Comments for TopSchool's SaaS in Higher Ed Blog http://blog.topschoolinc.com Empowering the Student - Centric Institution Sat, 21 May 2011 19:19:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Open Architecture SaaS is Impacting Higher Ed in the Right Ways, Right Now by SaaS http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2011/05/04/open-architecture-saas-is-impacting-higher-ed-in-the-right-ways-right-now/#comment-1386 SaaS Sat, 21 May 2011 19:19:16 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=397#comment-1386 SaaS is only going to get bigger. I believe the future, with mobile technology, will drive SaaS to be more accepted and bigger every year. I was reading another post that pointed out that SaaS had penetrated only about 10% of its potential market. That is very encouraging and exciting. Thanks for the post. SaaS is only going to get bigger. I believe the future, with mobile technology, will drive SaaS to be more accepted and bigger every year. I was reading another post that pointed out that SaaS had penetrated only about 10% of its potential market. That is very encouraging and exciting. Thanks for the post.

]]> Comment on TopSchool is a CODiE Finalist! by Conor Cusack http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2011/04/20/topschool-is-a-codie-finalist/#comment-1346 Conor Cusack Wed, 11 May 2011 14:04:19 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=382#comment-1346 Congratulations! Well-earned! Congratulations! Well-earned!

]]> Comment on TopSchool is a CODiE Finalist! by TopSchool's SaaS in Higher Ed Blog » TopSchool is a CODiE Finalist! | Data management ins and outs http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2011/04/20/topschool-is-a-codie-finalist/#comment-1245 TopSchool's SaaS in Higher Ed Blog » TopSchool is a CODiE Finalist! | Data management ins and outs Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:29:47 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=382#comment-1245 [...] Stay tuned for the SIIA’s declaration next month!Filed under: Student Information ManagementStudent information management – Google Weblog Search by NASA’s Marshall Space Voyage Center Connected announcements: Connected discussions: [...] [...] Stay tuned for the SIIA’s declaration next month!Filed under: Student Information ManagementStudent information management – Google Weblog Search by NASA’s Marshall Space Voyage Center Connected announcements: Connected discussions: [...]

]]> Comment on For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I by Ric Taylor http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2010/09/21/for-profit-universities-what-exactly-are-we-debating-part-i/#comment-325 Ric Taylor Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:17:40 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=216#comment-325 The common factor at the forefront of education (higher ed AND k12) is a process for accountability i.e metrics. Any profit motivated organization (regardless of student funding source) will eventually have to build metrics into its processes. When they do, they will have solid information for making improvements. If non-profits wish to compete then they too will need similar metrics. In this way, competition will eventually improve the education landscape. The common factor at the forefront of education (higher ed AND k12) is a process for accountability i.e metrics. Any profit motivated organization (regardless of student funding source) will eventually have to build metrics into its processes. When they do, they will have solid information for making improvements. If non-profits wish to compete then they too will need similar metrics. In this way, competition will eventually improve the education landscape.

]]> Comment on For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I by Len Green http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2010/09/21/for-profit-universities-what-exactly-are-we-debating-part-i/#comment-12 Len Green Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:01:23 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=216#comment-12 The traditional Education Industry is going through a painful transition in its market dynamics because of the confluence of (1) declining public funding, (2) relatively disruptive technologies that have allowed (3) new competitors to enter faster and cheaper, all of which points to (4) a new business model. Any academic entity (once it gets to a certain size) needs to recognize (at least its leaders must) that it is also an economic enterprise that must follow certain principles to survive - e.g. revenues must exceed costs long term, the business model must serve its customers (aka students) and it must be flexible to meet changes in those needs better than the competition. Policies, structures and behaviors that try to ignore these realities will only (1) allow competitors to suceeed and (2) cause the demise of the entity itself. So, which university leaders are prepared to lead even those who don't want to change? The traditional Education Industry is going through a painful transition in its market dynamics because of the confluence of (1) declining public funding, (2) relatively disruptive technologies that have allowed (3) new competitors to enter faster and cheaper, all of which points to (4) a new business model.

Any academic entity (once it gets to a certain size) needs to recognize (at least its leaders must) that it is also an economic enterprise that must follow certain principles to survive – e.g. revenues must exceed costs long term, the business model must serve its customers (aka students) and it must be flexible to meet changes in those needs better than the competition.

Policies, structures and behaviors that try to ignore these realities will only (1) allow competitors to suceeed and (2) cause the demise of the entity itself.

So, which university leaders are prepared to lead even those who don’t want to change?

]]> Comment on For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I by Tweets that mention SaaS in Higher Ed Blog » For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I -- Topsy.com http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2010/09/21/for-profit-universities-what-exactly-are-we-debating-part-i/#comment-11 Tweets that mention SaaS in Higher Ed Blog » For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I -- Topsy.com Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:15:56 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=216#comment-11 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Trace Urdan, Trace Urdan, Trace Urdan, Keith Hampson PhD, Robert Herzog and others. Robert Herzog said: Agree...wish I'd written. RT @Trace_Urdan:Yet another essay I wish I'd written.Nicely done Matt http://ow.ly/2HJsr #PSCUs #objectiveanalysis [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Trace Urdan, Trace Urdan, Trace Urdan, Keith Hampson PhD, Robert Herzog and others. Robert Herzog said: Agree…wish I'd written. RT @Trace_Urdan:Yet another essay I wish I'd written.Nicely done Matt http://ow.ly/2HJsr #PSCUs #objectiveanalysis [...]

