By Victoria Gladstone
Former Editor-in-Chief
The College has a new director of online learning to help make online learning as accessible as possible for all students and to encourage the growth of continuing education programs.
Ellen Farr, formerly a staffer at the Department of Special Education, will fill this role and says she aims to improve the learning experience for undergraduate students as well as graduate students and “life-long learners” or those who wish to come back to school after working in their field.
“There’s been a renewed focus on expanding educational opportunities beyond our traditional undergraduate students,” said Farr, who affirmed that undergraduate learners will still be the primary focus.
As the new director of online learning, Farr will be looking closely at the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II to ensure a certain level of accessibility for all online tools. Her role will be focused on the delivery of resources in classes and supporting faculty in good course design. This position has no say over the content or how professors choose to teach their students.
The Office of Instructional Design restructured Farr’s new role to consider the new initiatives surrounding emerging graduate programs and the upcoming TCNJ 2027: Extending Our Excellence strategic plan that looks to “address a new audience of learners,” she said.
According to the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning’s website, Farr “works closely with campus partners to promote a culture of teaching excellence and student-centered learning.” She has been an employee of the College for over 25 years, starting out as a curriculum writer who designed inquiry-based lessons for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Farr graduated with a doctoral degree in design of learning environments at Rutgers University. At the start of her educational career, she attended the College to study elementary education and history. She later went back to the College to receive her masters in educational technology.
