WCET/The Campus Computing Project (2009) Managing Online Education Encino CA: The Campus Computing Project (to download go to: http://www.campuscomputing.net/)
This project reports that Online Education Programs are marked by rising enrollments, unsure profits, organizational transitions, higher fees, and tech training for faculty.
One result of the survey suggests that students often pay higher tuition fees for online courses compared with similar campus-based courses. For undergraduate credit courses, this is totally unjustifiable. If the institution is spending more on its online courses, it is not designing its online courses properly – or more likely, it is unaware of the true cost of its face-to-face classes.
The 2009 Managing Online Education Survey is a collaborative initiative of the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommications (WCET) and The Campus Computing Project. The survey data are based on responses from 182 senior campus officials at two‐ and four‐year public and private US colleges and universities who were surveyed in September and October 2009. Survey respondents were typically the senior campus official responsible for the management of online and distance education programs at their institutions. The survey report will be available from the Campus Computing Project on November 20.
Dr. Tony Bates is the author of eleven books in the field of online learning and distance education. He has provided consulting services specializing in training in the planning and management of online learning and distance education, working with over 40 organizations in 25 countries. Tony is a Research Associate with Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network.
Interesting study, and not too far from what I have examined in my one Canadian western university. And I find it interesting that student costs for online learning (tuition) is higher than on-campus students, yet there is less than adequate resources to accommodate this (i.e. use any profits), such as 24/7 technology support and program assessment.
In my opinion, students who enrol in online programs may be so darn pleased to get an education that they may be less vocal about their needs and concerns giving institutions the impression they don’t have to improve. However, I think institutions will become more keen to deliver suitable online education as the demand for it increases along with competition.
I think that many of these discussions don’t factor in the incidental costs for parking, travel, kid sitting, etc. – so it’s always a bit of an apples to oranges debate.
For context, the following are results from last year’s Managing Online Education survey on this issue:
Do students in online programs pay the same tuition charges as students in on-campus programs?
Yes 31.9%
No 68.1%
Of those responding No, tuition for online program is:
1-4% higher 25.0%
5-10% higher 25.0 %
>10% higher 19.6%
1-4% lower 5.4%
5-10% lower 7.1%
>10% lower 17.9%