Overview of Preliminary Study Findings: Evaluating the Efficacy of the Comprehensive Institutional Model in a Post-COVID-19 HyFlex Higher Education Setting

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the preliminary findings for a study that is a continuation of a pilot study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings contribute to a broader dissertation study, which evaluates the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Institutional Model (CIM) in the post-COVID-19 HyFlex environment. Initially developed to assist Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in navigating the challenges of Blended Learning (BL) during the pandemic, the CIM remains relevant as institutions transition into the post-pandemic era. The preliminary results highlight how the CIM’s stakeholder-focused educational strategies can improve teaching effectiveness, drive investment in robust instructional technologies, enhance graduate student support services, and ensure institutional sustainability. The dissertation study further explores the impact of the CIM’s cyclical communication loops in promoting ongoing dialogue among administrators, faculty, and graduate students at a private university in South Central Texas. Four key themes emerged to inform the broader dissertation research by analyzing post-COVID-19 data collected from personal interviews, HyFlex classroom observations, course design audits, institutional metadata, and researcher reflections.