Affordable Degrees-at-Scale Symposium

The Affordable Degrees-at-Scale (ADSS) Symposium is the preeminent event for higher education leaders to engage in intensive conversations on the strategies, trends, and challenges associated with scaled degree programs. First held in 2017, the Symposium has since grown into a dynamic convergence around Higher Education’s most pressing topics where leaders collaborate and innovate.  

One of the core benefits of this symposium is its ability to facilitate candid, meaningful conversations among participants. Attendees (both virtual and in-person) will explore best practices that enable institutions to create, grow, and sustain at-scale, affordable degree programs. For that reason, our theme this year is an exciting one - A Decade of Scaled Degrees. In honor of the 10-year anniversary of OMSCS – the degree that broke the mold – we'll be developing a compelling agenda that explores what we have learned, where we are now, and the future of where we are going. We are also pleased to announce that this year’s DEMOcon will be held at the same venue and immediately after the Affordable Degrees-at-Scale Symposium. We hope many of you will be able to join us for both events.

Save The Date with logo and event title, A Decade of Scaled Degrees, with the event date of Oct 14-16, 2024

2024 Program Details

This year’s dynamic program will include presentations on maintaining innovation, the past and future of scaled degrees, affordability, managing faculty engagement, AI and student learning, developing collaborative learning communities, and more.

Keynote Speaker

Professional headshot of Raj Echambadi, Illinois Tech, President

Raj Echambadi became the 10th president of Illinois Institute of Technology in August 2021. Echambadi’s vision for Illinois Tech is centered on a new path to preeminence driven by four principles: first, honoring and strengthening the university’s role as an engine of opportunity and a national leader in economic mobility; second, pursuing growth through reimagining education to serve learners at all stages of life; third, fueling future innovation by empowering students; and fourth, exemplifying purpose-driven citizenship in service of the Bronzeville neighborhood, Chicago, and the world. Previously, Echambadi served as the dean of D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. 

Before joining Northeastern, Echambadi served in various roles, including as senior associate dean of strategic innovation, at Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a driving force behind a scaled online M.B.A. (iMBA) program that was lauded as one of the best educational innovations in the past decade. Echambadi received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Anna University in India and a doctorate in marketing from the University of Houston. His academic research focuses on strategic innovation within organizations and how firms should balance current and future opportunities. He has won numerous teaching and research accolades including the prestigious Academy of Management Journal Best Paper Award for his work on employee entrepreneurship.
 

Registration Information

Registration Fees  |  In-Person - $500*  |   Virtual  - $100 

In-person registration includes access to the full symposium, including all sessions and networking events like the welcome reception and dinner. This year's event will once again offer a select portion of the experience virtually for a reduced cost. 

Ready to register? Please visit this page.  

*An in-person registration discount is available for Georgia Tech employees.
 

Symposium Schedule
Monday, October 14  

  • 2- 3 p.m. | On-site Check-in

  • 3 p.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks

    • A Decade of Scaled Degrees
      Ronnie Godshalk, Warren Goetzel & David Joyner, Georgia Tech

  • 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.| Panel*

    • The Origin Story of Affordable Degrees-at-Scale: A Dean, Faculty, and Learning Systems’ Team Perspective
      Nelson Baker & Alex Orso, Georgia Tech; Yakut Gazi, Duke University
      Moderator: Ronnie Godshalk, Georgia Tech

  • 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. | Afternoon Sessions*

    • Online Master of Science in Computer Science: Building the Curriculum and the Faculty
      Zvi Galil & David Joyner, Georgia Tech 

  • 6 – 8 p.m. | Networking Reception, Global Learning Center Atrium (1st floor)  


Tuesday, October 15  
 

  • 7:45 – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast   

  • 8:30 a.m. | Welcome*

    • Where Have We Been/Where Are We Going with Affordable Degrees-at-Scale 
      Nelson Baker, Georgia Tech

  • 8:45 – 10 a.m. | Keynote* 

    • Scaling Degrees to Unleash Human Potential: The AI–Driven Future of Education
      Raj Echambadi, Illinois Institute of Technology

  • 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. | Morning Sessions*  
    The Impact of AI  

    • Generative AI to Enhance Student Learning
      Tawnya Means, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Angela Paladino, University of Melbourne

    • Personal AI Career Development Assistant
      Tawnya Means, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
       

  • 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Morning Sessions*
    Affordability and Business Process Sessions  

    • Future-Proofing Land-Grant Education
      Blake Naughton, Gary Packard & Caleb Simmons, University of Arizona Global Campus

    • AI Act in Europe
      Maaike van Buul, Delft University of Technology

    • Innovation in Business Office Processes
      Randall Fullington & Sarah Layton, University of Colorado Boulder

