STEM Enrollment Growth: Online Labs Drive Student Retention

Changing Higher Ed

This episode features host Dr. Drumm McNaughton and guest Dr. Caitlin Runne-Janczy, Chief Academic Officer for Scientific Interactive, a company that provides hands-on and virtual science lab experiments to students. Drumm and Cait focus on the growing demand for online science lab courses, particularly in STEM fields. Cait discusses the results of a recent survey that found a significant increase in online lab enrollment and a corresponding decrease in on-campus enrollment.

They also explore the challenges and opportunities of delivering quality online lab experiences, including safety considerations, lab setup, accreditation, and student learning outcomes. Cait highlights the importance of hands-on components in online labs and the potential for these courses to spark a passion for STEM beyond the individual student.

Podcast Overview

Some of the key insights and opportunities for higher education leaders who listen to this podcast:

• There is a growing demand for online science lab courses. Deans and department chairs report a greater than 70% increase in online lab enrollments and a corresponding 56% decrease in on-campus lab enrollments. 88% of students surveyed said it was important for them to have the opportunity to take an online science lab course, and 60% of those students would have enrolled elsewhere or not enrolled at all if an online lab option had not been available.
• Online science lab courses can be just as effective as on-campus courses if they include a hands-on component. Simulations have a place in the lab experience, but it must have some sort of hands-on element to really get students a comparable outcome to the campus counterpart. In the survey, 90% of faculty reported that students who take hands-on labs online have the knowledge and skills to continue in their degree progression.
• Online science lab courses can help institutions reach a broader range of students, including those who cannot attend on-campus classes due to work, family, or other obligations. This can help institutions grow their enrollment and retain more students. Online options also have a broader impact beyond just the individual student. For example, students who do lab kits at home with their families are expanding that love of science beyond just the individual student.
• Institutions need to be prepared to address the challenges of offering online science lab courses, such as ensuring student safety, providing adequate support to students, and meeting accreditation requirements. Safety is a key consideration for both students and institutions. Companies that provide lab kits typically cover liability insurance for the institution in case anything happens. Institutions need to provide adequate support to students who are taking online science lab courses, such as synchronous sessions, digital office hours, and digital lab partners. Accreditation bodies typically require online science lab courses to include a hands-on component to ensure that students have the transferable skills they need to continue in their degree program.
• Institutions should consider using online science lab courses as a way to improve student preparedness for on-campus lab courses. Students can do digital experiments before they get to campus so they can be familiar with the techniques and safety protocols that they will need to implement once they get to the lab.
• Institutions should partner with companies that have experience in developing and delivering online science lab courses. These companies can provide the expertise, resources, and support that institutions need to successfully offer these courses.

Three Takeaways for University Presidents and Boards

1. Growing demand for online science labs is creating urgency around digital transformation. Students are actively seeking these options and may choose other institutions that offer them. Building out online laboratory options is becoming a strategic imperative.
2. Hands-on laboratory work remains essential for maintaining equivalency with on-campus experiences. While simulations play a role, physical experimentation must be part of online lab courses to ensure comparable learning outcomes.
3. Online lab options offer a broader societal impact beyond individual student success. By making STEM education more accessible and visible, these courses can inspire interest in STEM fields among students' families, peers, and broader communities.

Online science lab courses are a growing trend in higher education, and institutions that are prepared to embrace this trend will be well-positioned to meet the needs of their students and the demands of the 21st-century workforce.

These are just some of the key insights and opportunities you will hear in this podcast—listen to the full episode for more.

Final Thoughts

Accreditation is essential, and institutions must ensure that online labs meet the same standards as traditional labs. They need to understand the requirements of their accrediting bodies and have robust methods to assess and demonstrate student learning outcomes.

Partnering with experienced companies can be beneficial, but institutions are ultimately responsible for meeting accreditation standards and ensuring quality.

The idea of using virtual pre-labs to better prepare students for on-campus labs is promising and could improve student performance in both settings.

Institutions need to approach online science labs thoughtfully, balancing innovation with academic rigor and ensuring that students receive a high-quality education.

Read the transcript on our website at https://changinghighered.com/stem-enrollment-growth-online-labs-drive-student-retention/

#STEMOnline #HigherEducation #EnrollmentGrowth

About Our Podcast Guest

Cait Runne-Janczy

Dr. Runne-Janczy is the Chief Academic Officer and oversees all curriculum development and lab creation. She and her team endeavor to create the same lab experience in people’s homes that they might experience on campus, as well as digital simulations where appropriate.

She and her team of PhD experts have built, from the ground up, over 450 individual labs across 11 disciplines. She is passionate about increasing access to STEM education by delivering new modalities of instruction. Dr. Runne-Janczy is a graduate of Marist College and received her PhD from the University of Iowa.

About the Host

Dr. Drumm McNaughton is Principal Consultant and CEO of The Change Leader, Inc. A highly sought-after higher education consultant with 20+ years of experience. Dr. McNaughton works with leadership, management, and boards of both U.S. and international institutions. His expertise spans key areas, including accreditation, governance, strategic planning, presidential onboarding, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances.

Dr. McNaughton’s approach combines a holistic methodology with a deep understanding of the contemporary and evolving challenges facing higher education institutions worldwide to ensure his clients succeed in their mission.