Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when faculty members were forced to adapt their courses abruptly for remote learning, corporate-run online programs were being developed at more and more colleges and universities across the country, with administrators often emphasizing increased access to higher education as a core value of online initiatives. This trend is likely to continue and even accelerate. In corporate-run online programs, emphasis on the quality of education may get lost in the pursuit of revenue. If online education programs focus simply on increasing the number of students, without consideration for quality, are students really being well served?
As an instructor in higher education, you can work with colleagues to advance good policies through AAUP chapters, academic departments, or faculty governance bodies. We are optimistic that faculty and administrators can work together to reach agreements on policy that prioritize quality teaching for students, not corporate profit—if we act promptly to avoid irreversible costs to students, faculty, and our entire higher education system.
We've developed a toolkit of resources to help you. See our materials below
Step One: Educate Your Colleagues
Use these articles and guides to facilitate conversation and move your colleagues to action.
- Primer on Privatization in Online Higher Ed. AAUP
- Important things to look out for in online program manager (OPM) contracts with higher education institutions. AAUP
- Ten Reasons Why You Should Care if You Own Your Online Course. AAUP
- TCF Analysis of 70+ University-OPM Contracts Reveals Increasing Risks to Students, Public Education. The Century Foundation
- The Creeping Capitalist Takeover of Higher Education - The Huffington Post
- Spotlight swings to for-profit middlemen that may be driving up the cost of online higher education. The Hechinger Report
- Platforms Like Canvas Play Fast and Loose With Students’ Data. The Nation
Step Two: Build Consensus with a Resolution
Get started by introducing a model resolution to organize your colleagues and build visible consensus that there is a problem. Take one of our models as a starting point and adapt to your chapter’s needs.
- Model Resolution for the Development of a New IP Policy
- Model Resolution for Clear Limits to OPM Contracts
- Model Resolution for Non-renewal of an OPM Contract
Step Three: Write and Win New Policy
Once you have educated your colleagues and built visible consensus about the specific problems, use these tools to write new handbook policy or better collective bargaining language.
- Model letter of agreement defining the scope of OPM contracts
- Primer on strong IP language for faculty by the Canadian Association of University Teachers
- Model IP clauses recommended by the Canadian Association of University Teachers
- Model contract clauses recommended by the Canadian Association of University Teachers
- AAUP Statement on Online & Distance Education
- AAUP Sample Distance Education Policy & Contract Language
Federal Policy Information on OPMs
In 2023, the US Department of Education announced new activity concerning OPMs, including new guidance on third-party servicers and announcement of negotiated rulemaking sessions that could include regulatory topics that would concern OPMs.
- Department of Education February 2023 Dear Colleague Letter on reporting requirements for third-party servicers
- AAUP’s comments to the Department of Education on the incentive compensation ban and OPMs
- Announcement of 2023 Negotiated Rulemaking on issues including OPMs