Considering an Online Program Management (OPM) Contract: A Guide for Colleges

The novel coronavirus pandemic sparked change overnight for millions of students and thousands of professors at thousands of colleges around the United States as it began to spread during the spring semester in 2020. Face-to-face instruction ground to a halt and students and schools had to navigate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNew America
Main Authors Acosta, Alejandra, McCann, Clare, Palmer, Iris
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published New America 04.09.2020
Subjects
Contracts
Distance Education
Higher Education
Online Courses
Outsourcing
Program Administration
School Business Relationship
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Summary:The novel coronavirus pandemic sparked change overnight for millions of students and thousands of professors at thousands of colleges around the United States as it began to spread during the spring semester in 2020. Face-to-face instruction ground to a halt and students and schools had to navigate a rapid and chaotic move to remote learning. While many colleges were already developing and expanding online education programs prior to the pandemic, for others, the move to online education is new. To establish an online presence, many colleges are looking for support from outside companies that specialize in the business. In looking to the future, many colleges appear to be considering online program management companies (OPMs). Online program managers are third-party companies--contractors to the institution--that agree to develop and maintain online programming. While some OPMs provide just the technology platform and perhaps support in translating in-person courses to online ones, others are full-service, handling everything from the course design to faculty training to recruitment of students. This report warns that as schools consider how to address distance learning, they should also consider the not-insignificant risks of partnering with OPMs. Contracts are often long, difficult to escape, and expensive. Colleges that see online programs as a financial salvation may learn that the reality is far less rosy. And the reputational risk if things go south could damage the university far beyond any potential upside of the programs. This brief identifies many of the key questions that an institution should ask of itself and its potential online program management contractors before they decide to pursue such an arrangement.