“UGA aims for more online degree programs” plus 1 more

UGA aims for more online degree programs

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 08:58 AM PST

UGA aims for more online degree programs020611uganews2lee.shearer@onlineathens.com A proposed new online master's degree in reading education marks only the third program at the University of Georgia for which students can take classes entirely online - whether they live in New York City or Nicholson.

A proposed new online master's degree in reading education marks only the third program at the University of Georgia for which students can take classes entirely online - whether they live in New York City or Nicholson.

But UGA administrators are gearing up to take more of the university into cyberspace, following the lead of some other big state flagship schools like Pennsylvania State University and the University of Wisconsin.

Those and a few other universities have begun teaching hundreds of courses with thousands of students over the Internet - opening their online doors to students all across the country and even other countries.

"(Online learning) has been a largely dormant opportunity here," said Jere Morehead, UGA provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "I think we have a lot of opportunity there."

Less than a month after Morehead became provost, he convened a task force to determine how UGA should modify or expand its online offerings, and now UGA has hired a person to put the task force's recommendations into effect, Morehead said.

UGA isn't headed for a future where students sit in their dorm room, turn on the television set or computer and take in a class, he said.

Instead, administrators see distance education as a way to expand enrollment, particularly in graduate programs, and as a strategy to compete for students.

"I really think that this is the future, the next step in the evolution of education," said Janet Truluck, coordinator of the UGA online adult education master's degree program.

Begun in 2001, Truluck's program was the first completely online degree UGA offered.

Truluck hopes the university will take a big step this fall by setting a new tuition rate for students in the program, the so-called e-rate.

Up until now, students from outside Georgia had to pay high out-of-state tuition, which discouraged many students from enrolling, Truluck said.

"Once they see what they've got to pay, they just go to other places," she said.

With the so-called e-rate, all the students pay the same tuition - about halfway between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs.

Truluck believes the new rate will bring in more students from outside Georgia and help double enrollment in the online adult education program, from 20 a year now to 40.

Arthur Horne, dean of the College of Education, expects to see more and more UGA education courses and degrees offered online, and more and more students enrolling.

As at many universities, the College of Education plunged into distance education well ahead of most other UGA colleges and schools.

"There's a great future for it," Horne said. "I'm convinced our Athens campus going to be here forever, but we're going to have more and more (online students), particularly adult leaders. I see this becoming a huge enterprise."

In fact, workers are remodeling the College of Education building to accommodate more online courses, he said.

Many universities are much further along in distance education than UGA, but that's changing, said Ron Cervero, an assistant dean in the education college.

"I think there's a lot we've got to do to catch up, but the university has made great strides," Cervero said.

With one exception, the admission standards are the same for students in online degree programs and residential students.

Distance education students have one extra requirement - they must demonstrate they have a high-speed Internet connection, said Bob Fecho, a UGA professor of language and literacy education.

Administrators expect online programs to be "self-funding," bringing in enough tuition revenue to pay for the expenses of the program.

And they also expect that UGA's future growth could be mainly online.

"Nationally, at the graduate level especially, that's where the growth will be," Cervero said.

Expanding online education programs and charging for tuition at the e-rate will open the university's doors to prospective students across the country and even the world, Truluck and Fecho said.

Distance education also opens the university up to former UGA students and others who have jobs and families, they said.

"It's difficult for them to come back and get a master's degree," Fecho said.

"Times are changing, and students are becoming more consumer-savvy," Truluck said. "It allows us to reach a whole audience of students we could never get to otherwise."

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, February 06, 2011 report an error

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SIerra Nevasda College to now offer online courses

Posted: 10 Feb 2011 07:54 PM PST

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Sierra Nevada College will expand its academic offerings through a newly launched online adult degree education program.

Partnering with Capital Education — a provider of online learning platforms for colleges and universities — Sierra Nevada College will begin offering Bachelor of Arts degrees in business administration and psychology in February 2011 through the online program.

"Sierra Nevada College is excited to offer this excellent education opportunity for adults across the country," said Richard Rubsamen, president of the four-year private college. "Students searching for a high quality academic experience with the flexibility to meet their needs will find success through our program."

According to a press release, the program features interactive software platforms, an interdisciplinary curriculum and a flexible schedule catered toward adults that need an elastic schedule to complete assignments.

For more information about course offerings and cost, visit www.sierranevada.edu.

Online Education

Thursday, February 10, 2011