NAU seeks to triple online enrollment to 10,000 students

By Barbara Soderlin, Journal staff | Wednesday, January 07, 2009

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Robert Paxton will be responsible for one of National American University’s most important growth areas when he starts work next week as the distance learning campus president.

“It’s a big component for us,” said Ronald Shape, NAU chief operating officer and chief financial officer. “As an institution, we are positioning ourselves to take it to the next level, which is to take it up to several thousand students and to grow and expand that operation.”

National American University started in 1941 in Rapid City as the National School of Business. In 1996, the school started developing online courses. Today, students can earn master of business administration and master of management degrees online, as well as bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business management, criminal justice, health care management and more, along with several associate’s degrees.

The online division is considered a “campus” along with the university’s 16 other locations throughout the central United States. Currently between 3,000 and 3,500 students take online courses, Shape said.

Paxton’s responsibility will be to increase that number to around 10,000. He will also be charged with increasing the number of partnerships NAU has with other colleges and universities.

“In the 1990s, there were a number of institutions who saw it as a passing fad and just didn’t pursue it,” Shape said. “NAU infused a couple million dollars into building and growing an online operation. Those same institutions that saw it as a passing fad now realize that their mere existence depends on them having an online operation.”

The university currently has five active “partners” and would like Paxton to expand that by two or three institutions per year, Shape said.

Paxton said he is “excited” about the opportunities and challenges ahead.

“We’re going to immediately focus on enrollment strategies to build the online,” he said, also noting that it will be important to continue to ensure that the online program is of high quality, not just popular.

“The curriculum is very strong,” he said. “It’s very focused on helping individuals move forward in their careers.”

Coming from a “real” campus, Paxton was pleased to see NAU has an alumni association and other activities in which online students can participate.

“It’s important to make them feel that they’re involved in the campus, in the college, to make them feel they have ownership,” he said.

“Really, I liked this opportunity a great deal,” he said. “It gives me a chance to do what I do best, and that’s work with partnerships, work with students, work with staff.”

About Robert Paxton

Education:

B.A., Nebraska Christian College, ministry and counseling; M.S., Fort Hays State University, guidance and counseling; Ph.D., University of Texas, educational administration

Work experience:

President, Iowa Central Community College, 1995-2008

Vice President of Instruction, Cowley County Community College, 1990-94

Dean of Student Services, Cowley County Community College, 1988-90

Director of Admissions, Colby Community College, 1985-88

Counselor, Colby Community College, 1982-85

Adjunct Instructor, Pikes Peak CC, 1979-82