of grit and achievement. We never want to accept student tuition dollars if we don’t believe they will be successful online students. It personally pains me to see students disengage because we know from our data that generally students who leave don’t go elsewhere to complete their goals. Unfortunately, that means the student used some of their savings, or added to their loan balance, and still don’t have a degree or a certificate.

�Թ����� Global:  You often travel internationally as the president of �Թ����� Global, what upcoming trip are you most looking forward to and why? What past trip has been the most influential and why?

BTT:  I’m really excited to be heading to Shenzhen, China in April. I’ll be able to get out and share what we’ve learned regarding U.S. and �Թ����� Global online higher education.

It’s interesting to me the differences between business and public higher education. I know from my prior business background that trade secrets are paramount to competitive success, but in public higher education, it’s about sharing best practices and outcomes.

As a nonprofit state institution, �Թ����� Global cares greatly about all students and their academic and workplace success. Now having the opportunity to bring what we do to the university leaders in China is personally and professionally quite meaningful.

I have also enjoyed my recent trips to Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Jordan is grappling with the expense of refugees who have found safe haven there making money very tight. Online education could help educate and advance their growing populace less expensively.

In Saudi Arabia we helped to open up a women’s university a few years ago in addition to the programs we’ve been providing to their male students. Last year they graduated their first cohort and invited �Թ����� Global to attend, which was an awesome experience. The world really is shrinking and I’m thrilled to be a part of the expanding educational improvements and innovations happening globally.

Becky Takeda-Tinker, Ph.D., or “Dr. Becky” as we call her around the office, has been the President of �Թ����� Global since 2010. She started with �Թ����� Global as an instructor, and then as dean and president, helped build �Թ����� Global into one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. Combining her passion for education and her experience in nonprofit governance and business leadership, Dr. Becky champions data-driven, technology-based solutions to facilitate workplace success for modern learners.

In part one of this two-part series, we sit down with Dr. Becky to learn about her personal motivation and inspiration for dedicating herself to education. Get an inside look at how she turned �Թ����� Global into one of the leading online universities and how she plans to keep it that way, while expanding, for years to come.

������part two we discuss the future of online education and the international influence �Թ����� Global, and Dr. Becky’s leadership, is having in modern education.

�Թ����� Global:  Your education is in finance, economics, and organization & management. You were in business and private equity before moving into higher education. What inspired your career change?

BTT:  After reaching my personal and professional goals in my business career, I spent some time contemplating what I really wanted to do in the next phase of my life. I knew that I wanted to help Americans move towards ensuring U.S. competitiveness, and given my travel and work around the world, I was aware of two key things:

1. Outside of the U.S., people are passionate about the benefits of higher education to move themselves, their families, and their countries forward. Both the people and their governments do everything they can to make college possible.
2. Inside the U.S., our high school graduation and college completion scores were declining. Hiring college graduates was a challenge because they wanted significant salaries but weren’t readily equipped to be productive in the workforce. Even the graduates I was hiring, for the companies I was overseeing at that time, proved not to be very effective.

Based on that, rather than continue to complain about the state of American higher education, and the lack of successful student engagement, I decided that I should do something to help. I wanted to inspire completion of a degree or certificate because I believed, and continue to believe strongly, that higher education is the path to a livable wage and sustainable family.

�Թ����� Global:  After you established early curriculum for �Թ����� Global, you’d done your job and moved on. Why did you come back later to become president?

BTT:  Seven months after I left �Թ����� Global in January 2009, I received a call from someone at the university who was getting ready to leave with many others. The university had spent the loan monies provided by the �Թ����� System Board of Governors and it did not look like the Board was going to provide additional financial support. At that time in history, the U.S. was in the midst of the recession and several other online state institutional initiatives had been closed. It appeared that �Թ����� Global would be another casualty of the time.

Given the unique mission of �Թ����� Global, to facilitate workplace success through education for nontraditional and working students; and its position of being the nation’s first and only 100% online, public, nonprofit, and non-state funded institution, I decided to use my experience and knowledge in organizational turnarounds to help the university survive, if not thrive.

�Թ����� Global:  Your passion for education is obvious, do you have a personal connection that drives your professional leadership in the field?

BTT:  During World War II my dad and his family were sent to internment camps. After the war ended they were released but didn’t have any assets, so they all worked in a hotel in order to keep a roof over their heads. That lifestyle convinced my dad that he needed to go to college to better his life. While at the University of California, Berkeley, he worked at whatever jobs he could to pay his tuition and living expenses – that responsibility for him, like many nontraditional students, limited his class and university involvement.

My dad really could have benefited from �Թ����� Global’s anytime, anywhere, 100% online format. At least with �Թ����� Global he could have interacted with this instructors and peers, even if it was at 2 a.m. My dad could have had a real college experience back then if �Թ����� Global was around and I want to make sure that opportunity is available for other working adults.

�Թ����� Global:  �Թ����� Global is built on the mission of advancing modern students in their careers, how have you embodied this mission in your personal life?

BTT:  My passion is actually helping people help themselves; to take care of themselves and their families. As we know, higher education is a pathway to that end, but it isn’t the only way. I spend my personal time serving on boards and participating in a variety of initiatives that facilitate the goal of being self-sufficient.

