Goal 1
Revolutionize optometric education by integrating the curriculum, learning outcomes, and student support to foster meaningful educational experiences and professional success.
NECO will be driven by a student-centric ethos that prioritizes an inclusive, supportive, and meaningful educational experience, enabling students to realize their full potential. We will remain highly adaptable while making thoughtful, evidence-based decisions that consider with equal importance the educational value to the curriculum as well as the personal and professional well-being of our students.
Through continuous improvement and engagement with student feedback and performance measures, we will ensure that all students feel valued, prepared for future success, and delighted with their educational experience. The actions we take to achieve specific objectives will largely fall under two broad categories: didactic/clinical curriculum innovation and student support services.
OBJECTIVES
Foster a culture of support and student-centricity across all levels of NECO, where each department and individual is committed to prioritizing student success and responsiveness to student needs, well-being, and academic/ personal growth.
Enhance current and develop additional modes of support based on student needs, emphasizing well-being, performance, satisfaction, and retention.
Implement national board success strategies to improve first-time and ultimate pass rates.
Increase data-driven decision-making in the student learning process to elevate student outcomes and to create more personalized learning experiences.
Enable more effective and creative instruction by elevating the amount and quality of professional development and support in teaching and learning available to faculty.
Specific initiatives and tactics to achieve these objectives are understandably overlapping and intertwined. As such, they are organized into themes below, with tags denoting which objectives each tactic is aligned with:
Cognitive Load Management
TACTIC 1
Ensure a reasonable and healthy cognitive load for students across all facets of the curriculum to optimize student learning by conducting an in-depth analysis of the cognitive load NECO’s curriculum demands of students at all stages of the educational journey and make adjustments to enhance student learning.
Expanded scope of practice and advances in clinical technology have increased the content required of an optometric curriculum. Compounded by difficulty reducing existing content and inconsistencies in instructional organization, today’s students face a curriculum requiring increasingly higher cognitive load demands. An analysis of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to cognitive load is essential to understand what we are asking of NECO students and to identify possible areas of opportunity to recommend adjustments.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES (SO)
SO1, SO3, SO4, SO5
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Two years, beginning Fall 2025
KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
- Completion of analysis for all semesters of the curriculum
- Curriculum review: recommendations to curriculum committee concerning credit hours, number of courses per semester, and sequencing
- Course presentation: recommendations to improve standardization across the curriculum where appropriate
TACTIC 2
Explore different course models, technologies and delivery methods to optimize efficiency, effectiveness, and performance.
A cognitive load analysis is expected to highlight areas in need of improvement. While content adjustments may play a role, the solution will likely require enhanced coordination of teaching methodologies, the adoption of new approaches (such as asynchronous learning), and improved course content organization.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO1, SO3, SO4, SO5
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Three years, beginning Fall 2026
KPIs
- Curriculum changes: the number of changes approved by the curriculum committee concerning credit hours, number of courses per semester and sequencing
- Course presentation: changes across the curriculum with the goal of improving standardization across the curriculum where appropriate
TACTIC 3
Enhanced use of Canvas throughout the curriculum to create more uniformity and consistency in the student experience. Promote more active learning, engagement, and formative assessment.
Canvas, NECO’s state-of-the-art learning management system (LMS), serves as the central hub for all courses. However, it is currently underutilized, and inconsistencies across courses create unnecessary cognitive load for students. Streamlining and optimizing the use of Canvas is a logical first step toward reducing this burden and enhancing the overall learning experience.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO1, SO3, SO5
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Three years, beginning Fall 2025
KPIs
- Trainings and manuals: number of trainings and manuals developed to teach basic and advanced features of Canvas
- Faculty engagement: number of faculty that attend Canvas trainings and manuals
- Faculty adoption rate: number of faculty that utilize basic (100%) and advanced features of Canvas (50% year one; 75% year two; 100% year three)
Culture of Student Support
Foster a culture of support and student-centricity across all levels of NECO, where every department and individual are committed to prioritizing student success and responsiveness to student needs, well-being, and academic and personal growth. Promote a positive, student-centered environment where students are supported and engaged, and wellness is prioritized.
TACTIC 1
Invest in professional development and training to equip staff and faculty with the skills needed to support all students effectively. Every NECO employee should be approachable and capable of recognizing obstacles to student success, while communicating with sensitivity and care. Training will focus on key areas such as mental health awareness, inclusive practices, and addressing diverse learning needs to ensure all students thrive.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3, SO5, SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Three years, beginning Fall 2025
KPIs
- Establish a training plan and timeline that includes professional development for staff and faculty at all levels, including information on triaging mental health through the proper channels
- Employee participation rates for training and other initiatives
- Percentage of faculty and staff who feel well-informed about student support and success resources and processes
- Student survey data assessing culture, support, and services
TACTIC 2
Foster meaningful interactions between students, faculty, and staff. Deliberate opportunities for engagement outside the classroom will strengthen relationships, build empathy, and enhance mentorship, ultimately improving academic support. Additionally, implement effective commu- nication strategies to increase awareness and accountability for student support across NECO to create opportunities for growth in every aspect of institutional operations.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3, SO5
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Three years, beginning Fall 2025
KPIs
- Completion of communications and event strategy including touch points and continual assessment
- Number of events, plus student and employment participation in events, and continuous assessment of events
- Student satisfaction rates, especially around communication and culture of support and likelihood to recommend NECO to other students
TACTIC 3
Embed Student Success and Support in position descriptions, syllabi, work plans and performance reviews, where appropriate.
