About Episode 31:

In this episode, Tom and Kelvin discuss the recent US Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) recommendation about Western Governors University (WGU). Specifically, what are the issues, and what are the implications for WGU and all US institutions offering online courses?

Podcast Recording

Podcast (teaching-online-podcast): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:16 — 23.3MB) | Embed

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Episode 31 Show Notes:

Episode Synopsis via Twitter

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Coffee Links

• Coffee Nut M&Ms (featured in this episode)

Content Links

• US DOE Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Final Audit Report of Western Governors University (WGU)
• WGU’s Response Webpage
• Inside Higher Ed article: “Federal Audit Challenges Faculty Role at WGU”
• EdSurge article: “Federal Audit Says WGU Lacks Faculty Interaction, Recommending It Return $700 Million in Financial Aid“
• e-Literate analysis: “WGU Audit Findings: Interpretations of ‘regular and substantive’ and ‘self-paced’”
• Eduventures article: “Four Strong Winds – An OIG Audit Chills the Air”
• Tyton Partners analysis: “What does the WGU audit mean for adult learners?”
• Three-Part WCET Analysis on Russ Poulin’s Frontiers Blog
  • Part 01: “When Interaction Is Not Interaction”
  • Part 02: “React…But Don’t Overreact”
  • Part 03: “A Brief History of ‘Regular and Substantive Interaction’”
• TOPcast Episode #28: “Understanding Policy”
• TOPcast Episode #06: “Understanding the Coming CBE R/Evolution”
• TOPcast Episode #25: “But FIRRST… Lead Innovation”