By Dr. Marie Gould Harper and Dr. Wally Boston | 06/15/2021
The economy and job opportunities are changing rapidly, forcing institutions of higher learning to adapt by providing innovative and flexible educational offerings. In the second episode in this series, APU Dean Dr. Marie Gould Harper talks to President Emeritus Dr. Wallace Boston about the importance of universities and colleges offering customized, flexible credentials including ones that are “stackable.” Learn how stackables can be tailored to fit the needs of working professionals and provide the educational foundation required for career advancement in specific organizations. Learn why it’s so important for educational institutions to partner with industry organizations to understand their needs as well as some of the challenges institutions face in trying to develop a more flexible and customized approach to education.
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Read the Transcript:
Dr. Marie Gould Harper: Welcome to our podcast today. I’m your host, Marie Gould Harper. Today, we are going to discuss The Future of Business School: What’s Next? Part two. My guest is Dr. Wallace E. Boston. I want to take a moment to provide some background information on him. Dr. Wallace E. Boston was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of American Public University System and its parent company American Public Education Incorporated in July 2004. In September 2019, Dr. Boston retired as CEO of APEI and retired as APUS president in August, 2020. Dr. Boston guided APUS through its successful initial accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association in 2006 and the 10-year re-accreditation in 2011. During his tenure as president, APUS grew to over 85,000 students, 200 degrees and certificate programs, and approximately 100,000 alumni. He has authored and co-authored papers on the topic of online post-secondary student retention and is a frequent speaker on the impact of technology on higher education. Dr. Boston, welcome back to our podcast and thank you for joining me.
Dr. Wallace E. Boston: Thank you, Marie. It’s a pleasure being here today.
Dr. Marie Gould Harper: I’m looking forward to doing this session. We mentioned a number of things in our last visit, and I want to go back to them. In the last session, you mentioned stackable programs. The concept is a buzzword and trending in various industries today. I would like us to use this session to elaborate on what you mean by stackables and how they tie in the future growth of business schools. So my first two questions are: What do you mean when you say stackables? And what is the best way to educate the public on these types of programs?
Dr. Marie Gould Harper: Welcome to our podcast today. I’m your host, Marie Gould Harper. Today, we are going to discuss The Future of Business School: What’s Next? Part two. My guest is Dr. Wallace E. Boston. I want to take a moment to provide some background information on him. Dr. Wallace E. Boston was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of American Public University System and its parent company American Public Education Incorporated in July 2004. In September 2019, Dr. Boston retired as CEO of APEI and retired as APUS president in August, 2020. Dr. Boston guided APUS through its successful initial accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association in 2006 and the 10-year re-accreditation in 2011. During his tenure as president, APUS grew to over 85,000 students, 200 degrees and certificate programs, and approximately 100,000 alumni. He has authored and co-authored papers on the topic of online post-secondary student retention and is a frequent speaker on the impact of technology on higher education. Dr. Boston, welcome back to our podcast and thank you for joining me.
Dr. Wallace E. Boston: Thank you, Marie. It’s a pleasure being here today.
Dr. Marie Gould Harper: I’m looking forward to doing this session. We mentioned a number of things in our last visit, and I want to go back to them. In the last session, you mentioned stackable programs. The concept is a buzzword and trending in various industries today. I would like us to use this session to elaborate on what you mean by stackables and how they tie in the future growth of business schools. So my first two questions are: What do you mean when you say stackables? And what is the best way to educate the public on these types of programs?
Dr. Marie Gould Harper is the Dean of the Dr. Wallace E. Boston School of Business at American Public University. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Wellesley College, a master’s degree in instructional systems from Pennsylvania State University and a doctorate in business from Capella University. She is a progressive coach, facilitator, writer, strategist, and human resources/organizational development professional with more than 30 years of experience.
