This post is a mashup of three separate posts by the talented Olga LaPlante, Instructional Designer for UNE Online. We often view copyright as a nuisance, and it may be in certain instances. But along with protecting the rights of the owners and creators of intellectual property, copyright provides for rights of users to view, distribute, modify and do other…

As an online education professional, I have researched, studied, and implemented best practices for online student success for thousands of students. Recently, I was interviewed for a blog post titled, “Confessions of a student support specialist – the top 3 issues that online students face,” where I outlined how time management, isolation, and hustle can make or break the online graduate school…

The Student Support Specialist model at UNE Online is special. I recently sat down with Elizabeth Benz, Director of Student Support, recently to discuss what she feels are the top three issues that online graduate school students face, and how she and her team of Student Support Specialists help students overcome those issues. Elizabeth has counseled hundreds of online students…

The University of New England has been continuously accredited by NEASC since 1966. Our dedication to accreditation affirms UNE’s culture of continuous reflection and assessment in our learning community as well as helping UNE set and pursue its strategic goals. In 2018, NEASC separated its higher education commission out into an individual organization called NECHE. This restructuring does not affect UNE’s…

So, you’re in Portland for a weekend…YAY!! With so much to offer and not a lot of time, we put together this Portland Maine City Guide of our top recommendations for you to ensure you soak up the best of what Greater Portland has to offer. Other than visiting our campus, of course! We’ve also created a handy printable map…

Getting an advanced degree online requires drive… and plenty of discipline. The majority of UNE Online graduate students have a full-time job in addition to their schoolwork, and so purposefully have to carve out a space to get coursework done. Taking online courses requires time management. With in-person classes, you have to actually drive to a classroom and sit there…

As both an online student and an instructional designer, I find myself thinking about attention spans often. Last year, I wrote a post here about harnessing the distracted mind, in which I offered tools and methods for staying focused, even when hilarious YouTube videos or brilliant longreads are just one browser tab away. What I’ve come to realize over the…

For the second consecutive year, UNE has been included in The Princeton Review Best 381 Colleges guide. This highly-selective publication includes only the top 15% of four-year colleges and universities in the United States. It’s quite an honor to be included in this elite ranking of the nation’s very best colleges and universities. At UNE, we take great pride in…

The University of New England has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges, a list that Forbes says is “The 600+ schools well worth the investment.” Forbes bases their list of the top schools on each school’s output, or in other words, what students are getting out of their college education in terms of earning power, student satisfaction,…

UNE Online is thrilled to share that we’ve been named one of the top 100 Online Programs in Graduate Education by U.S. News & World Report in their 2017 rankings. The online Graduate Education Programs at the University of New England are dedicated to advancing and developing reflective and resourceful teachers and school leaders who are competent, caring and qualified. Recognized…

Some, but not all, of our programs require letters of recommendation. What makes a great letter of recommendation? A letter of recommendation is a formal document that schools use to help judge whether or not you as a student will be a good fit at that university. There are several key elements of a good letter of recommendation.  First impressions, style, format, referring person, relevant…

As human beings, our behaviors and our goals are bridged by many factors, a major one being motivation. In essence, the more motivated we are, the more likely we are to act towards the goal. Similarly, as motivation diminishes, so does performance. In the context of online learning, sustaining motivation is vital in committing to the assignments as well as…

Email. When it comes to communication it is the best and worst of tools. Most of the time it’s quick and easy. While we all know and accept that occasional typos will happen, there are a few ‘mistakes’ that are truly unforgivable. As you might expect, online graduate students use email to correspond with their instructors, university staff, and peers.…

“In this course you will have a group project…” I think it is fair to say we’ve all been let down by a working group or by individual team members. No matter the setting, there seems to be an aura of dread when group projects are announced.  Add in the fact that online graduate students work within virtual spaces, and…

Teaching teachers to teach is about as meta as it comes. But how do we best prepare professional educators to teach students who will likely work in jobs that haven’t yet been created? One answer to that question may very well lie in research. Research has long been a cornerstone of graduate education, but the rapidly changing 21st-century job market…

UNE Online is pleased to be chosen as one of the 2016 U.S. News and World Report Best Online Programs in Graduate Education.   “Our 2016 Best Colleges listing reflects UNE’s commitment to delivering an outstanding return on investment.” – UNE President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D.   The U.S. News and World Report ranking takes into account: Total enrollment Student engagement Faculty credentials Student services…

Student support specialists are intrinsic to the success of our students. The other day I sat on the Maine coast, not too far from the UNE campus, and watched a tall ship come into port. As usual, many other boats greeted the tall ship and escorted it into the harbor. Complete with a lighthouse, this nautical scene made me think…

What does rolling admissions mean? Rolling admissions at UNE means that we process applications and accept students as we receive their applications. It’s that simple! But there’s a catch… Be proactive and be rewarded We have a specific amount of spots to fill in the cohort, and once the spots are filled, they’re filled. Applying early could help your chances…

The paper you’re reading has lost you: the commas are out of control, the word choices are weird, and that last paragraph doesn’t seem to have a point. It can be hard to know if lack of time was the culprit or if the student has not yet mastered the writing skills needed to express their ideas at the graduate…

Do you take notes by hand? In distance education, many students type lecture notes on their computers, rather than writing on paper. After all, students use laptops to watch lectures, answer assessment questions, and participate in class discussions. It’s only natural to use the same device for taking notes, too, right? Not so fast. Last year, Pam A. Mueller and…

What is Instructional Design? Very broadly, Instructional Design is the process by which instructional materials are designed, developed, and delivered. It’s the job of the Instructional Designer to coordinate learning experiences that are efficient, effective, and appealing. The terms instructional design, instructional technology, educational technology, curriculum design, and instructional systems design (ISD), are often used interchangeably. Instructional design also involves…

The University of New England has been recognized as one of the best online graduate schools by OnlineMastersPrograms.org for Best Online Master’s Programs in 2015. UNE achieved top rankings for both the Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work programs. The Best Online Graduate Programs ranking is valuable because it assists potential post-secondary online students in finding what they need to identify a…

Among the things that online students point out as the most important to success are time management and staying motivated (see all the seven factors listed in this Educause article). Clearly, it’s easy to get side-tracked if you don’t have to go to a class at a particular scheduled time – remember this was actually the best thing about asynchronous classes…

UNE’s Online College of Graduate and Professional Studies continues to shine with its latest appearance on a list of the 50 Most Affordable Online Graduate Schools for Master’s Degrees, released by Best Masters Programs. Best Masters Programs is an online guide offering reviews and rankings of top online master’s degree programs. According to Best Masters Programs, the universities and colleges…