Expand Curricula
- Increase degree programs
- Offer summer courses
- Access niche courses
- Sandbox new courses
Online Course Exchange of Independent Colleges and Universities
What is the OCICU?
The Online Course Exchange of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU)is a network of independent colleges and universities that use course sharing to offer high-quality online courses to their students. With over 1,200 online courses, OCICU provides an affordable way for your institution to grow and partner with similar colleges and universities nationwide.
Why Choose Us?
- Proven Track Record: With 20+ years of experience, OCICU has a trusted history of helping nonprofit schools share high-quality courses.
- Rigorous Academic Standards: OCICU makes sure all partner schools and courses meet high academic standards to protect your institution's quality and reputation.
- Cost-Effective Model: OCICU provides a low-risk, affordable way for your school to add more courses without large upfront costs.
- Focus on Nonprofit Institutions: OCICU serves only nonprofit colleges, creating a community of partners committed to student success and academic integrity.
- Comprehensive Support: OCICU offers ongoing support with a platform that handles course registration, billing, and transcripts, making administration easier.
With two decades of experience, OCICU provides a trusted, affordable way to expand courses and improve student success while maintaining your school’s academic quality and mission.
What Are the Benefits of OCICU?
Retain Students
- Increase degree completion
- Facilitate course retakes
- Sunset programs or courses
Increase Revenue
- Access new enrollments
- Retain tuition
- Provide access to specialized courses
- Manage faculty workload
How Does It Work?
Members review OCICU courses to choose those that best fit their needs. Once selected, these courses are added to the institution’s offerings and treated like regular courses. Students register and pay through their home institution, with grades transferred upon completion. Members charge their standard tuition rates and pay a discounted enrollment fee to the provider, keeping the difference.
Providers turn open seats in their online courses into revenue while reaching students they might not usually access.
This is a win-win arrangement for members and providers.
FAQs
Will course sharing increase enrollment?
OCICU courses can enhance your school's existing curriculum by providing greater flexibility for your students and supporting retention efforts. It also provides an affordable way to expand programs and fill faculty, scheduling and low-enrollment gaps.
How do members generate revenue from OCICU courses?
Your school determines the tuition rate charged to your students for OCICU courses. Typically, this rate is higher than the OCICU enrollment fee. Your school retains the difference between what it charges students and the OCICU per-enrollment fee. Total revenue generation depends on course usage. The more students who enroll in OCICU courses at your school, the more revenue you will make.
How do members know OCICU courses are high quality?
All OCICU providers undergo a rigorous quality assurance process, ensuring they meet the highest standards. This process ensures you can trust the quality of the courses your students take.
Courses approved by OCICU must meet strict standards, use effective learning and assessment strategies, and have well-defined learning outcomes.
Who selects, pays and manages the faculty for OCICU courses?
Providers are responsible for selecting, developing, and managing faculty who facilitate the OCICU courses they teach.
Whose policies govern students in OCICU courses?
Members treat OCICU courses as their own, so students follow your policies on drops, withdrawals, payments, and grade disputes. In the course, students follow the provider's grading and participation rules.
How are prerequisites handled?
Prerequisites are listed in the OCICU course descriptions. To help students succeed in online courses, advisors at your school should ensure they have the necessary prerequisite knowledge for the chosen OCICU course.
How can we transcript academic credit when we didn’t teach the course or design the curriculum?
Members have access to syllabi, faculty credentials and hiring practices. This way, your school can treat your OCICU courses as your own, including transcripting students' grades.
What are the terms of membership and associated costs?
Membership is limited to not-for-profit higher education institutions.
Membership costs are kept low to help your school maximize revenue from OCICU courses. Fees include a one-time joining fee, a per-enrollment fee, and an annual membership fee. Other than these fees, members incur no direct expenses for offering OCICU courses. Contact us for more information.