FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AACRAO Contact: Wendy Kilgore
Senior Director, Research & Policy Division
Communications@aacrao.org
AACRAO Announces New Report That Explores Accelerating Learner Success Through Flexible Scheduling
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 19, 2024)
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) has released a new white paper titled "The SPOT Advantage: Reimagining Academic Terms," Authored by Dr. Wendy Kilgore, Senior Director of Research at AACRAO. This paper examines the adoption and outcomes of shortened academic terms—referred to as SPOT—across nine diverse higher education institutions, drawing on insights from a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders involved in SPOT implementation.
The white paper explores the motivations behind the adoption of SPOTs, along with the strategies institutions use to manage enrollment, class scheduling, and resource allocation within these compressed terms. Additionally, it examines the potential impacts of SPOTs on learner success and highlights the importance of data-driven approaches to optimizing these academic models.
The paper reveals that institutions are at varying stages of SPOT adoption, with some institutions fully integrating shortened terms across multiple programs, while others apply them more selectively to specific learner groups or areas of study. The effectiveness of SPOTs is shown to depend on several factors, including learner demographics, course content, and institutional resources. Some recommendations include:
- Developing comprehensive faculty-training programs
- Implementing clear communication strategies for learners
- Investing in advanced scheduling and analytics software
- Establishing targeted support services for learners in SPOT programs or classes
The full report, "The SPOT Advantage: Reimagining Academic Terms," is available on the AACRAO website.
For more information, please contact: communications@aacrao.org
Sponsored By:
AACRAO
AACRAO is a non-profit, voluntary, professional association working to make higher education more responsive to learners. With a membership of more than 15,000 higher education professionals representing approximately 2,300 institutions in
more than 40 countries, the association provides advocacy, research, and policy-based guidance and training to higher education professionals to smooth the path for learners at every stage of their journey.