Hybrid and online programs transformed higher education, opening doors for students who might never have pursued a fully on-campus degree. This is especially true for students living in education deserts—geographic areas where access to colleges, universities, or training sites is limited or nonexistent. However, this flexibility brings a new challenge: ensuring students in these underserved regions maintain access to the clinical and practicum experiences required in their programs.
Nursing, counseling, social work, teaching, and allied health programs still require real-world experiences, which no simulation can fully replace. Matching students in remote or underserved regions with qualified sites, vetted supervisors and preceptors, and compliant learning environments demands more planning, coordination, and relationship-building than placing students locally..
To avoid hitting a recruitment ceiling and deliver on the promise of access and equity, universities must build scalable, strategic systems. By expanding and diversifying their practicum networks—especially in underserved regions—institutions can better support students, strengthen program outcomes, and grow sustainably.
The Access Gap: Placing Students in Education Deserts
Online education allows universities to serve students anywhere, but many institutions unintentionally limit access—and their recruitment efforts—by not accounting for the unique challenges faced by students living in education deserts. These geographic areas with few or no practicum sites within the institution’s current network make it difficult for students to secure the required learning experiences to progress in their programs. . When practicum opportunities are scarce, students may be forced to look at alternative programs, travel long distances, relocate, or delay graduation. This access gap creates significant challenges for both universities and students:
- For Universities: Limited networks beyond their region can lead to over-reliance on local partners, overextend site capacity, and increase strain on faculty managing distant and complex practicums. Over time, this also leads to lost revenue from students who withdraw and lower overall success metrics, including decreased retention and graduation rates..
- For Students: Lack of accessible placements can significantly increase costs, including travel expenses, temporary housing, or reduced income if they need to cut back on work hours to accommodate commuting. These additional financial and logistical burdens can delay program completion or, in some cases, cause students to step away from their program entirely.
Addressing these gaps is essential to fulfilling the promise of online and hybrid education — ensuring that geography is no longer a barrier to opportunity.
Discover strategies that allow programs to grow without overburdening faculty.
Explore solutions beyond campus.The Three Pillars of Distributed Placement Success
Expanding practicum opportunities for students in education deserts requires a scalable, strategic approach grounded in three key pillars:
1. National and Regional Site Networks
Building or leveraging a broad, distributed site network is the foundation of equitable access. A wider, well-vetted network ensures that students, regardless of where they live, have access to quality practicum opportunities without the need to relocate.
- Proactively identify organizations across multiple regions that align with program learning outcomes, have qualified preceptors, and meet accreditation standards.
- Formalize partnerships with clear agreements that outline expectations, responsibilities, and communication channels.
- Engage partners regularly by scheduling check-ins, recognize preceptors for their contributions, and create feedback loops that keep relationships strong.
- Leverage established practicum providers and local networks to expand access to high-quality local opportunities.
A strong distributed site network not only expands recruitment potential but also reduces last-minute scrambles and supports students who would otherwise be left without viable practicum options.
Learn how Noodle makes distance placements seamless for students and faculty.2. Mastery of Local Compliance
A broad network is only effective if it’s matched by rigorous compliance management, especially when serving students across multiple states and regulatory environments. Missteps in tracking licensure, site accreditation, or program-specific requirements can delay student progress, harm the university’s reputation, and erode trust with regulators.
To build scalable compliance system:
- Centralize regulatory and documentation management to store site credentials, track regulatory updates, and flag expiring agreements or missing documents.
- Integrate compliance tools with accreditation reporting systems to simplify audits and maintain transparency.
- Train placement teams regularly to stay up to date on evolving state and industry requirements.
- Establish escalation processes to quickly respond to changes or compliance risks.
By mastering compliance, universities protect their students’ progress, maintain program integrity, and build credibility within their regional and national networks and regulators.
3. Remote Supervision & Support
For students in education deserts, local placements may still be limited—but innovative remote supervision models can bridge that gap and ensure high-quality learning experiences, mentorship, and supervision.
- Implement remote supervision models that combine scheduled virtual check-ins, secure video observation, and structured reporting from both students and preceptors.
- Set clear supervision standards, including meeting frequency, documentation expectations, and escalations protocols.
- Leverage technology to make supervision seamless. Video conferencing tools, digital evaluation forms, and shared dashboards to give faculty, students, and preceptors real-time visibility into progress.
- Build a sense of belonging for remote learners through virtual mentorship, online cohort meetings, and access to campus resources, ensuring they remain connected to the academic community.
When executed effectively, remote supervision does more than monitor placements — it expands access, supports equity, and ensures students in education deserts can succeed without leaving their communities.
See how technology can turn oversight into mentorship and community-building.The Key to Successful Distributed Placement
By building national networks, ensuring rigorous local compliance, and creating robust remote supervision workflows, universities can guarantee every student (no matter where they live) has access to a high-quality, compliant practicum experience.
These three pillars address the unique challenges of education deserts by creating a scalable framework for sustainable growth and expanded student access nationwide.
Ready to expand your reach? Contact Noodle to learn how to scale practicum access without sacrificing quality or compliance.
