The journey to 25,000 students has been one filled with accomplishments, mistakes, and vision. I have to say that the journey has also been a learning experience. Although I was an “early adopter” when I first came into this industry twenty years ago, my reentry from the private sector just two years ago forced me to adopt a new outlook as it related to my pedagogical prejudices, recruiting strategies, operational preferences, administrative protocol and the list goes on. Looking back, I was fortunate to be able to bring some of what I had learned in the private sector to the table. This space we call online learning or distance learning is becoming more complicated at every turn.
I have attached a picture of Liberty University Distance Learning Program’s Vice Provost, Dr. Ron Hawkins and me cutting the cake at our recent celebration luncheon for reaching the 25,000 student mark. We celebrate this week what most in this industry would consider a great milestone and accomplishment. However, the business and visionary side of me asks the question, “what’s next?” All I know is that the journey is not over with, at least not yet.