Campus-Based Colleges Expand Online Program
Campus-Based Colleges Expand Online Program
Although online education has long been associated with giants such as the University of Phoenix and Everest College, the fact is that the vast majority of online learners aren't taking courses at these private, online institutions. Instead, they are enrolling in online degree programs at major brick and mortar colleges and universities such as the University of Massachusetts, North Dakota State University and the University of South Florida.
"If given the choice, distance learners will enroll in a school they are familiar with, opposed to one which is less known," said Kathleen Moore, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Executive Director for the University of South Florida E-Campus. "There is a higher level of assurance in the educational quality."
When students enroll in online programs at the University of South Florida, they are getting the same degree and the same faculty as those students who are earning their degrees on campus, Moore said. "There is no difference in the quality of the education."
"91 percent of employers viewed online degrees from public, brick and mortar campuses favorably..."
Lisa Nordick, Director of North Dakota State University's Distance and Continuing Education Department agrees. "Reputation is important when deciding on an online degree program," she said. "When we market our online programs to students, we emphasize the economic value and the quality of the education. We are committed to upholding that value."
The perceived value of online degrees from traditional brick-and-mortar institutions doesn't just translate with students. A 2010 research study by the Society for Human Resources Management titledHiring Practices and Attitudes: Traditional vs. Online Degree Credentials, found that while 91 percent of employers viewed online degrees from public, brick and mortar campuses favorably, only 42 percent looked favorably upon degrees earned at institutions that operated completely online.
"The name and reputation of the institution matters much more than how the degree is earned," Nordick said.
The History and Future of Distance Education.Although online education has created a lot of buzz in the last few years, distance learning is not a new concept. The University of South Florida, for example, has been offering distance education coursework for the past 20 years. "Online is the most recent technology, but distance education programs have been around a long time," Moore said.
"We began offering online coursework at North Dakota State University 12 years ago with a single online psychology course," Nordick said. "We now have 26 degree and certificate programs that are completed entirely online and 5,000 students enrolled in online coursework."
And that number is getting considerably higher every year. According to Nordick, NDSU's online programs have been experiencing a 10 to 15 percent annual growth rate. Online students enroll from all across the country, though most students are regionally based around the NDSU campus in Fargo, North Dakota, she said.
"Online is a complementary program - I don't think it will ever replace traditional education
"Kathleen Moore, University of South Florida E-CampusAt the University of South Florida, Moore said that distance education courses account for approximately 17 percent of the course offerings each semester. "Over 47,000 students are enrolled in online programs [at USF]," she said.
These online students are enrolled in the 26 graduate certificates, 10 master's degree programs and 2 bachelor's degree programs currently offered at USF. In addition, there are many more online courses available for non-degree students and hybrid learners who take a mix of online and on-campus coursework, Moore said.
And while the market for online education continues to grow, Nordick does not expect it to ever become the traditional method of higher education. "Online is a complementary program - I don't think it will ever replace traditional education," she said. "It is, however, an important venue for meeting instructional needs, particularly for those who will never be able to come to a traditional campus because of outside obligations."
One of the limitations of online education is the inability to translate hands-on coursework in a virtual learning environment. "The biggest problem is labs," Moore said. "There are just some instances where students have to be in a certain place and have access to equipment."
"Online is growing and continuing to grow," Moore said. "There will always be an audience of non-traditional students who are time and place bound. We will always be serving those learners."
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