    • Course Migration and Asset Management
      Eric Busch & Kasey Ford, University of Texas at Austin 

  • 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch, Global Learning Center Atrium (1st floor) 

  • 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Afternoon Sessions
    Maintaining Innovation Sessions 

    • Human Required? Predicting Student Success Using AI in Massive Online Open Course Environments
      Ronnie Godshalk, Jonna Lee, Eric Sembrat & Meryem Yilmaz Soylu, Georgia Tech

    • Platform to Improve Collaborative Learning Communities in At-Scale Online Programs
      Meryem Yilmaz Soylu & Lina Kim, Georgia Tech

    • Extreme Makeover – Massive Online Open Courses Edition
      Leo Christensen & Peter Graening, Georgia Tech 

  • 3 – 4:15 p.m.

    • Online Master’s in AI Program: Creating Change
      Carrie Berger, Holly Fiock Brown & Bryan DeWitt, Purdue University

    • Master’s Level Research in At-Scale Programs
      Eric Busch & Kasey Ford, University of Texas at Austin

    • New Program Launches at the University of Colorado Boulder
      Randall Fullington & Jennifer Bohn, University of Colorado Boulder

    • Development of European At-Scale Programs
      Maaike van Buul,Delft University of Technology 

  • 4:30 – 5:45 p.m.

    • Panel: Commitment to Access and Affordability at Highly Selective Institutions
      Yakut Gazi, Duke University; Quentin McAndrew, Coursera; Joelle Miles, University of California, Berkley; Kelly Otter, Georgetown University

    • Dartmouth's Online Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering
      Zofia Gajdos, Bethany Iyobe & Kendrick Watson, Dartmouth College 

  • 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Dinner 

 
Wednesday, October 16 
 

  • 7:45 – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast

  • 8:30 a.m. | Welcome
    Ronnie Godshalk, Georgia Tech

  • 8:45 – 10 a.m. | Morning Sessions  
    Teaching and Learning Sessions

    • Latest Trends in Skill Gaps
      Quentin McAndrew, Coursera

    • Ten Years of Online Project-Based Learning at Scale
      David Joyner & Chaohua Ou, Georgia Tech

    • Open, Collaborative and AI Augmented Peer Assessments
      David Joyner & Chaohua Ou, Georgia Tech 

    • Scaling the Authoring of MOOCs with AI
      Carlos Delgado Kloos, University of Carlos III, Madrid

  • 10:15 – 11:30 a.m.  

    • Large Language Models used as Subject Matter Experts
      Frederick Wehrle, University of California, Los Angeles

    • Using ReAct with Large Language Models
      Meryem Yilmaz Soylu, Adrian Gallard & Jonna Lee, Georgia Tech

    • Generative AI Used for At-Scale Assignments and Learning Activities
      Vincent Spezzo, Georgia Tech

  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.    

    • Panel: Managing AI Implementation After the Hype
      Caleb Simmons, University of Arizona, Frederick Wehrle, University of California, Los Angeles
      Moderator: Warren Goetzel, Georgia Tech

  • 12:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks

    • Grab and Go (or Sit and Stay) Lunch, Global Learning Center Atrium (1st floor) 

 

*Sessions offered for virtual attendees 

All in-person events will be held in the Global Learning Center, located in Tech Square.  

Global Learning Icon - White section icon

State of Scale Survey

We are collecting input from the community on the current state of scale. In this short survey, you can provide your feedback on the growth and challenges scaled programs have seen over the last 10 years.

2024 Advisory Board

Nerissa Brown, Associate Dean, Gies School of Business, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  

Eric Busch, Director for Online Programs, University of Texas at Austin 

Maaike van Buul, Delft University of Technology, Extension School for Continuing Education, Portfolio and Product Manager 

Jarrett Carter, Associate Vice President for Integrative Learning Design, University of Maryland Global Campus 

Yakut Gazi, Vice Provost for Learning Innovation and Digital Education, Duke University, Professor of the Practice, Social Sciences Research Institute 

Randall Fullington, Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director of Academic & Learning Innovation, Office of Academic and Learning Innovation, University of Colorado Boulder 

Tawnya Means, Assistant Dean for Education Innovation and Chief Learning Officer, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

Quentin McAndrew, Academic Strategist, Coursera and former Assistant Vice Provost & Executive Director, Strategic Transformation, University Financial Futures, University of Colorado Boulder  

Symposium Location

The in-person portions of the symposium will be held at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in Midtown Atlanta in the heart of Tech Square - Atlanta's thriving innovation community. Easily accessible from Interstates 75/85 and just 15 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Attached to the Center is The Tech Square parking deck that offers convenient hourly and daily rates.

Get Directions and View Local Accommodations
Outside shot of the Global Learning Center