Job descriptions, work plans, course descriptions, learning outcomes, and performance reviews express the values most important to an organization and help create shared expectations. By embedding a commitment to student success and satisfaction in the process, NECO signals that everyone, at every level of the organization, is encouraged and expected to contribute to the success of our students.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Two years, beginning Fall 2025 and ongoing
KPIs
- Annual student satisfaction survey and graduating student surveys with a focus on students’ overall experience at NECO and their likelihood of recommending the program to other students
- Measurement across courses, reviews, and other areas
Enhanced Support for Today's Student
NECO is committed to recruiting and retaining highly qualified students by fostering an environment that supports their well-being, academic success, and professional growth. We will enhance existing support systems and develop new initiatives tailored to student needs, with a strong focus on satisfaction, retention, and performance. Recognizing the demands of both didactic education and clinical training, we will prioritize resources that promote mental and physical well-being, build resilience, and prepare students for the challenges of real-world practice.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3, SO4, SO5
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Ongoing
KPIs
- Full review of support structure for students, and relevant changes implemented
- Continuous review of student needs and support balanced against staffing structure
- Engagement with student support services, including advising, tutoring, etc., and student feedback on the effectiveness and satisfaction of services offered
- •Annual student satisfaction survey and graduating student surveys with a focus on students’ overall experience at NECO and their likelihood of recom- mending the program to other students
TACTIC 2
Implement a mandatory remediation program to support at-risk and struggling students. It is crucial to identify challenges and provide tailored strategies for success to reduce the number of 1st and 2nd year students with low GPAs. This requires dedicated time and expertise but can lead to meaningful improvements in student outcomes.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3, SO5
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
2025-2026
KPIs
- First-Year Retention Rate: achieve 94% or greater retention rate annually
- Track year-over-year grade point averages for the first-year class (end of fall and end of first year)
- Target average first-year cumulative GPA of 3.1 or above
- Monitor and analyze course-specific performance for individual students and cohorts, including reviewing midterm and final exam grades and final term grades
- Increase required engagement with support services and track engagement with success offerings such as advising, tutoring, and review sessions
- Annual student satisfaction survey and graduating student surveys with a focus on students’ overall experience at NECO and their likelihood of recom- mending the program to other students
TACTIC 3
Regularly assess student satisfaction, identify areas for improvement, and take action to enhance the student experience. Conducting frequent satisfaction surveys allows students to voice their opinions, which not only boosts their sense of being heard but also provides valuable data to inform decision-making and drive service improvements.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Starting Fall 2025 and ongoing
KPIs
- Annual student satisfaction survey with a focus on students’ overall experience at NECO and their likelihood of recommending the program to other students
- Ensure there are multiple formal and informal ways for students to share feedback and ask questions, including student town halls, meetings, and check-ins
- Collaboration with the student council and class leadership
- Event and item-specific surveys
National Board Success Strategy
TACTIC 1
Develop an academic success course series starting within the first month of matriculation to assist students in NECO course performance and national board performance.
To improve first-time and ultimate pass rates on national boards, NECO will implement a comprehensive success strategy that begins at the start of a student’s academic journey. Within the first month of matriculation, students will engage in an ongoing course series designed to foster a culture of success throughout their time at NECO. This series will deliver timely and relevant content, including study strategies, time management, test-taking techniques, wellness, and ultimately, board-specific preparation. By equipping students with these essential skills, this initiative will not only support their academic success at NECO but also enhance their performance on national board exams.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO3, SO4
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Currently ongoing
KPIs
- Course participation, outcomes, and feedback
- Term and cumulative GPAs for first-year students
- Achieve first to second year student retention rate of 94% or greater
- NBEO pass rates at or above the national average on all sections
TACTIC 2
Enhance instructor awareness of board resources and matrices by analyzing current courses for alignment with exam content and item-writing approaches.
Leverage the wealth of information provided by the national boards to improve course delivery and better prepare students for the exam.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO3, SO4
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Currently ongoing
KPIs
- 100% of faculty using item mapping in assessment administration software
- 100% of faculty performing course, item and assessment analysis for improvement
Better Data for Better Decisions
TACTIC 1
Revamp course surveys to collect more reliable data for course improvement.
