About NCATAdvancing the Mission Today, many organizations and companies offer technology-based solutions for streamlining academic and administrative systems, as well as products that enhance the educational experience. However, NCAT is the only resource recognized for translating its vision for achieving improved learning outcomes at a reduced cost into a proven track record of success. NCAT furthers its mission of creating lasting change in higher education through a number of initiatives designed to provide research-based solutions, expertise and support to those interested in improving quality, increasing access, and using resources more effectively.National Center for Academic TransformationNCAT_aeaac41a-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfaNCAT is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to the effective use of information technology to improve student learning outcomes and reduce the cost of higher education. NCAT provides expertise and support to institutions and organizations seeking proven methods for providing more students with the education they need to prosper in today's economy.Carol A. Twigg, Ph.D.President and CEO -- Dr. Carol A. Twigg, an internationally recognized expert in using information technology to transform teaching and learning, is President and CEO of the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT). NCAT provides leadership to colleges and universities in how effective use of information technology can improve student learning while reducing instructional costs. A widely published writer and a sought-after speaker, Carol is former Vice President of Educom (now EDUCAUSE), where she advanced the need for new models of student-centered, online teaching and learning, now commonly accepted in higher education. Before joining Educom, she was Associate Vice Chancellor for Learning Technologies for the State University of New York and held a number of senior academic administrative positions at Empire State College. In 1995, Newsweek named her one of the 50 most influential thinkers in the information revolution, and in 2010, she was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company magazine. She is the recipient of the prestigious McGraw Prize in Education (2003), the Virginia B. Smith Innovative Leadership Award (2007) and the O’Banion Prize for Excellence in Education (2009). Carol holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the State University of New York at Buffalo and Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary.Carolyn G. Jarmon, Ph.D.Vice President -- Carolyn Jarmon is Vice President of the National Center for Academic Transformation. From 1996–1998, she served as the Educom Visiting Fellow, working with member institutions, including California State University System and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, redesigning learning environments to make them more cost-effective. Carolyn has given numerous presentations and been published widely on the topics of effective delivery of student services and distance education and she consults regularly with institutions and corporations about learning in distributed environments. Prior to joining NCAT, Carolyn held several academic and administrative positions at SUNY Empire State College. Carolyn has also taught and held administrative positions at several traditional institutions, both public and private. Carolyn has a Ph.D. from Cornell University, a Master’s in Business Administration from East Tennessee State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Delaware.Patricia A. BartschererProgram Manager -- Patricia A. Bartscherer manages all day-to-day operations of the NCAT, including meeting preparations, communications, budget and accounts, Web site activities, systems support, and relationships with consultants and subcontractors. She also serves as administrative assistant to the President. From 1995 to 1999, Pat served as an administrative assistant to the vice president at Educom (now EDUCAUSE), a national association of colleges and universities dedicated to the effective use of information technology in higher education. There she managed the support activities of the National Learning Infrastructure Initiative (NLII). She also oversaw the Educom Medal Awards program and served as liaison to the Paul Evans Peters award program. From 1977 to 1995, Pat held a variety of administrative positions at SUNY, Empire State College where she was the recipient of the Empire State College Foundation Award for Excellence in Professional Services. Pat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from SUNY Empire State College.NCAT Board of DirectorsPeter Ewell, PhDVice President, National Center for Higher Education Management SystemsWilliam C. FerreroVice President for Administration (retired), SUNY Empire State CollegeWilliam H. Graves, PhDSenior Vice President for Academic Strategy, SunGard Higher EducationJack M. Wilson, PhDPresident Emeritus, University of Massachusetts System, Interim Dean, Francis College of Engineering, UMass LowellPew Charitable TrustsInitial Proof-of-Concept -- Building on her experience as vice president of Educom (now Educause), Dr. Twigg created the Program in Course Redesign (PCR) with the support of an $8.8 million grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts. From 1999 to 2004, NCAT worked with 30 diverse two- and four-year colleges (50,000 students annually) to prove that it is possible to improve quality and reduce cost in higher education. Course redesign using information technology is key to achieving both outcomes. The results of the PCR were exceptional. Twenty-five of thirty course redesign projects showed significant increases in student learning; the other five showed learning equivalent to traditional formats. Of the twenty-four projects that measured retention, eighteen reported a noticeable decrease in drop-failure-withdrawal rates, ranging from 10 to 20%, as well as higher course-completion rates. Most dramatically, all thirty institutions reduced their costs by 37% on average, ranging from 20% to 77%, and produced a collective annual savings of about $3 million.Colleges_aeaac41b-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfaTo improve student learning outcomes and reduce the cost of higher education._aeaac41c-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfaInformation TechnologyAdvance the use of information technology in improving student learning and reducing instructional costs._aeaac492-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfaThe National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT) works through a four-stage iterative process to advance the use of information technology in improving student learning and reducing instructional costs.Proofs of ConceptCreate and conduct innovative programs that use technology to improve learning and reduce costs_aeaac55a-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa1CollegesUniversitiesNCAT creates and conducts innovative programs that use technology to improve learning and reduce costs in partnership with colleges and universities. The outcome of each effort is a proof of concept.AnalysisAnalyze the results of proof-of-concept programs._aeaac604-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa2NCAT analyzes the results of these programs to identify and document specific techniques and practices that lead to success, to develop models for future practice and to learn what next steps are needed to scale the proof of concept.Techniques & PracticesIdentify and document specific techniques and practices that lead to success_aeaac73a-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa2.1ModelsDevelop models for future practice_aeaac7f8-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa2.2LearningLearn what next steps are needed to scale the proof of concept_aeaac8ac-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa2.3CommunicationCommunicate lessons learned_aeaac960-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa3NCAT communicates these lessons learned by writing and speaking for professional and general audiences about successful patterns and practices that lead to improved student learning and reduced instructional costs.ScaleScale the proof of concept to impact greater numbers of students, faculty members and institutions and achieve significant educational change_aeaaca1e-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa4Institutions of Higher EducationSchool SystemsSchool DistrictsStatesStudentsFaculty MembersNCAT has worked with institutions, systems, districts and states to scale the proof of concept to impact greater numbers of students, faculty members and institutions and achieve significant educational change. Feedback & Continuous ImprovementUse feedback and experience to create additional analyses and course redesign resources_aeaacad2-9f38-11e4-ba45-ab89c84e4dfa5CollegesUniversitiesStudentsNCAT then uses the feedback and experience gained in each stage of the process to create additional analyses and course redesign resources for colleges and universities to use to demonstrate new ways of achieving improved student learning and reduced instructional cost.2015-01-18http://www.thencat.org/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net