A Message from the Vice President

One of the most overstated observations of 2020 is how this year has been like no other. As I take a moment to reflect, I am amazed at the resilience of USU’s faculty, staff, and students who adapted to COVID-19’s “new normal.” What started out as a promising year with aggressive enrollment management goals, academic innovations, new faculty development programs, and exciting student success initiatives quickly shifted to a focus on rapidly migrating from face-to-face courses to remote learning and supporting faculty and students in teaching and learning. Summer 2020 was then spent preparing for a very different fall 2020 that included social distancing, virtual recruiting events, and expanding remote delivery while increasing our digital dependence and expertise. Academic and Instructional Services has been proud to support the university in these endeavors. As we close out this challenging year, I am happy to share some of highlights from our division that I consider bright spots in 2020 and building blocks for 2021 that further enhance our focus on quality, accessibility, and innovation.

Robert W. Wagner, Ph.D. Vice President Academic & Instructional Services

iv v Academic & Instructional Services Organization Chart Innovating Education Empowered by AIS

A Message from the Vice President...... ii General Academic & Instructional Services...... 2 Student Achievement Collaborative...... 3 Office of Student Orientation & Transition Services...... 4 Student Retention & Completion ...... 5 Center for Innovative Design & Instruction (CIDI)...... 6 Office of Empowering Teaching Excellence...... 7 Office of Admissions...... 8 Academic Testing Services ...... 9 Financial Aid Office...... 10 Classroom Technologies...... 11 Registrar’s Office...... 12 USU Online & Continuing Education...... 14 Academic Media Production...... 16 Teaching & Learning Technologies...... 17 Center for Student Analytics ...... 18 Scholarship Office...... 19 Student Money Management Center...... 20 Disability Resource Center...... 21

viii 1 General Academic & Student Achievement Instructional Services Collaborative New Position Focuses on USU students whose next steps were New Provisional Admissions English, math, and study skills to Students Outside of Logan suddenly uncertain due to COVID-19. Program Introduced then be considered for admission. USU named Anca Matcovschi as For incoming students, virtual Beginning in fall 2020, USU Students taking these courses do not director of statewide and online campus tours and a live chat were introduced a Prep Academy for pay university tuition or earn college recruitment with the goal of created, and communication with prospective students who do not credit; the courses cost $125 per increasing enrollment throughout returning students included virtual meet index score requirements for month and are intended to develop Utah, and to further partnerships that “What’s Next Wednesdays” and admission into a bachelor’s degree necessary skills to be successful accommodate employee education. informational podcasts. program. These students are placed at USU. This position allows Matcovschi to as a cohort into a Strategies for integrate efforts among the many Academic Success course and begin university groups who interact with studies for an associate degree in Utah’s location-bound students, General Studies. They can continue many of whom are working to a USU bachelor’s degree if they professionals with busy lives. meet requirements.

AIS Offices Focus on Recruitment Earned Admissions Program Pilot and Yield Efforts Amidst COVID-19 In fall 2020, USU introduced an Last spring, the Admissions, Student earned admissions program for new Orientation & Transition Services, and freshmen that do not meet admission Scholarship Offices quickly teamed requirements. Students can complete up to assist incoming and returning three self-paced online courses in

