SM������

White paper describes how the University program lifecycle was established and supports a skills-aligned curriculum as part of a career-focused ecosystem for adult learners

has released a new whitepaper, “Optimizing Academic Degree Program Management: A Systematic Approach and Impact,” by authors Hillary Halpern, MBA, Senior Director Program Deployment, and Chelse Thomas, MA.Ed., Senior Manager of Provost Initiatives and Academic Program Lifecycle. The white paper discusses how the University’s program lifecycle management provides the structure to maintain the University’s focus on rigorous and meaningful, market-benchmarked academic offerings for working adult students that align to real-world opportunities.

“Over the past decade, our team that manages the university program lifecycle has coordinated with stakeholders across multiple functional areas including academic program leadership, advising, financial planning, accreditation, and more to ensure that a consistent and cross-functional process exists to implement and evaluate our academic programs” states Marc Booker, Ph.D., vice provost of Strategy at SM������. “This process provides a standardized structure that helps to improve the conversation around what programs we offer and how our institution can support or resource programs as they move through their lifecycle in a consistent and transparent way.”.”

The white paper describes how the University Program Lifecycle process ensures responsible management and internal and external compliance of the University’s portfolio of academic programs, including support of skills-aligned curriculum development as well as digital badging of specific courses and programs.  

“It is possible to provide greater transparency for the higher education return on investment by developing a sustainable and systematic approach to academic degree program portfolio development and management,” states Halpern. “We’ve done this through a centralized internal structure and by meeting and maintaining external standards and requirements through consistent processes and documentation.” Halpern and Thomas recently led a session at the AACRAO Tech & Transfer Summit on the University’s innovative approach to streamlining program lifecycles and institutional initiatives.

The white paper is part of a planned series detailing the University’s development and deployment of a skills-aligned curriculum. In turn, this now informs the development of tools and products, which is growing a system of lifelong career support for students and alumni.

In 2023, the University’s innovative skills-aligned curriculum culminated in 100 percent of associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs open for new enrollment being fully skills-mapped.

Halpern has been with SM������ for 17 years and currently serves as the Senior Director Program Deployment, where she has leveraged her in-depth insights from her student support and process improvement background to develop, improve, and maintain the University Program Lifecycle (UPL) process. Halpern received “Rookie of the Year” examiner award in 2017 from Southwest Alliance of Excellence (SWAE) and earned the 2017 President’s Award from SM������ for her contributions to the UPL process. She has served as a lead examiner for the SWAE and as a speaker on process improvement at regional and national conferences. Halpern has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Arizona State University, and a Master of Business Administration and Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from SM������.

Thomas has served at SM������ in Student Services, Registrar’s Office, Curriculum Learning and Technology, since 2009, and as Senior Manager of Provost Initiatives and Academic Program Lifecycle, she leads the definition, implementation, and management of the university's academic program lifecycle process. Thomas is a director with the University’s Phoenix Women Rising Employee Resource Group, where she actively promotes leadership opportunities and fosters professional growth among colleagues. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Apparel and Textile Studies from North Dakota State University, and a Master of Arts in Education, Adult Education and Training, and Project Management Certificate from SM������.

The full whitepaper is available at SM������ Thought Leadership hub and as a direct link here.

About SM������

SM������ innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu/blog.html.