Currently, I serve on a private company board in which my board fees are donated towards the organization’s employee college scholarships. I’m also on the national board of the Small Business Development Center and on the Governor of Colorado’s Small Business Council because thriving small businesses employ large numbers of people in the U.S. Additionally, I am on the board of the Asian Pacific Development Center which has a focus on adult education towards readiness for U.S. citizenship and higher education.

�Թ����� Global:  What was the biggest/hardest challenge you had to overcome with �Թ����� Global?

BTT:  The biggest challenge I saw was trying to ensure that the work of �Թ����� Global with its students could demonstrate positive outcomes fast enough and with enough impact, to withstand the higher education industry forces that were not favorable to its survival.

By Colorado state statute, �Թ����� Global does not receive state financial support, so back then, when we had less than 1,000 students, we had to scrape together enough money to make payroll. With that said, the lack of finances was not what kept me up at night. Instead, it was feeling that we were running out of time to prove the worthiness of �Թ����� Global’s unique model.

�Թ����� Global:  There’s still a stigma attached to online higher education compared to traditional brick-and-mortar institutions, how can schools like �Թ����� Global overcome that stigma?

BTT:  In the last few years, �Թ����� Global has responded to business requests for online organizational training development for their employees. It’s helpful that employers are understanding the strong benefits of online education for their own business needs. We also see employers funding online degrees for employees so we’re really seeing that stigma dissipate in the workplace.

For �Թ����� Global, having come up through a very traditional system, the need to prove our value-add and our academic quality has always been important. We’re quite comfortable tracking and sharing our student data on learning outcomes achievement, nationally-normed assessment comparisons, and longitudinal salary cohort information to showcase what we can, and are doing to serve our mission and the need for workplace success through education. You can’t argue with good data.

�Թ����� Global:  What is your favorite part about being president of �Թ����� Global?

BTT:  The challenge and opportunity to be innovative and think and act differently. The U.S. does not need another traditional higher education institution, as we have thousands of them. The U.S. does need institutions that have different brand and value propositions so that today’s, and tomorrow’s students, can chose one that best fits their needs.

That variety is increasingly required as our younger generations have already experienced the ability to customize their world to their preferences, even down to the color and design of their Nikes. The challenges that �Թ����� Global takes on will seemingly never cease and that’s exciting to me.

Commencement is just around the corner. Even if you’re not about to graduate yourself, you may find the festivities we have planned fun to watch and motivating as you anticipate your own graduation.

�Թ����� Global’s commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 20^th. As a global university, we wanted to make sure those graduates who aren’t able to fly out could still participate remotely. It’s a lot of work, but here’s what you can expect.

Student Speaker: Jason L. Hotch

Jason is 33, married, and he has a 10-month-old daughter. He lives in Joshua Tree, California, but was born and raised in Alaska. He’s graduating with a B.S. in Business Management.

His hobbies are running, traveling, technology, and chasing his daughter around.

His advice for anyone considering going back to school is to know that “it can be and will be one of the more rewarding choices you can make, not only for yourself, but for those important to you as well.” He also notes that school will make you more prepared for the marketplace as a potential employee and that you will be enriched from the experience itself.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jimmie Flores

Dr. Flores has held management and leadership positions in major companies including Shell Oil Company, The Prudential, and USAA. At USAA, he managed the $11.5 million budget for the IT department. He has extensive experience developing and teaching courses for organizations in the disciplines of Project Management, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Dr. Flores founded a global IT enterprise with operations in India and the Philippines. Dr. Flores has written several books including How to Become a Proficient Online Learner. He has earned two doctorates and seven master’s degrees.

His advice for anyone considering going back to school is to avoid trying to do it all on your own. Ask for help when you need it. Whether it’s balancing work, school, and family, you can do it all, but do ask for help if you find yourself a little stretched.

How You Can Participate in Commencement

Whether you’re graduating or not, you can still take part in the commencement ceremony. For those who can make it out Denver, commencement will take place at the Bellco Theatre located in the Colorado Convention Center. Otherwise, if you are unable to attend in person, graduates who RSVP’d for virtual participation will have their name read during the ceremony. They and anyone else who want to participate can watch the ceremony live here.

We also hope you will engage with us during the ceremony. We will be the event using the hashtag #GlobalGrads. We invite you to post words of congratulations and gratitude, photos, happy memories, and anything else meaningful to you. Tweets will be broadcast during the live stream and also projected on monitors inside the Bellco Theatre. The live stream will begin at 10:30 a.m. (MST).

As our university continues to grow, we are excited to have this as a new outlet for connecting the �Թ����� Global community and sharing expertise on topics related to education, career development, life skills, and anything and everything else that might benefit our students, prospective students, faculty, alumni, and staff.

We see this blog as an opportunity to motivate and inspire, to provide practical advice and tips on overcoming common challenges we all face in our daily lives, and provide more in-depth information about what is happening currently at �Թ����� Global, in online education, and in your specific degree fields. We aim to make it thought provoking, fun, and engaging as well as a source for learning more about the people and ideas that makes �Թ����� Global different. We will spotlight student and alumni successes and include guest articles from any number of internal and external sources, maybe even you!

With that said, what do you want to see here? Like everything at �Թ����� Global, your feedback and contributions are critical to our success and we want to be sure that we are partnering with you to achieve your goals. We encourage you to provide suggestions by emailing News [at] �Թ�����Global.edu.

Happy reading!