2 3 Office of Student Orientation Student Retention & Transition Services & Completion New Aggie Podcast Helps Parents provides a year-long mentoring USU Celebrates 2020 Graduates Supplemental Instruction Seeing The Aggie community found creative and Families of USU Students experience, so new students can Success with Live Online Sessions Parents can now subscribe to the connect with a faculty mentor and ways to celebrate USU’s 2020 The Office of Student Retention “Aggie Parent and Family Podcast,” remain in contact through their first graduates despite the cancelation of & Completion has transitioned its which includes information on two semesters. the spring commencement ceremony. Supplemental Instruction (SI) program topics such as campus safety, President Noelle Cockett and 2020 to live online sessions. All sessions academic advising, diversity and valedictorian Mealii Enos released are held via Zoom and completely inclusion, and supporting students a video congratulating grads, while voluntary. The remote SI program as they enter their second semester. others put a special USU frame on averaged 5-10 students per session The regularly posted podcasts their Facebook profile pictures, posted during the fall, with more students also are available on Spotify, Apple messages on social media platforms taking advantage of recorded sessions using the hashtag #USUGRAD20, sent on course Canvas pages. Podcasts, or through usu.edu/ emails to graduates they knew, and parents/podcast. wore Aggie blue attire on April 30. TRIO Student Support Services Grant 1010 Connections Course Sees Awarded to Utah State TRIO SSS has been operating at USU Record Enrollment Sending the Celebration Home Despite format changes due to All 2019-20 graduates—about 6,000 since 1989, providing academic support COVID-19, a record number of grads from summer 2019, fall 2019, for approximately 2,500 students over students participated in USU’s 1010 and spring 2020—received a personal that time. The program was awarded a Connections in 2020. The two- graduation celebration box at their $1.74 million continuing grant to support credit course is designed to ease home. The boxes contained their students on the Logan campus who transition into college life and also diploma, a commencement program, a are first-generation, low-income, and/ letter from President Noelle Cockett, or experience disability. This funding and a bunch of Aggie gear to celebrate should support TRIO SSS for five their accomplishment. additional years, beginning fall 2021 and running through spring 2026. 4 5 Center for Innovative Design Office of Empowering & Instruction (CIDI) Teaching Excellence A Massive Undertaking: How USU views over the COVID-19 teaching Seven USU Teaching Scholars Receive Center for Innovative Design and Staff Supported the Move to Remote period. Throughout spring and fall, CIDI Professional Development Awards Instruction, eLearnX delivered sessions Learning staff responded to thousands of phone The ETE’s Committee for Scholar using a blend of live web broadcasts On March 12, USU began the process of calls and hundreds of chats. All of these Awards announced its 2020 cohort and asynchronous activities, allowing moving 750 spring semester courses efforts helped lead to the successful of scholars: Jocelyn Cuthbert, Julia faculty to experience learning in the online, to be available by March 18. rollout of new delivery methods during Gossard, Karin deJonge-Kannan, Lianne same formats their students did during The Center for Innovative Design and summer and fall. Wappett, Sarah Tulane, Shawn Miller, spring and summer semesters. Instruction tapped into resources and Timothy Chenette. This program across the university, including students funds professional development and in the Instructional Technology and resources associated with a Scholarship Learning Sciences program. Thanks of Teaching and Learning project, to tools like online chat support and while also giving support in the assisting faculty with putting more development, implementation, and than 7,000 hours of video online, the dissemination process. transition went as smoothly as possible. CIDI then continued to provide training Faculty Dive Headfirst into through workshops, conference Digital Learning sessions, and consultations to more One hundred twenty faculty members than 1,000 faculty members. It also representing each of USU’s colleges, significantly expanded website tutorials, from Logan and Statewide Campuses, which reached nearly 190,000 page attended eLearnX, a deep dive into digital-age teaching in May and August. Sponsored by ETE and the

6 7 Office of Admissions Academic Testing Services Record Class Comes to Logan for Making a Difference: USU Admissions A Go-To Resource on Rapid Adjustments Keep Centers Fall 2020 Office Joins Together to Make Masks Proctoring Options in Service USU saw its highest first-time student for LatinX Community When USU moved to remote learning, The Academic Testing Center has enrollment in history on the Logan USU’s Admissions Office stepped up to Academic Testing Center staff and diligently remained in service for campus in fall 2020, despite the help provide the LatinX community in student employees began learning all students and faculty despite COVID-19. challenges of COVID-19. There were Cache Valley with face masks, gathering they could about Proctorio in order Hours were expanded as capacity was 3,918 new first-time students, an supplies and then making and donating to respond to faculty and student decreased to accommodate demand as increase of 163 students or 4.2% over masks to those in need. The team was questions via phone, chat, and email. well as social distancing, and student fall 2019. The incoming class average able to donate more than 450 masks The staff remains a hub of information employees adjusted to heightened GPA was 3.67 with an average ACT to local organizations, including the for Proctorio usage as well as sanitation expectations with score of 24. Transfer numbers were also Cache Valley Immigrant and Refugee alternative distance proctoring options. positive attitudes. up, with 886 new transfers—39 students Connection, Saint Thomas Aquinas (5%) over the previous fall. Catholic Parish, and YMCA Utah.

Standardized Tests Optional for Jump Start Summer Online Program Admissions in 2021 Helps Students with a Free Online USU has suspended the ACT and Class SAT test requirements for Funded by $350,000 in emergency undergraduate admission to all aid for the 2020 summer semester, campuses for the spring, summer, and USU offered a free online class to new, fall 2021 semesters. The change was in incoming students who wanted to get response to testing disruptions during an early start on their education, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. current students whose plans to be in Students are evaluated for admission Utah for 12 months were disrupted by based on GPA, and applicants may COVID-19. The funding allowed more still choose to include standardized than 200 students to take advantage test scores with their applications of the free three-credit hour course and for admissions. also covered all associated student fees.

