With Vice President for Online and Continuing Education David Lawrence at the helm, Michigan Tech is launching a new initiative to support and promote its online graduate programs.
Michigan Technological University’s new Global Campus initiative, announced today, will make the possibility of earning an online graduate degree or certificate available to a broader range of students, including working professionals and career changers.
Michigan Tech is no stranger to online education. Launching its first online programs in 2005, the University has spent the better part of two decades discovering new ways to bring effective, efficient programming to learners who are seeking online alternatives. Global Campus furthers MTU’s goals of promoting and improving access to advanced education through online delivery.
Up until now, responsibilities for administering Michigan Tech’s more than 40 online graduate degree and certificate programs, along with a vast array of undergraduate and graduate stand-alone classes, have rested with the University’s colleges and departments. Global Campus changes that, bringing them all together under one roof — and under Lawrence’s direction.
“Michigan Tech has built a strong foundation in online and continuing education,” said Lawrence, who is the first person at MTU to hold a University leadership position dedicated exclusively to the growth and expansion of online programming. “With our remarkable amount of knowledge and experience, and in-demand programs for professionals and other adult learners, the University is uniquely positioned to lead and innovate in the online space.”
Lawrence, whose tenure at Michigan Tech began Sept. 1, brings more than 10 years of experience to Global Campus, along with a commitment to enhance opportunities for nontraditional students. In his role as vice president, Lawrence provides strategic direction to develop and drive an online and continuing education strategy that will ensure the University meets nontraditional and online education needs through evolving learning modalities.
Lawrence will also establish and grow educational partnerships within Global Campus to help businesses attract and retain employees, and grow employment in the State of Michigan. This unique blend of academic rigor and market relevance will help employers and employees remain competitive in today's marketplace.
Prior to joining Michigan Tech, Lawrence served as Davenport University’s vice president of admissions and strategic partnership, leading enrollment for the university’s undergraduate, graduate and online student audiences and corporate education programs.
“David knows the world of higher education inside and out,” said Dave Reed, Michigan Tech’s vice president for research. “With his leadership, the University will not only continue to provide high-quality, accessible education for people around the globe, but also deliver the Michigan Tech experience for graduate degrees and certificates via an online platform. His experience working with corporations and professional development offerings will allow the University to enhance our relationships with our numerous corporate partners.”
Working with the provost and dean of the Graduate School, as well as the associate provost for curriculum and instruction and other University stakeholders, Lawrence will direct the development of online and remote learning initiatives and guide a growing portfolio of nontraditional programs, their delivery, and the infrastructure and processes to support their success.
“Michigan Tech has a great opportunity to share quality education through its online programs and meet the needs of today’s students,” Lawrence said. “I am excited to be part of the University community and to help in leading and creating innovative pathways into new territories of advancing education.”
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
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