Extended Studies Quarterly Newsletter
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Volume 3, Issue 2 | December 2024
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 Professional Graduate Programs
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Higher Education Trends Impacting Professional Programs
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A recent presentation by Huron Consulting Group highlighted an increase of non-traditional learners (i.e., older, working, or returning to education), accounting for 40% of undergraduates in 2023. These shifting demographics are due to the need for career changes or advancements and the growing availability of online and flexible learning options.
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In October, the U.S. Labor Department reported that there are 7.5 million open jobs in the U.S., down 1.9 million over the last year. To stay responsive to labor market demands, universities are more regularly evaluating their academic portfolios and considering curriculum changes to ensure students are properly prepared to enter the workforce.
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In June 2024, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that the labor force participation rate for prime working-age individuals between the ages of 25 and 54 was 83.7%, marking a 20-year high. However, total labor force participation does not match what it was before the pandemic.
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A report by AMN Healthcare found that the healthcare industry is experiencing labor shortages, with more than one third of nurses saying it is extremely likely they will change jobs in 2024. Other industries experiencing labor shortages include construction, short about a half a million people, and professional and business services, in which only half of unfilled job openings can be filled by the population of available workers.
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As job markets shift and the need for workers to develop new skills increases, there is growing emphasis on lifelong learning and upskilling. A report by the World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 50% of all employees will need reskilling due to technology advancements. In response, institutions are increasingly offering micro-credentials and modular learning options. The highest priority area for skills training from 2023 to 2027 is analytical thinking, which is set to account for 10% of training initiatives, on average. The second priority for workforce development is to promote creative thinking, which will be the focus of 8% of upskilling initiatives.
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Year-Over-Year Comparisons for EXST-Administered Professional Graduate Programs
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- Sections offered increased from 501 to 647 (+19.5%)
- Seat count increased from 5,634 to 7,169 (+28.6%)
- Gross revenue increased 29%
- Direct expenses (i.e., instructional costs) as a percentage of revenue increased slightly from 23% to 25%
- Distributable revenue increased from $9.9 million to $12.5 million (+26%)
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Recently Approved EXST-Administered Professional Graduate Programs
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- Graduate Certificate in Equitable Mathematics Education Leadership
- MS in Applied Economics (online)
- Graduate Certificate in Economic Analysis (online)
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Meet with Extended Studies
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Let us know if you would like to discuss Continuing Education or other opportunities for self-support programs. We are currently scheduling meetings for the spring. Submit an EXST Meeting Request.
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Team Member Spotlight
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Manager,
Professional Studies
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Erin (she/her) joined Extended Studies in 2022. Hired initially as Program Coordinator for Professional and Continuing Education, she now serves as Manager for Professional Education. Erin joined Extended Studies after a 13-year career at Prince George's Community College, where she was responsible for Continuing Education. Her professional background includes curriculum development, course assessment, and program management. She is passionate about applying her professional knowledge and superior customer service as she works with units across campus.
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Program Updates
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Winter Session registration is open through January 2, and seats remain in courses that satisfy major and General Education requirements. Many students are looking for courses to complete online and Winter Session fits the bill!
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Close to 700 students have responded to the university’s new Summer Session wish list, noting courses they would like to take over the summer. Please continue to promote the Wish List (go.umd.edu/sswishlist) within your academic unit. Extended Studies will share information on the most requested courses and can assist in adding courses after online scheduling closes.
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Summer Session registration opens on February 18. Over 90% of summer registrants are current University of Maryland students. More than three quarters of summer sections are offered online.
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Terp Young Scholars (TYS) is the University of Maryland's pre-college program for academically talented high school students. Students pursue an academic interest, explore the university's resources, and earn three college credits. Eligible faculty and staff can utilize tuition remission for TYS. Register for an informational session for UMD employees on Thursday, January 16 at 12:00 p.m.
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The application for Terp Young Scholars opens on January 7! Courses fill on a first-come, first-served basis and the application closes on June 1. Contact tys@umd.edu with any questions.
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Freshmen Connection is an optional program offered to all spring-admitted freshmen. When you are planning your recruitment efforts, do not forget to request spring admit data from Undergraduate Admissions as these students are admitted on the same schedule as fall admits. If you would like to talk about ways to better yield spring admits, reach out to fc@umd.edu.
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Finance Updates
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Summer Session and Term 2024 Distribution
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The Extended Studies Finance Team is finalizing the results of the operations for Summer Session 2024 and will distribute those results to all participating units in mid-December. The Finance Team will complete all revenue transfers before the Winter Break and will contact each unit directly if any issues are encountered during the revenue distribution process.
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Winter Term, Winter Session, and Spring 2025 Appointments
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Extended Studies is working on processing all Winter Term, Winter Session, and Spring 2025 semester appointments in the new Workday HCM system. The Finance Team will contact each department's business office directly regarding appointments that require immediate action.
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Marketing and Communications Resources
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University of Maryland Extended Studies | exst.umd.edu
2205 Artemesia Building, 8400 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
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