8 9 Financial Aid Office Classroom Technologies USU Appoints New Financial In this role, she plans to continue to Classroom Technology Team Prepares Language reached out for help with Aid Director support the organizational changes that Spaces for Hybrid Education Zoom in their hybrid/face-to-face Heather Bryson is USU’s new financial have been made in the office over the After campus closed in March, the six- courses, the Classroom Technology aid director. Previously, she worked as last year. member Classroom Technology Team Team provided three facilitators, all the associate director of systems and prepared more than 180 classrooms comfortable communicating in ASL, data for the Financial Aid Office. Bryson for hybrid teaching, installing high- to assist. They were able to switch has more than six years of experience definition cameras and microphones. between and move cameras during at USU, ranging from staff assistant to This equipped faculty members to class and ensure those joining program coordinator to now director. teach their classes in person and online through Zoom could see the instructor through Zoom, and record lectures for and students in the room as they students unable to participate during communicated, so everyone could scheduled class times. fully participate.

Team Assists with Teaching ASL Courses When a Communicative Disorders instructor who teaches American Sign

10 11 Registrar’s Office

New Scheduling Tool Makes Concurrent Enrollment Moves to classes so students saw the correct living near campus could find a place Registration Simple Registrar’s Office delivery method when registering. to study or attend their online classes. Several USU departments partnered to Concurrent Enrollment has moved Students can also go to scheduling.usu. customize and launch College Scheduler, under the direction of the Registrar’s Thinking Ahead Smooths Spring edu and reserve space for small study a system that generates possible Office and will be overseen by Toni Schedule Building groups on the Logan campus. schedules for students based on Gibbons, assistant registrar. The Scheduling for spring semester 2021 information they enter, such as campus Registrar’s Office is in a unique position started on August 25, 2020. Since the locations or times they can’t be in to assist with all aspects of Concurrent majority of classes needed to change class. While Banner will still be available, Enrollment, which will better serve high their instructional method, the office students are encouraged to check out school students as they begin their path couldn’t follow its usual practice of this user-friendly tool to help streamline to USU. The concurrent.usu.edu website copying the prior term and adjusting as their registration process. College was recently updated with additional needed. Spring classes being offered as Scheduler can be found at information and details. online, web broadcast, and interactive usu.collegescheduler.com or broadcast will be built at all statewide accessed through the student portal. Quick Response to Course Delivery locations so students can register for Changes Keeps Registration Accurate the center closest to them. New Online Process Streamlines On March 25, the Academic Scheduling Registration Changes Office notified department heads of Helping Students Find Spots for Graphic courtesy of ushe.edu Students can now submit requests the need to adjust delivery methods Studying or Class for registration changes or overrides for all fall face-to-face classes in the With classrooms going unused as online instead of on paper. Requests first 7-week session and the full 14-week USU returned to remote learning to are routed to the appropriate major session—and all changes needed to be end fall semester, the office gathered advisor or faculty member, then to the final before registration began April 1. available locations and times to Registrar’s Office for processing, with The office worked with departments to create usu.edu/academic-support/ students receiving automated updates identify changes and rebuilt those participation_locations so students throughout the process.

12 13 USU Online & New Master’s, Bachelor’s Programs Students in Competency-Based Continuing Education USU Online has launched several new Education Pilot Program programs: a Master of Science in Sports Seeing Success USU Online Celebrates 25 Years online MBA program in summer 2020, Management, and four new bachelor’s A group of 20 Northrup Grumman The Utah Legislature recognized many with jobs already lined up in programs in history, management, RN employees have been going through a USU as a statewide leader in online respected organizations across the to BSN completion, and integrated Competency-Based Education (CBE) education in February 2020. USU country. There are now more than 100 studies, which allows students who program at USU Brigham City since fall Online continues to fill the university’s students enrolled in the online MBA; do not meet program requirements, 2019. Although they can be challenging land-grant mission by serving students the program highlighted Seba Jean- have amassed many credits, or simply for universities to implement, CBE across the state and beyond, and the Baptiste, a software engineer originally want to finish a degree to earn a programs are gaining popularity online infrastructure built over past 25 from Haiti, as its 100th recruit. B.S. in Business Communications or because they allow students to use years was integral in preparing USU for Humanities and Social Services. their previous experience and current the mass transition to online learning New Outdoor Industry skills to move quickly through a in March. Association Collaboration Additional Courses Meet degree program. USU Online and USU Extension joined Remote Demand U.S. News & World Report in partnership with the Outdoor USU Online played a huge role in the 2020 Rankings Industry Association, University transition to online and remote learning USU Online earned strong recognition of Colorado Boulder, and Western due to COVID-19, including the addition in the publication’s national college Colorado University to offer three of 200+ online courses for fall 2020. rankings for 2020, including: No. 6 online, self-paced, non-credit The program also supported multiple in the nation for graduate education certificates focusing on public policy, CARES-funded offerings through programs, No. 23 for online bachelor’s increasing outdoor participation, and Continuing Education, such as the programs, and No. 18 for bachelor’s sustainable business innovation. USU Computer Science Certificate, programs for veterans. offers the Outdoor Industry Business Marketing & Professional Sales, and Certificate, focusing on sustainability in Growing Your Business programs. Online MBA Update product design and supply chain. The first cohort of 23 students graduated from the Huntsman School’s

