A Case Study of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Susan Carey Fulmer East Tennessee State University
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 5-2002 The evelopmeD nt of a Higher Education Consortium: A Case Study of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Susan Carey Fulmer East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Higher Education Administration Commons Recommended Citation Fulmer, Susan Carey, "The eD velopment of a Higher Education Consortium: A Case Study of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center." (2002). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 674. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/674 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Development of a Higher Education Consortium: A Case Study of The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis East Tennessee State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor in Education by Susan Carey Fulmer May 2002 Dr. Russell West, Chair Dr. Nancy Dishner Dr. Terrence Tollefson Dr. Ronald Green Keywords: Consortium, Higher Education, Case Study, Extended Campuses, Off-Campus Instruction, Distance Education, Adult Learners ABSTRACT The Development of a Higher Education Consortium: A Case Study of The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center by Susan Carey Fulmer The purpose of this study was to describe the creation and development of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) in Abingdon, Virginia as an example of a higher education consortium. Case study methodology was used to determine why and how the SVHEC was established, who was involved, and how well it served adult students and the community. Data were collected through interviews, focus groups, observations, and document analysis. The methodology included identifying key players, designing an interview protocol, and conducting interviews with academic and political figures who had played key roles in the SVHEC’s development. Abingdon community representatives were interviewed, as were present and former college and university presidents representing partner institutions in the consortium. Data were also obtained through observations gained from multiple visits to the Center, formal and informal interviews of employees of the Center and its partners, and participation in meetings. Internal and external documents were also analyzed. The cumulative data record enabled me to reconstruct the process through which the center was created and developed. I found the SVHEC to be a grassroots effort, born of community need, and championed by a local educational administrator and a legislator from a neighboring community. Besides providing educational opportunity to an underserved population, the Center has promoted economic development, and enhanced outsiders’ perceptions while heightening local appreciation of the community. Recognized as successful by all types of stakeholders, the consortium reportedly serves its students well; is sensitive to the needs of adult learners and businesses; boasts strong leadership and legislative support; is customer-oriented, professionally operated, and community enhancing. Uniquely designated as a state agency, the Center illustrates an effective partnership among universities, legislators, and communities and demonstrates the productive use of state funding in promoting goals of education and economic development. This study may provide a model for communities and higher educational institutions seeking solutions to their needs. In this time of a precarious national economy, mirrored by continuously dwindling state funding for higher education, examples of creative, cost-effective educational structures are needed. The SVHEC is one such model. 2 Copyright 2002 by Susan C. Fulmer ALL Rights Reserved 3 DEDICATION I wish to dedicate this dissertation to my husband Dr. R. Stephen Fulmer, the wind beneath my wings, for his constant love, support, and understanding; to my children, Cameron Scott Bell and Hillary Lauren Bell Hawkins, for their encouragement and belief in their mother; to my grandson, Jackson Scott Bell, who was born while this was a work in progress; to my sisters, Barbara Carey Hayes and Eleanor Carey Kroeger, for a lifetime of nurturing and caring; and in fond memory of my late parents, Frank and Anna Carey, for fostering in me a love of lifelong learning, perseverance towards a goal, and belief in myself All of you share with me in this accomplishment. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank all the people who helped in the preparation of this dissertation. My committee: Dr. Russell West, Chair; for his advice, patience, and time; and Drs. Terry Tollefson, Nancy Dishner, and Ron Green for their advice and support. Dr. Rachel Fowlkes, Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia, for giving of her time and cooperation in this project; for allowing me access to materials and documents; and for providing me with introduction letters and access to participants in the study. Christine Fields, Director of Budgets for the SVHEC, and all the staff members of the center who helped me obtain documents and gave their time to assist me. All the participants who agreed to be interviewed or who provided information for this study. Marie Jones, my peer debriefer, and Dr. Rick McInturf, my auditor, for the time and care they took in examining my materials and providing advice. Sarah Wilson and Anita Rhodes, who helped with typing and transcriptions. Dr. Norma MacRae, Vice Provost and my supervisor at ETSU, for her support, encouragement, and understanding of the difficulty in conducting this study while serving as director of an extended campus center of the University. Debbie Stuck, my office supervisor, for her constant quality of performance at work while I conducted this study and the entire staff of ETSU at Bristol for their support. 5 CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2 COPYRIGHT...................................................................................................................................3 DEDICATION.................................................................................................................................4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................5 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................6 Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY................................................................................11 Statement of the Problem and Significance of the Study ..................................................14 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .........................................................................15 The Changing Student Profile in Higher Education ....................................................15 Lifelong Learning Needs.......................................................................................17 Higher Education’s Response to Lifelong Learning Needs.........................................17 Extended Campus Centers.....................................................................................17 Distance Education................................................................................................18 Virtual Universities................................................................................................20 Quality Issues.........................................................................................................22 Higher Education Consortia...................................................................................23 Examples of Higher Education Consortia ...................................................................25 Summary......................................................................................................................29 3. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOLOGY ...................................................................30 Historical Research/Case Study.........................................................................................30 6 Chapter Page Research Questions......................................................................................................31 Initial Interviews..........................................................................................................32 Interview Questions .....................................................................................................33 Focus Group/Community Interviews...........................................................................33 SVHEC Staff, Partners Staff, Student Interviews........................................................34 Additional Interviews ..................................................................................................35 Staff Surveys................................................................................................................35 Document