The University of Arizona Global Campus shines at ADEIL Conference with three awards

[Chandler, AZ, October 20, 2023] – The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) faculty shared their insights and celebrated at the annual Association for Distance Education and Independent Learning (ADEIL) Conference, held on October 19, 2023. UAGC proudly accepted three awards, showcasing the institution's dedication to excellence in distance education and innovation.

ADEIL is renowned for recognizing outstanding achievements in the field of distance education and independent learning, making these awards a significant milestone for UAGC.

The three awards garnered by UAGC are as follows:

College Course Winner:
Stephanie Heald, program chair of BA in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Administration at UAGC, and her team were honored for their exceptional work in the development of the course, ECA435: Leading the Future of Early Childhood Education. The course is designed to engage students with multimedia, including videos and interactives, while focusing on accessibility. It provides immediate application opportunities in students' professions and creates lasting learning assets used throughout their program. Furthermore, the course introduces students to peer networks, ECE clubs, and valuable alumni connections.

Conference Course Choice Award Winner:
ECD310: Exceptional Learning and Inclusion, developed by Jennifer Zaur, director of Learning Solutions at UAGC and her dedicated team, was designed to bring challenging concepts to life in a meaningful way. This course provides students with opportunities to demonstrate mastery by choosing real-world, relevant deliverables that align with their intended career paths and interests.

Support Service Award Winner:
The Faculty Affairs team at UAGC, under the leadership of Teresa Kuruc, vice president of Faculty Affairs and accreditation liaison officer, Kate Johnson, associate director of faculty development, and Haley Sampson, associate director of faculty engagement, received the Support Service Award for their pivotal role in driving the UAGC university-wide Culture of Care initiative. They collaborated with nearly 2,000 adjunct faculty to establish and implement growth-mindset instructional best practices in alignment with the Culture of Care framework, leading to a remarkable 40% increase in faculty adoption. Additionally, the team orchestrated and facilitated an engaging community of practice sessions, drawing active participation from over 400 faculty and staff.

"Winning three prestigious ADEIL awards is a testament to the dedication and innovation that our educators and support teams bring to the field of distance education,” said Morgan Johnson, interim chief academic officer at UAGC. “We take immense pride in these achievements and the impact they have on our students and the broader educational community. It exemplifies our university’s commitment to creating exceptional learning experiences that equip students with the skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers."

These awards were presented based on a rigorous evaluation process considering four key criteria: course structure, instructional materials and assessments, student engagement, and innovation. The UAGC teams' outstanding efforts were recognized in these categories, solidifying their position as leaders in the field of distance education.

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For more information about the University of Arizona Global Campus, visit uagc.edu.