UMass Flex Summit
ABOUT THE FLEX SUMMIT
Students today are seeking both excellence in their university experience and true flexibility in accessing educational opportunities. UMass Flex explores ways to open up all parts of the university experience—from classes to career services—through technology and innovation.
In both 2022 and 2023, UMass held a Flex Summit as an opportunity to learn more about the UMass Flex initiative. Topics included:
- How UMass Flex can open the door for more students
- How to make decisions about flexible learning via a student-centered, inclusive, opt-in approach
- How to integrate state-of-the-art technology and support for both instructional and non-instructional units
- Sharing campus experiences around flexible learning and flexible engagement
- Celebrating staff successes in providing flexible access to students
- Learning from successful models at other institutions
- Understanding the student perspective through digital storytelling
The 2023 Flex Summit showcased student FLEXperience digital stories, which focused on the overarching theme of Belonging and Access: How Digital Technology Can Solve Obstacles.
Students are still coming to campus, but they also want the flexibility to take advantage of resources in a virtual setting. This creates challenges for staff and for our entire campus. How do we provide the best of both?
2023 Keynote Speaker:
Jared Tippets
Vice President, Student Affairs, Southern Utah University
2022 UMass Flex Summit Keynote Speakers
Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Northeastern University
Associate Professor of Instructional Technologies, San Francisco State University
2022 Flex Summit Takeaways
Topics included:
- How UMass Flex can open the door for more students
- How to make decisions about flexible learning via a student-centered, inclusive, opt-in approach
- How to integrate state-of-the-art technology and support for both instructional and non-instructional units
Watch the corresponding video to learn more.
More From UMass Flex Summit '22
Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy
Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, PhD, presented his strategic plan for expanding online infrastructure to offer greater access to the excellence of the UMass educational experience.
Keynote: Dr. David Madigan
Dr. David Madigan, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northeastern University shares the ways NUflex enhances the in-person and online experience, supports teaching and learning, and provides digital flexibility for both instructors and students.
Keynote: Dr. Brian Beatty
Dr. Brian Beatty, Associate Professor of Instructional Technologies at San Francisco State University, who pioneered the HyFlex course design model for blended learning environments, discusses its values and principles, along with its history and implementation.
Panel: Flexible Learning
A panel of administrators, faculty, and students draw on experiences from UMass Amherst, Northeastern and other universities to consider Flexible Learning through an institutional lens.
Panel: Flexible Course
This panel explores elevating educational quality and better serving students through Flexible Learning.
Flex Summit Closing
Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy closes out the 2022 UMass Flex Summit.