NEW RESEARCH REVEALS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES’ APPROACHES TO ONLINE HIGHER EDUCATION
http://www.learninghouse.com/new-research-reveals-public-and-private-colleges-approaches-to-online-higher-education/
“SURVEYS OF CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS AT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS REVEAL THAT STATE COLLEGES OFFER MORE ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, BUT THAT PRIVATE COLLEGES ARE MORE LIKELY TO CHARGE A REDUCED ONLINE TUITION.
Louisville, Ky. – (November 5, 2013)
Two new surveys reveal that the number of online programs is increasing at many private and public colleges and universities, which can lead to higher enrollment and new sources of revenue. The research by Learning House, which was co-sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), also indicates that currently, state universities have integrated online higher education more fully than private institutions. Forty-eight percent of state colleges offer at least five fully online degree programs, while only 15 percent of private colleges do so.
In “Online Learning at Public Universities: Building a New Path to a College Degree” and “Online Learning at Private Colleges and Universities: A Survey of Chief Academic Officers,” chief academic officers from AASCU and CIC institutions share how colleges and universities are navigating and planning their online education efforts.
“There has been a lot of discussion about the impact of MOOCs,” said David Clinefelter, Chief Academic Officer at Learning House and a co-author of the reports. “But in these two surveys, we discovered that institutions, private and public alike, are more focused on offering additional online programs.”
“Public universities are here to improve access to education for all residents,” said George L. Mehaffy, Vice President for Academic Leadership and Change at AASCU. “Online learning can be a way to fulfill that mission.”
“The Learning House report provides valuable information about the use of online instruction to leaders of CIC colleges and universities and will help guide future plans to use or expand online delivery methods in ways that are consistent with their missions and educational philosophies,” said Harold V. Hartley III, Senior Vice President at CIC.
Other key report findings include:
The greatest barrier to success is student discipline needed to complete online courses;
Online enrollments are up more than 60 percent for undergraduate students in the last year;
Online learning can generate revenue, with 35 percent of public institutions and 21 percent of private schools generating annual revenues of more than $1 million; and
Business is the most frequent undergraduate and graduate degree offered online.
A summary of these findings can be found in the infographic, “Benchmarks of Online Higher Education.”
Coauthors Susan C. Aldridge, Senior Vice President of Online Learning at Drexel University, and Clinefelter, will discuss the results of the survey of public universities at a free, live webinar on November 7 at 2:00 p.m. EST.
The results of the survey of private colleges and universities will be presented by Hartley and Clinefelter at afree, live webinar on November 12 at 2:00 p.m. EST.
The Learning House, Inc. helps colleges and universities create, manage and grow high-quality online degree programs and courses. Partnering with more than 100 schools, Learning House enables institutions to efficiently and affordably achieve their online education goals. Services include product development and market research, marketing and lead generation, admissions and enrollment management, student retention, curriculum development and management, faculty training and professional development, learning management systems and 24/7 technical support. As a thought leader in the industry, Learning House publishes an annual report on online college student preferences and demographics and presents an annual online higher education conference.
AASCU is a Washington-based higher education association of more than 400 public colleges, universities and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to underserved student populations and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. For more information, visit www.aascu.org.
The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of 645 nonprofit independent colleges and universities and more than 90 higher education organizations that has worked since 1956 to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of private higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities as well as conferences, seminars, and other programs that help institutions to improve the quality of education, administrative and financial performance, and institutional visibility. CIC also provides support to state fundraising associations that organize programs and generate contributions for private colleges and universities. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.cic.edu.
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Stephen