14 15 Academic Media Teaching & Learning Production Technologies Mobilizing to Meet University-Wide with DIY video solutions via chat It’s Official: Zoom Is USU’s Web tutoring option. Using the expertise Media Needs service. The team estimates it produced Broadcast and Conferencing Tool of the Aggie Math Learning Center The move to remote learning put the at least five times as much video After several months of working with staff and the LTI and programming Academic Media Production team content as previous semesters, much of faculty and staff, along with extensive experience of TLT, a team designed front and center to face a sudden which will be used in future courses. testing, USU signed a license with and built a system to integrate with huge increase in demand for video and Zoom in July to make it the official Canvas. Testing began in fall 2019, and media presentations. Not only were university web broadcast system when COVID-19 prompted the switch they creating lab, demonstration, and for classes and the official web to remote learning, online tutoring was other hands-on learning videos for conferencing tool for meetings. The made available to all students in math USU courses, they also facilitated live license allows all current faculty, staff, courses. The system allows both drop- Zoom broadcasts, produced videos for and students to host meetings. in and scheduled tutoring sessions the USU Ready campaign and Parent Zoom hosts more than 2,000 classes and connects students and tutors Orientation, and assisted instructors and meetings a day to help keep with video and audio tools, as well as the university running during a specific math white-board system remote learning. to facilitate the session. As of Dec. 1, 25 tutors in the Aggie Math Learning TLT, Aggie Math Learning Center Center had held more than 2,200 Create Online Tutoring Option online live tutoring sessions during Almost two years ago, AIS and the fall semester. math department began discussing how to best provide an online math

16 17 Center for Student Analytics Scholarship Office Podcast Highlights Utah State’s Excellence and the Center for Student USU Provides Scholarship USU Connects Thousands of Students Analytics Excellence Analytics produced a series of webinars Opportunities for Students Without with Scholarships Mitchell Colver and the USU Center for that describes successful strategies. ACT or SAT Scores Students have been able to use the Student Analytics were featured in two These 30-minute videos illustrate Following the announcement that USU USU Scholarship Office to apply for episodes of the Digital2Learn podcast, specific tools that faculty can use to was transitioning to a test-optional hundreds of scholarships worth millions which is “dedicated to exploring both empower their students to excel in admission policy for 2021, the university of dollars. For the 2020-21 academic what’s new and what’s good in the remote learning environments. is also offering alternatives to new year, there were 779 scholarships use of technology and digital learning.” students who were unable to take available. Some of these are split Colver’s interviews focused on USU’s Center for Student Analytics placement exams but are seeking among multiple recipients, so 2,086 mature use of analytics for higher Explores Student Success academic merit scholarships. students have received awards education decision-making and equity The center published its annual Student Students who apply for scholarships totaling $3,711,444. and service to vulnerable students. Insights Report after collaborating without a standardized test score will with dozens of units across campus be reviewed based on GPA, high New Webinar Series Helps USU to discover 20 data-informed insights school course rigor, class rank, and Instructors Teach Remotely about what helps students succeed. other criteria. To provide instructors with information The report helps ensure that USU and skills suited to teaching fully stakeholders can use its insights as a remote courses, a partnership between touchstone for keeping data-informed the Office of Empowering Teaching conversations moving forward.

18 19 Student Money Disability Resource Management Center Center

SMMC Hires Director for where they want to be. Harris will Inclusion, Accessibility, and one challenge to help solve the other, The new Student Money Management provide financial coaching sessions to Opportunity During COVID-19 training 75 student employees from Center hired Darrell Harris as director. our students. When classes moved from in-person across campus to caption videos, The center, located in the Student to online, CIDI and the DRC worked convert PDFs to Canvas pages, and fix Orientation and Transition Services area together to find solutions to two accessibility issues in files. in the TSC, helps students assess where urgent issues: the need to make all they are financially and make plans classes accessible, and many student employees who were suddenly left without work. They were able to use

20 21 22 23 In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Title IX Coordinator Office of Equity Hilary Renshaw Alison Adams-Perlac [email protected] [email protected] Old Main Rm. 161 Old Main Rm. 161 435.797.1266 435.797.1266

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Denver Regional Office 800.421.3481 303.844.5695 [email protected] [email protected]