]]> Comment on For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I by Matthew Schnittman http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2010/09/21/for-profit-universities-what-exactly-are-we-debating-part-i/#comment-10 Matthew Schnittman Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:07:53 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=216#comment-10 Thanks for your comments. As I discussed in my last blog, I feel that taxpayer subsidies require accountability. But, I think we need a consistent approach – and need to compare apples to apples. Last year, the state of Colorado appropriated $2.8B of taxpayer dollars into our public higher education system – and none of it will be repaid. Yet, there is no discussion of metrics or oversight to account for that investment. Thanks for your comments. As I discussed in my last blog, I feel that taxpayer subsidies require accountability. But, I think we need a consistent approach – and need to compare apples to apples. Last year, the state of Colorado appropriated $2.8B of taxpayer dollars into our public higher education system – and none of it will be repaid. Yet, there is no discussion of metrics or oversight to account for that investment.

]]> Comment on For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I by Sean J. Kennedy http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2010/09/21/for-profit-universities-what-exactly-are-we-debating-part-i/#comment-9 Sean J. Kennedy Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:36:16 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=216#comment-9 Part of the challenge here when talk about "open market" is that while the for-profit operations clearly are innovative and filling a much needed niche in the higher education industry, they rely squarely on financing sales of their product with taxpayer-subsidized options. Just imagine if Bill Gates could sell his software, or Michael Dell his computers to customers, who based upon financial need (but often poor credit history) qualify for federal aid. Yes, we are serving an underserved market and increasing accessibility to a higher education and ultimately a better quality of life for the non-traditional student. Yet, with accessibility comes accountability, the metrics of which need to include default rates- a definite indicator of completion success. This is no doubt risky business. Insurance companies increase premiums and utilize pooling of risk to serve their customer base, lest they become insolvent. In this modern era of career (online) education catering to a higher-risk subset of the population we must gather and analyze all the available data to protect the interests of all concerned! Part of the challenge here when talk about “open market” is that while the for-profit operations clearly are innovative and filling a much needed niche in the higher education industry, they rely squarely on financing sales of their product with taxpayer-subsidized options. Just imagine if Bill Gates could sell his software, or Michael Dell his computers to customers, who based upon financial need (but often poor credit history) qualify for federal aid.

Yes, we are serving an underserved market and increasing accessibility to a higher education and ultimately a better quality of life for the non-traditional student. Yet, with accessibility comes accountability, the metrics of which need to include default rates- a definite indicator of completion success. This is no doubt risky business. Insurance companies increase premiums and utilize pooling of risk to serve their customer base, lest they become insolvent. In this modern era of career (online) education catering to a higher-risk subset of the population we must gather and analyze all the available data to protect the interests of all concerned!

]]> Comment on For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I by Justin http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2010/09/21/for-profit-universities-what-exactly-are-we-debating-part-i/#comment-8 Justin Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:01:22 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=216#comment-8 I like that you're looking at this in a critical manner. I wish more people would do this. My fear is that people hear the term "for-profit" and assume that the school is only after money. That is total hogwash! Also, most assume that corporations are the only owners of these schools, which is also hogwash! I wish more people would do research into issues like you are doing than just believing evrything they are told. I like that you’re looking at this in a critical manner. I wish more people would do this. My fear is that people hear the term “for-profit” and assume that the school is only after money. That is total hogwash! Also, most assume that corporations are the only owners of these schools, which is also hogwash!
I wish more people would do research into issues like you are doing than just believing evrything they are told.

]]> Comment on For-Profit Universities: What Exactly Are We Debating? Part I by Stephen Boston http://blog.topschoolinc.com/2010/09/21/for-profit-universities-what-exactly-are-we-debating-part-i/#comment-7 Stephen Boston Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:14:53 +0000 http://blog.topschoolinc.com/?p=216#comment-7 I think what this is highlighting is that there a fundamental principle at work here.... the open market. There is a need that non-profits are not filling and therefore the open market is filling that need with various for-profit universities. Non-traditional students are in need of flexibility, specific/relevant offerings, and opportunities for access to higher learning. To suggest that for-profits do not have the student welfare in mind is disingenuous. Fundamentally, a business always seeks to have its customer's welfare in mind, otherwise it will go out of business. (Or should.) Shouldn't the non-profit world rejoice in the fact that there are facilities to help educate those that are in need? These organizations take on those learners that the non-profits have shunned, forgotten or cannot serve. A final statement, profit should not be construed with a negative connotation. Yes, there will likely be unscrupulous institutions that are "only in it for the money" but that only lasts so long in the open market. Profit allows you to do more, grow more and serve more. And if the growth of for-profit universities is any proof, they are growing more and serving more. I think what this is highlighting is that there a fundamental principle at work here…. the open market. There is a need that non-profits are not filling and therefore the open market is filling that need with various for-profit universities.

Non-traditional students are in need of flexibility, specific/relevant offerings, and opportunities for access to higher learning.

To suggest that for-profits do not have the student welfare in mind is disingenuous. Fundamentally, a business always seeks to have its customer’s welfare in mind, otherwise it will go out of business. (Or should.)

Shouldn’t the non-profit world rejoice in the fact that there are facilities to help educate those that are in need? These organizations take on those learners that the non-profits have shunned, forgotten or cannot serve.

A final statement, profit should not be construed with a negative connotation. Yes, there will likely be unscrupulous institutions that are “only in it for the money” but that only lasts so long in the open market. Profit allows you to do more, grow more and serve more. And if the growth of for-profit universities is any proof, they are growing more and serving more.

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