Announcing Fractional Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO): Building Independence in Online Higher Education
Small to mid-sized institutions today stand at a critical crossroads: continue down the path of dependency or develop self-sufficiency.
The Institution's Dilemma
Small and mid-sized colleges face an impossible choice that threatens their very identity:
Option 1: Partners that promise quick results but take half your revenue while controlling critical aspects of your programs—essentially trading your institution's future for short-term growth.
Option 2: Attempt to build everything in-house with limited resources and expertise—often leading to underwhelming results, exhausted staff, and ultimately, falling further behind in the online learning race.
The consequences of this dilemma are already playing out across higher education: institutions that make the wrong choice face declining enrollments, eroding margins, losing talented faculty and staff, and in the worst cases, closure or forced mergers.
Yet in 2025, having a successful online presence isn't optional—it's essential for institutional survival and independence.
Why I'm Starting This Company
I believe small and mid-sized colleges deserve better. They deserve access to strategic online expertise that builds their internal capacity rather than creating dependencies.
After 20 years in higher education leadership, including growing online enrollments from 0 to over 1,000 students and developing innovative online programs, I've seen firsthand that it's possible for schools to transform from novices to confident, self-sufficient online operators.
That's why I'm announcing the launch of Fractional Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO), a new model for executive online leadership designed specifically for institutions that want to chart their own digital future.
What is a Fractional COLO?
A Fractional COLO brings executive-level online strategy and leadership to your institution without the full-time executive price tag. The role sits at the intersection of:
Strategic planning
Technology implementation
Faculty development
Operations design
Revenue growth
A Fractional COLO works within your institution as a guide while you build internal capabilities, knowledge, and systems.
The goal? After our engagement, your institution doesn't just survive online—it thrives independently with newfound capabilities that become part of your institutional DNA.
The Transformation Journey
Institutions that work with a Fractional COLO undergo a profound transformation:
FROM struggling with technology decisions, inconsistent online courses, and disappointing enrollment…
TO confidently deploying the right technologies, offering consistently excellent online experiences, and strategically growing enrollment.
FROM feeling pressured to outsource core functions to vendors who don't understand your mission…
TO developing in-house expertise that maintains your institutional values while expanding your reach.
FROM watching revenue disappear into vendor partnerships…
TO retaining the full value of the programs you've created.
How It Works
The engagement follows a clear path:
Assessment: We start with a comprehensive evaluation of your current online capabilities across 10 critical factors.
Strategic Planning: Based on the assessment, we develop a roadmap aligned with your institution's unique mission and resources.
Implementation Support: I work alongside your team to implement the roadmap, transferring knowledge and building internal capacity every step of the way.
Operational Development: We create standard operating procedures, workflows, and systems that will continue working long after our engagement.
The entire model is designed with one purpose: ensuring your institution can thrive online without creating permanent dependencies on external partners.
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
The harsh reality is that many small and mid-sized colleges won't survive the next decade without a successful digital transformation strategy.
Those that continue outsourcing core operations face:
Diminishing financial returns as vendors absorb the majority of revenue
Loss of control over student experience and institutional reputation
Difficulty extricating themselves from complex contracts
Stunted internal growth as expertise develops externally
Meanwhile, institutions attempting DIY approaches without proper guidance often experience:
Failed program launches after significant investment
Faculty resistance due to poor implementation
Technological choices that quickly become obsolete
Inability to compete with better-resourced competitors
Either path leads to the same destination: institutional vulnerability in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Real Results: The Transformation is Possible
Over the last 20-years, I helped schools transform from complete online novices to digital innovators by:
Building internal expertise instead of vendor dependency
Creating standardized development and support processes
Implementing strategic marketing and enrollment systems
Establishing clear quality standards
The results weren't just impressive—they were transformative:
Online enrollment grew 6x after insourcing operations
We launched over 20 successful online programs
Year-over-year revenue increased
Faculty became champions of high-quality online education
The institutions gained confidence and independence in online operations
Most importantly, these weren't temporary gains dependent on ongoing vendor relationships—they became woven into the institutional fabric, creating sustainable capabilities that continue driving success years later.
Who This Is For
Fractional COLO is designed specifically for institutions ready to transform:
Small to mid-sized private colleges and universities
Institutions looking to launch or grow online programs
Schools seeking to reduce dependency on outside vendors
Institutions wanting executive online leadership without a full-time C-suite addition
If your institution is determined to control its own digital destiny while maintaining its unique identity and mission, this model was created with you in mind.
What's Next
I'll be sharing more insights in the coming weeks about specific aspects of successful online operations, including:
How to evaluate your institution's online readiness
Setting realistic goals and timelines for online growth
Building sustainable financial models for online programs
Developing your core online education team
In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more about how a Fractional COLO could support your institution's transformation, visit www.fractionalcolo.com or reach out directly at jeremiah@fractionalcolo.com.
Your institution deserves to write its own digital future. I'm committed to helping make that possible.
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