At Belhaven University, online learning is taking a different shape.
Through Lighthouse, its implementation of Axio, Belhaven is exploring a model that replaces some traditional online course activities with interactive, personalized learning experiences. Students work through faculty-defined objectives using guided dialogue, asking questions and demonstrating their understanding as they go.
In this short video, Dr. Rick Upchurch, Associate Vice President for eLearning and Educational Innovation at Belhaven University, shares what the university has learned since launching its pilot in 2025.
Watch Belhaven's Story (5 minutes)
What Belhaven Is Learning
Students are asking questions they might otherwise hold back.
Some students hesitate to tell an instructor when they don't understand something. Lighthouse gives them another way to ask for clarification, revisit a concept, or work through a different explanation until it makes sense.
Course development can look very different.
Rick shares how Belhaven assembled a new online course and its Canvas shell much faster than its traditional development process. It's one example of how the university is rethinking the time and work involved in developing online courses.
Institutional support makes a difference.
Introducing a new approach to teaching and learning takes more than technology. Rick credits Belhaven's provost and president for giving the team the support and flexibility needed to launch the initiative and work through the challenges of implementation.
Want to Hear More?
In the full UPCEA webinar, Equipping Faculty with AI: Scalable Hyper-Personalization, Rick joins Axio's Mark Watts for a deeper conversation about Lighthouse, including the instructional model, student and faculty feedback, course development, and lessons learned.
Watch the full webinar recording →
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