Learn About Your Community | Origin: OP106
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Developing New Programs: Research and Selection --> Learn About Your Community
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Comment on Cornelius Ruth's post:
Your reflection captures something the module emphasized throughout — that comprehensive research requires both breadth (gathering from every facet) and depth (when in doubt, doing more). Many institutions cut research short to save time and end up paying much higher costs when programs fail to attract students or meet employer demand.
Your phrase about "taking information from every facet" resonates with the multiple constituency sources the module identified — students, alumni, employers, community organizations, internal departments, and external data sources. Each angle reveals something the others miss.
The focus groups insight you raised is also worth honoring. The module specifically positioned focus groups as validation tools held after analysis is complete, with members who didn't participate in earlier surveys, providing fresh perspective on conclusions. This kind of layered research builds confidence in decisions before significant resources are committed.
In my context as College Director at Central Virginia Community College's Amherst Early College Center, your point about teaming up resonates deeply. Single-perspective decisions, even from experienced leaders, often miss important considerations that diverse teams catch.
Thank you for highlighting these themes.
With Benevolence, Shannon
Got it, brother — short discussion post for Learn About Your Community. 💛
📝 SHORT DISCUSSION POST (Ready to Copy and Paste):
The Learn About Your Community module reframed program research as fundamentally relational rather than transactional. The insight that resonated most was that the best information often comes simply from asking — students, alumni, employers, faculty, and community organizations all hold valuable perspectives that institutions frequently overlook.
The constituency framework was particularly clarifying. Currently enrolled students, previously enrolled students, prospective students, graduates, alumni, instructors, staff, and employers each provide different angles on training needs. No single source captures the full picture. Comprehensive program decisions require multiple data streams working together.
The community resources section reinforced something I value pastorally as well as professionally. Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Boards, civic organizations like Rotary and Lions, social service agencies, and professional associations all hold information that strengthens decision-making. Beyond data, these relationships represent the relational fabric of any community.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics resource (bls.gov) was a practical reminder that significant data is freely available. Many institutions overlook BLS data because it requires effort to access, but the investment yields reliable, comprehensive workforce intelligence.
In my context as College Director at Central Virginia Community College's Amherst Early College Center, this module deepened my appreciation for the community knowledge I've already developed through years of partnership work with Amherst County Public Schools, local employers, and community leaders.
Looking ahead, I intend to apply these principles whenever institutional changes are considered for our Center, recognizing that comprehensive community input strengthens decisions while building the relational connections that sustain institutions over time.
With Benevolence, Shannon
Utilizing all available resources to gather needed information.
Collecting timely information from constituencies and communities and assessing it effectively is essential for increasing enrollment and reducing dropout rates.
I have learned a lot. How to gather information to evaluate new programs and redisgn others. As some colleges wrote, it is not easy to develop new programs.
Es importante saber qué beneficios creen los estudiantes y por qué desconocen su institución como recurso formativo.
Learning about your community is important when considering if a new program should be added. There is a lot of work that needs to be done gather and interpreting information before deciding if it makes sense to add the program.
There are a great many challenges when fact finding and researching. They key I gather is take information from every facet and when it doubt do more research. Furthermore, teaming up creating focus groups helps consider every aspect of the program creation process.
What data to use and how to use it to get a better idea on what opportunities and needs are there in the community
I will be giving these lists of questions to enrollment and advising to ask about my current programs in addition to when I am looking to expand with new programs.
I have learned that my research needs to be expanded. I have planned and implemented programs before I did the proper analysis.
Our lack of a time limit on program completion can hinder tracking drop-outs. We also don't have the best data on retention rates. These are pieces of information that would be valuable to have.
Exhaustive research is needed before introducing a new program. Everyone within the community is involved.
The community you are in is crucial for adding to new programs you need to know their need so your can met their them by adding to new program.
I like the idea of using focus groups with employers in the community. Maybe using Webex or Zoom to make it more convenient.
When accessing data there are differnt areas to capture this information to mane the research successful
In looking to expand our course offerings beyond our current industry, there is a lot to consider and avenues I hadn't considered. This module gave me some good ideas on who to reach out to in order to do some due diligence.
Gathering community data is important in the planning stage. However, when offering online courses, the options are more far reaching than just a community. It would be beneficial to explore entire industries in the various disciplines in order to gather intel and establish a network of future employers.
There is a lot of research that must be done to show the justification for a new program. After reading this section I was reminded of how many departments we have and must consider when adding a new program. Getting the suggested list of questions to ask these departments was very helpful.
