From the President

Online learning is changing the landscape of higher education. At Wake Tech, enrollment in online courses has surpassed Main Campus enrollment, and we now have more online students than any other North Carolina community college. For many students, online courses and open learning resources have made higher education more than just a dream.

As educators we must be mindful of what such changes mean. As we embrace the new, we want to make sure we maintain the standards that have made our institutions strong and our students competitive. I believe we can do that by welcoming the technologies that are transforming education. And at Wake Tech, we’re focusing on these technologies in new ways.

We’re addressing online learning with EPIC: e-Learning Preparedness Initiative across the College. This college-wide program is a response to national research that finds online students lag behind. EPIC’s two-pronged approach includes a rigorous orientation for students along with training and certification for instructors – to make sure both are ready for the online learning environment. EPIC is the Quality Enhancement Plan we presented to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in October 2014, when our accreditation was reaffirmed with “no recommendations” for improvement. It’s also a product of our Applied Benchmarking initiative, which challenges all employees to find exemplary ideas and adapt them to address issues at Wake Tech.

In addition, we’re expanding course and program offerings focused on technology. Wake Tech continues to be at the forefront of IT-based degree programs, and we’ve added “niche” programs in Global Logistics, Data Storage, and Business Analytics (the first and only associate’s degree program of its kind). We launched two new MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, in 2014, in computer basics and chemistry concepts. MOOCs are free, self-paced, and open to all – another technology-based avenue for helping students succeed.

We work hard to maintain an online presence that is compelling and up to date. We’ve improved our website and expanded social media in response to student and community preferences. We stay on top of new technologies to make sure our programs are relevant and the training we offer prepares students for the jobs of today – and tomorrow.

Our emphasis on technology’s growing role in higher education is part of our continuing focus on the future. We’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our college and our community, and we hope our first online annual report conveys some of that excitement.