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NEW TRENDS IN ONLINE EDUCATION
Join us for the 14th Annual Digital Education Summit (#DES25) on June 26–27, 2025! With two full days of sessions, networking, and inspiring keynotes, this event is your chance to stay ahead in digital education. Don’t miss out—register now and get a sneak peek at our keynote speakers!
NEW TRENDS IN ONLINE EDUCATION
SHSU Online is making enrollment easier with proactive outreach and personalized support. By guiding students through registration, financial aid, and more, we’re ensuring no one navigates the process alone. Learn how this initiative is transforming the student experience!
ONLINE PROGRAM INSIGHTS
Dr. Peggy Holzweiss exemplifies Universal Design for Learning, making content engaging and accessible for all students. In this interview, we discuss her approach and using methods like project-based learning, flexible assignments, and supportive tools to foster skill-building and confidence. Watch the interview to hear her insights on creating truly inclusive learning experiences.
VOICES OF ONLINE STUDENTS
Broderick Nixon, a Sam Houston State University alum with cerebral palsy, empowers individuals with disabilities through his bestselling children's book, Broderick Bear Learns to Ride, and motivational speaking. Discover how Nixon’s journey and his business, Dreams to Actuality, are breaking down barriers and inspiring others to pursue their dreams.
TRAINING/FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
Making course files accessible is crucial for equal access to education. This article highlights key strategies for improving Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files, such as adding alt text, using proper structure, and ensuring high contrast. These simple steps enhance usability and create a more inclusive learning environment.
TRAINING/FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
With more students identifying as neurodivergent, digital courses must adapt. This article shares strategies for creating accessible, inclusive learning environments—like clear course layouts, flexible communication, and varied assessment methods. Learn how to make your course more engaging and effective for all learners.
STAFF NEWS
A familiar face at SHSU Online is stepping into a new role, bringing fresh opportunities for innovation and student support. With a continued focus on academic technology and online engagement, Daniel Walker’s leadership will help shape the future of digital learning. Join us in congratulating him and find out what’s ahead!
The Texas State University System is leading online education into the future. As of Fall 2016, among 37 public four-year institutions of higher education in Texas, TSUS institutions represent 12 percent of semester credit hours attempted online.
As of Fall 2018, among the six public university systems in Texas, TSUS leads the way in the percentage of students pursuing their degrees fully online, with 14%. The Texas State University System is uniquely positioned to move forward as the state’s leader in online education. Courses and degree programs offered online are increasingly important tools within the Texas State University System to address issues of both college access and student success. TSUS institutions plan to increase online education opportunities to support the growing interest among Texas students and families.
While colleges and universities have been facing overall declines in enrollment in recent years, distance (online) education has been the exception. As of Fall 2019, among the six public university systems in Texas, TSUS continues to lead the way in the percentage of students pursuing their degrees fully online, up 1% from last year with 15%. Making online education a priority is an appropriate response to the rapid growth in online programs nationwide.
2020 has been a year of unprecedented challenges—for higher education and for virtually every other part of American and global society. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic early in the year, which also brought a powerful economic disruption with it, 2020 is a year we will never forget. The implications for higher education are profound. This report will demonstrate the many ways in which the Texas State University System and its institutions have responded to the unique challenges of 2020 and will provide a glimpse of how we will continue to address those challenges in the years to come.
With the pandemic-driven increase in online education over the past year, a growing focus has developed on the quality of the experience in TSUS institutions. The quest for higher quality has taken several forms, from online departments finding new ways to expand or partner with academic service departments to addressing a growing need for online tutoring to thoughtful redesigns of online courses, which include inclusive content, greater ADA compliance, and recognition of disparate student learning styles.
As of the Fall semester of 2022, approximately one-third of students across TSUS institutions are studying exclusively online. Through the TSUS shared services initiative, our institutions are fostering collaboration to seize the moment. Over the past year, two additional System institutions—Lamar State College Orange and Lamar State College Port Arthur—have been brought into the shared ecosystem already being used by Sam Houston State University, Sul Ross State University, and Lamar Institute of Technology