Best Practices in Online Program Development - Practical Guide

In this review of Best Practices in Online Program Development the bottom line is clear: this is a practical, institution-focused guide for academic leaders and administrators who must design and sustain coherent online programs. The book addresses program-level challenges beyond individual course design and is best for readers seeking concrete strategies for integration, faculty issues, student support, and layered assessment. As a review, it highlights that the single biggest reason to buy is its emphasis on coordinating multiple departments to align online offerings with institutional mission and long-term retention goals.

Key Features

• Institutional integration: Explains how to align online education with an institution's mission so programs support long-term strategic goals.
• Faculty development: Covers recruiting, training, and teaching policies to help build a sustainable pool of online instructors.
• Student support strategies: Describes the multifaceted support structures needed to improve student retention and success in online programs.
• Multilayered assessment: Recommends assessment practices at course, program, technical, and institutional levels to ensure quality and accountability.
• Inter-departmental coordination: Offers actionable guidance for coordinating academic and administrative units to deliver a coherent online program.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at college and university administrators, program directors, instructional designers with program-level responsibilities, and faculty leaders who need a roadmap for launching or scaling online degree programs. It is particularly useful for institutions wanting to institutionalize online offerings rather than treat courses as isolated efforts.

Those looking solely for hands-on course-level design tips or for a brief quick-start manual on content creation should look elsewhere, since the focus here is on programmatic integration, policy, and cross-campus collaboration rather than granular media production techniques.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical focus on aligning online programs with institutional mission makes it useful for strategic planning.
• Clear discussion of faculty recruitment, training, and teaching considerations helps institutions build instructor capacity.
• Emphasis on student support and retention provides concrete areas for administrators to act on.

Cons

• Not a step-by-step course design handbook, so readers seeking lesson-level templates may find it higher level.

Specifications

Our Verdict

This book is a solid, practical resource for administrators and program leaders who must coordinate cross-campus efforts to build and sustain online programs. Its focus on institutional integration, faculty matters, student retention, and multilayered assessment makes it good value for teams planning long-term online strategy rather than quick course fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover course-level design?
It focuses mainly on program-level strategy and integration rather than granular course design techniques.

Who wrote the book?
The authors are Elliot King and Neil Alperstein, who address institutional and administrative perspectives.

Will it help with student retention?
Yes; it outlines multifaceted support approaches and policies aimed at improving retention and success.