We broke up with our OPM. Your institution can, too.

Breaking up with an online program management (OPM) partner might feel like a daunting move, but it could be the catalyst for transformation your institution needs. At D’Youville University, parting ways with our OPM not only cut costs but also paved the way for enrollment growth in online programs. Here’s what we learned about navigating this challenging yet rewarding journey of OPM alternatives.

Why Leaving an OPM Isn’t the End of the Road

A few years ago, D’Youville University broke up with our OPM, which managed our online programs. The experience taught us valuable lessons about evaluating the health of online education partnerships and taking control of our academic mission. 

One of the most important takeaways is that ending a relationship with an OPM doesn’t spell disaster. When partnerships fail to meet expectations, staying together can hinder growth and limit opportunities. In our case, moving in a new direction helped us save substantial money and grow enrollment in remote and distance learning programs—a result any institution would aspire to emulate. Going in a different direction with your online program does not mean you’re destined to struggle. Sometimes, saying goodbye is the right thing.

Overcoming Challenges in Managing Online Programs In-House

Designing, building and managing online courses and programs without an OOPM requires significant effort and resources. Recognizing the complexity of the task, we invested significant time in developing a comprehensive project management plan to execute our online offerings effectively. This proactive approach enabled us to successfully execute our online offerings despite the complexities involved.

While staying with an OPM may seem easier, institutions must weigh the pros and cons carefully. For us, taking full control was challenging but ultimately rewarding. Minor issues with partners shouldn’t trigger drastic decisions; instead, institutions should base their choices on a thorough evaluation of long-term goals and resources.

Lessons Learned from Working with an OPM

Reflecting on our time with an OPM, we gained valuable skills that improved our operations. For example, the OPM encouraged us to make admissions decisions within 48 hours—a goal we initially thought unattainable. Today, this rapid turnaround applies to all our programs, proving that even challenging partnerships can drive progress.

Key Considerations When Evaluating OPM Relationships

One of the original pain points—and the reason we considered changing in the first place—was that we simply were not hitting our enrollment goals with our OPM. Like any genuine relationship, that may not have been our partner’s fault. But the unavoidable, quantitative reality was that we were not hitting our expected numbers.

Key lessons from our experience include:

• Define clear enrollment objectives. Make sure your institution and OPM agree on goals and put them in writing.
• Monitor performance regularly. Review enrollment targets and assess progress frequently to ensure expectations are being met.
• Communicate effectively. Don’t hesitate to ask tough questions if benchmarks aren’t achieved.
• Be open to change. Adjust strategies collaboratively if needed, and consider making changes on both sides if warranted.

These considerations can help ensure that your partnership with an OPM aligns with your institution’s goals and remains effective over time.

Taking Charge of Your Marketing and Enrollment Strategy

Understanding how resources are allocated is critical when managing online programs. Our experience revealed gaps in transparency with our OPM’s marketing investments, prompting us to partner with Validated Insights for greater clarity.

Whether working with an OPM or independently managing programs, institutions should demand granular insights into marketing strategies and spending. This level of detail is essential for informed decision-making and achieving enrollment goals. Be sure you’re getting everything you need even if you have to make a change to get it.

Why Change Can Be the Best Option for Online Programs

There is no single pathway for starting, expanding, or managing online programs that will work for every school. Some—perhaps even many—will be best served by working with an OPM. For others, being entirely in charge of your destiny is the best option. There are also hundreds of ways to mix and match partners and services, outsourcing some things but not others.

But do not be hesitant to explore every option for the right fit. Know what is expected and how your school and your partners are working toward those things. Most of all, do not be afraid of change; addition by subtraction can be absolutely the right call.

With demographic and other changes already squeezing so many institutions, successful online programs are no longer nice to have—they are essential. At D’Youville, our online units represent nearly one-third of our total enrollment, a large portion of our growth over the past five years. It’s too important not to get exactly right.