Enhance data-driven decision-making in the student learning process to improve outcomes and create more personalized learning experiences. Constructive and meaningful student feedback is essential for continuous course improvement. However, the current evaluation template is too limited and no longer aligns with evolving teaching methodologies and the challenges students face. A revised evaluation approach will provide deeper insights, enabling more informed decisions about course development and instructional strategies.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO1, SO5, SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Ongoing and continual
KPI
- Completion and adoption of revised course survey
TACTIC 2
Improve course outcomes/learning objectives to allow for more reliable tracking of student achievement and mapping to board exams.
Coordination and alignment of course outcomes and learning objectives as they relate to professional standards for the OD degree and mapping to board exams will allow for improved assessment on effectiveness of more specific aspects of our curriculum leading to modifications when warranted.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO4, SO5, SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Two years beginning Fall 2027
KPIs
- Revision of course learning objectives where necessary
- Mapping of course learning objectives to professional standards and NBEO outline for all courses
TACTIC 3
Enhanced Learning Data
This initiative focuses on improving the collection, analysis, and use of learning data to better understand student performance and inform curriculum improvements. Enhanced data will allow NECO to create actionable insights that drive instructional effectiveness and support personalized feedback for students. Primary focus will be on exploring additional data metrics that can be collected and acted upon during the student learning experience such as multiple formative assessments throughout the course. Frequent and timely assessment of student performance and engagement across courses will allow for quicker and improved identification of students that would benefit from support services.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3, SO4, SO5, SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Staged rollout, beginning Fall 2025
KPIs
- Number of courses using formative assessments beyond midterm and final exams
- System for collecting, organizing, analyzing and sharing student achievement data
- Number of students identified and contacted that may require early intervention
TACTIC 4
Develop robust reports for tracking student progress and performance within and across courses.
Deliberately improving the coordination of tracking student performance and engagement across courses will lead to pattern recognition and further enhance the identification of students who may benefit from support services. Ensuring access and distribution of these reports to key personnel will further advance communication, understanding and identification of those students who require support to improve the likelihood of educational and professional success.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO2, SO3, SO5, SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
One year beginning Fall 2025
KPIs
Identify the person to lead the effort of data collection • Development of accessible and digestible academic performance report for each student
Effective & Creative Instruction
TACTIC 1
(Re)launch of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
We will enable more effective and creative instruction by elevating the amount and quality of professional development and support in teaching and learning available to faculty by relaunching the CTL with enhanced resources to focus on faculty training and support, and on improving teaching effectiveness. NECO’s commitment to asynchronous course delivery has led to the hiring of personnel with expertise in course development and pedagogy, achieving critical mass for a dedicated teaching and learning center. To ensure a balanced approach that prioritizes both teaching effectiveness and student satisfaction, additional members should be considered. Establishing a mission statement and clear goals will guide the team’s efforts in assessing current practices, fostering discussions, making recommendations, and providing training to enhance instruction.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO1, SO4, SO5, SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Ongoing and continual
KPIs
- The number of high-quality faculty trainings offered by the CTL. The goal of 3-4 per year for the first year
- Faculty attendance and reviews of trainings
TACTIC 2
Develop an application process to provide internal educational grants and sponsor faculty interested in and willing to experiment with new pedagogical approaches and/or technologies.
Similar to NECO’s process for evaluating internal grants to sponsor research, develop a parallel but separate process managed by the Center for Teaching and Learning and in conjunction with PLT and Clinical Council (for review and approval) that encourages faculty to submit educational research grants specifically to experiment with new teaching approaches and technology within our didactic and clinical programs.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
2025 and continual
KPIs
- Number of funding proposals (estimate 3-4 per year) approved
- Number of successfully completed projects
- Number of publications or presentations resulting from projects
TACTIC 3
Refine educational expectations for faculty and support staff to standardize course preparation, course roll out and organization.
Lack of standardization among courses in terms of organization and preterm/term roll out can lead to increased cognitive load, decreased student satisfaction and be an obstacle to effective teaching. Working with faculty, a new set of expectations will be created, communicated and implemented to increase efficiency and effectiveness while minimizing confusion among all those involved.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO1, SO2, SO3, SO5, SO6
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Ongoing and continual
KPIs
- Development of course expectation guideline handbook
- Adoption rate of course expectations outlined in handbook
TACTIC 4
Re-evaluate, expand and invigorate the elective offerings by developing a new strategic approach that considers the role electives play in our curriculum with an emphasis on asynchronous courses that focus on advanced topics in eye care including emerging technologies to further clinical practice.
Our current elective strategy was developed to allow faculty to deliver courses on eye and vision topics not currently contained within our curriculum. A new strategy will be developed that is largely asynchronous to increase availability and focuses on advanced topics in eye care including emerging technology and how it may influence the delivery of care.
ALIGNED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
SO1, SO2, SO3, SO5
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
Beginning Fall 2026
KPIs
- Proposals submitted and approved by curriculum committee for elective strategy
- Development of at least 5 new electives over the next four years
