UMass Flex

Task Force on Flexible Learning

The Flexible Learning Task Force was active in the Spring 2021 semester. The campus' flexible learning strategy is now led by the Flexible Learning Implementation Committee

Chancellor Subbaswamy laid out his vision for a flexible university in this White Paper, and challenged the UMass Amherst community to think critically about the future of our campus and what role flexible instruction and flexible learning should play. The white paper proposed establishing a Task Force on Flexible Learning, charged with drafting a strategic plan that will articulate a vision of future flexible learning for our campus; guiding principles and goals; analysis of our campus’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats with respect to flexible learning; recommended action/implementation steps and possible timelines; and success indicators. The Task Force met during Spring 2021, producing the interim and final reports below.

Membership on the Task Force was expansive, with more than 50 members from the campus community including undergraduate and graduates students, faculty from all academic colleges, staff, and representatives from Faculty Senate and Massachusetts Society of Professors. Its work was guided by a series of subgroups on 1.) Instruction, Pedagogy, and Technology, 2.) Student Experience and Equity, 3.) Workload and Support, 4.) Finances, and 5.) Academic Calendar, Registration, and Facilities.

The task force completed its work in Spring 2021. The campus's flexible learning strategy is now led by the Implementation Committee.

Task Force Steering Committee

The steering committee was charged with drafting a strategic plan that will articulate 1.) a vision of future flexible learning (FL) for our campus; 2.) guiding principles and goals; 3.) analysis of our campus’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats with respect to flexible learning; 4.) recommended action/implementation steps and possible timelines; and 5.) success indicators.

Jim Kurose, Associate Chancellor, Partnerships and Innovation and Distinguished University Professor, College of Information and Computer Sciences (co-chair, Steering Committee)
Mzamo Mangaliso, Associate Professor, Isenberg School of Management (co-chair, Steering Committee)
Steven Brewer, Senior Lecturer, Biology
Rolanda Burney, Chief of Staff, Chancellor
Mari Castañeda, Dean, Commonwealth Honors College and Professor, Communication (chair, Student Experience and Equity subgroup)
Deb Gould, Associate Provost for Administration and Finance (chair, Finance subgroup)
Kate Hudson, Director, Online Education/Digital Learning and Senior Lecturer, College of Education
Linda Isbell, Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences (co-chair, Instruction, Pedagogy, and Technology subgroup)
Niyanthini Kadirgamar, Graduate Student, Education (PhD)
Adam Lechowicz, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science & Political Science
Anne Massey, Dean and Thomas O'Brien Endowed Chair Operations & Information Management, Isenberg School of Management (chair, Workload and Support subgroup)
Key Nuttall, Chief Marketing Officer, University Relations
John Wells, Senior Vice Provost for Lifelong Learning and Professor, Operations and Information Management (chair, Academic Calendar, Registration, and Facilities subgroup)
Tilman Wolf, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering (co-chair, Instruction, Pedagogy, and Technology subgroup)

Task Force Subgroups

Instruction, Pedagogy, and Technology

This subgroup explored the faculty-student didactic experience inside the classroom, including issues of adaptable access and engagement in a flexible learning modality, the pedagogies involved, technology needs and limitations, and best practices to support adaptation of course offerings to flexible learning.

Tilman Wolf, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering (co-chair)
Linda Isbell, Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences (co-chair)
Gabrielle Abelard, Clinical Assistant Professor, Nursing
Caitlyn Butler, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Allison Butler, Senior Lecturer, Communication
Julia Carino, Undergraduate Student, Political Science
Claire Hamilton, Associate Provost and Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
Ken Kleinman, Professor, Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Christopher Misra, Vice Chancellor and CIO
Simon Neame, Dean, University Libraries
Sahara Pradhan, Graduate Student, Education (PhD)
TreaAndrea Russworm, Associate Professor, English
Heather Sharpes-Smith, Executive Director, Online Education Technology, Instructional Design, Engagement and Support (IDEAS)
Ramesh Sitaraman, Director, Informatics Program and Professor, Computer Science
Pamela Trafford, Senior Lecturer, Isenberg School of Management
Torrey Trust, Associate Professor, Education
Dhandapani Venkataraman, Professor, Chemistry
Nefertiti Walker, Vice Chancellor, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Student Experience and Equity

This subgroup explored out-of-classroom needs for flexible learners: How student support services that are primarily on campus could be made accessible to those off campus; steps that could be taken to ensure equity in access to technology in Flexible Learning models; and ways whereby the campus could achieve equitable access to virtual resources similar to the access granted to physical resources on campus.

Mari Castañeda, Dean, Commonwealth Honors College and Professor, Communication (chair)
Evelyn Ashley, Dean of Students
Carolyn Bassett, Associate Provost for Student Success
Cheryl Brooks, Associate Provost, Career and Professional Development
Jennie Chang, Undergraduate Student, STPEC & Legal Studies
Wilma Crespo, Director, CMASS
Melissa Rotkiewicz, Director, Interim Associate Director for Clinical Services, CCPH
Brad Riley, Graduate Student, MPPA
Jeanne Ryan, Associate Director of Clinical Services, UHS
Jamina Scippio-McFadden, Director, Springfield Center

Workload and Support

This subgroup explored workload and course-load models for Flexible Learning, especially in hybrid classrooms. It explored how faculty workloads could be determined in Flexible Learning course offerings, identifying possible changes to staff workloads, and they examined implications for faculty and class sizes. This subgroup asked what could be learned from past UMass Amherst Flexible Learning programs and explored what other schools have adopted as workload models.

Anne Massey, Dean and Thomas O'Brien Endowed Chair Operations & Information Management,, Isenberg School of Management (chair)
Bill Brady, Vice Chancellor and CHRO
Michael Eagen, Associate Provost for Academic Personnel
Jessica Fill, CICS Director of Human Resources
Ina Ganguli, Associate Professor, Economics
Kate Hudson, Director, Online Education/Digital Learning and Senior Lecturer, College of Education
Anushree Jana, Undergraduate Student, Operations & Information Management and Computer Science
Niyanthini Kadirgamar, Graduate Student, Education (PhD)
Xinyuan Li, MFA Scenic/Lighting Designer

Finances

This subgroup examined the viability of revised tuition models; possible expansion of the student body enabled by Flexible Learning; and the financial implications of instructional technology resources and faculty training, as well as providing high-quality student support services to off-campus students.

Deb Gould, Associate Provost for Administration and Finance (chair)
Michael Ash, Professor, Economics and Public Policy
Bill Brown, Associate Dean for Finance, Operations & Strategic Initiatives, Isenberg School of Management
Barbara Krauthamer, Dean, College of Humanities & Fine Arts and Professor, History
Lynn McKenna, Budget Director, Administration and Finance
Jim Roche, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
John Wells, Senior Vice Provost for Lifelong Learning and Professor, Operations and Information Management

Academic Calendar, Registration, and Facilities

This subgroup examined possible changes to academic calendars, including summer course offerings, changes to add/drop timelines, and final exam schedules; admissions processes; and registration capacities. It is also investigated and made recommendations for ways of adapting registration capabilities to Flexible Learning, such that students could register for classes in any of several different modes (e.g., in-person always, mixed in-person/online, and online-only).

John Wells, Senior Vice Provost for Lifelong Learning and Professor, Operations and Information Management (chair)
Shane Conklin, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities and Campus Services
Jeff Cournoyer, Managing Director, Mount Ida Campus
Farshid Hajir, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Patrick Sullivan, Registrar
Kate Woodmansee, Senior Associate Registrar, Graduate School and University Without Walls