Q: I am reviewing some of my current continuing ed classes and I am looking for new classes that I might want for the future. I want to make my decision(s) based on facts and data, not gut feelings. Does LERN have a template or guide that I might be able to use? Just as an FYI, I am a current member of LERN through Owens Community College. I would appreciate any information that you could provide me. Have a great day.

A: I have enclosed a link to a document called Eleven Key Reports. It is: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwn2pqg9lwsegl3/11%20Key%20Reports.pdf Using these will help you make logical choices about course selection. Typically, the best way to make decisions about what courses to offer involve looking at what you are already doing and analyzing what is working. • New courses should be offered in areas of proven success. If you have strong enrollments in a particular area, look to increase course offerings in that area. They have a higher percentage change of being successful. • Use feedback from your best customers. Create a strategy for maintaining contact with your best customers and gathering information about what they would like to see offered in your program. This can be done by surveys, small group meetings with best customers, or advisory groups--or all three. Knowing what your base wants to see offered also gives you a good likelihood of successful new programs. • Use LERN's Eight-step needs assessment process for larger initiatives. This process provides a framework for exploring new program areas and is a longer-term strategy for bigger projects. • Do environmental scanning. Be aware of key changes and interests in your customer base, in the larger social, economic, and technological environment. Monitor other successful programs and establish benchmarks for your own program. • Look at your most successful offerings and create courses that piggy-back on them, offer advanced sections, the same content in different formats, etc. • Take advantage of the free LERN segmentation analysis to see who your best customers are, where they live, and what courses they take. Contact Debbie Barron at debbie@lern.org if you would like us to do an analysis.    

http://media.lern.org/webinars/Managing-Your-Program-Mix.pdf
http://media.lern.org/webinars/8-stage-needs-assessment-powerpoint.pdf