Lyman named ACAO Digital Fellow

Shippensburg University Interim President Dr. Barbara Lyman has been selected to participate in The Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO) Digital Fellows Program. Prior to serving as interim president, Dr. Lyman served as provost and executive vice president and will resume this role on August 7, 2017. She is one of 32 provosts and chief academic officers selected from across the nation and representing public research universities, regional comprehensives, community colleges and a state system of higher education.

The program, supported by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to provide provosts and chief academic officers (CAOs) with critical information, effective resources and tested strategies to help CAOs and their faculty understand and adopt high-quality digital courseware.

According to the ACAO, the goal of the program is to explore ways to use digital technology to increase the retention and persistence to graduation among undergraduates, especially those who are first generation, low income, or students of color.

John O’Brien, President and CEO of EDUCAUSE, who assisted in the selection of the ACAO Digital Fellows stated that, “This program will provide a fantastic opportunity for these provosts to focus on adoption and deployment of courseware and digital learning resources that will enhance learning, promote student success, and strengthen institutional outcomes.”

Dr. Lyman will participate in the year-long fellowship opportunity, which includes four meetings of the Fellowship recipients for workshops on digital learning. The Gates Foundation grant also includes support for individual campus projects focused on digital learning.

"Former chair of the Council of Trustees Michael Schaul endorsed the application of Dr. Lyman for the ACAO Digital Fellowship Project. As the new chair of the Council of Trustees, I commend Dr. Lyman on being one of only 32 provosts and CAOs chosen for this national initiative. This project will advance key elements of the University Strategic Plan and the Academic Master Plan by focusing on leveraging digital learning resources to enhance student engagement and persistence to graduation,” said Jeff Coy, chair of the Shippensburg University Council of Trustees.

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