UMassOnline, the program that offers online courses at the University of Massachusetts, has reported double-digit growth in both enrollment and revenue.
This follows an eight-year-old pattern of growth for the online education system, which was originally implemented in 2001.’
According to a press release, the reports for fiscal 2009 show an 18 percent increase in enrollments and a 27 percent increase in revenue.’ The enrollment total has increased nearly by 6,000 online students while revenue has increased by nearly $10 million.’
Based on the current economic troubles, more people may be motivated to return to school and acquire an additional degree. In these circumstances, online learning provides an educational alternative for students beyond the traditional college age range of 18 to 25 years.’
According to Jennifer Brady, UMassOnline Director of Marketing, there has been a push from both the media and educational advisors to encourage distance learning.’ Brady says that more and more people are ‘consistently urged ‘hellip; to consider weathering an economic downturn by returning to school.”
Although economic instability may be one of the reasons for increased enrollment, Brady recognizes that there is no way to specifically quantify that effect.’
For people who are seeking college degrees later in life, turning to online education can be more flexible than traditional forms as well as more financially attainable. UMassOnline courses cost significantly less than a semester’s tuition at any of the institutions in the UMass system.
Adam Leader-Smith, a sophomore social thought and political economy program (STPEC) major, said he believes that ‘[online classes] help people who otherwise would be too intimidated; they feel more comfortable participating online.”
This may also explain why many UMass students currently supplement their classroom education with online courses in an effort to acquire more credits and graduate early, thereby lessening the financial burden of higher education.
‘ ‘Much of the online technology developed for, and used in, online learning has found its way to traditional college classrooms throughout UMass, meaning that on-campus students have seen and validated for themselves the value of this learning option,’ added Brady.
Despite the large increase in enrollment, UMassOnline does not anticipate the need to hire more staff members.’
Brady said that ‘continued growth in our enrollments implies a need for increased bandwidth and the involvement of more faculty members as they identify and develop courses for online distribution.’ But this would not necessitate an increase in UMassOnline staff, which is currently composed of 12 people.’
One of the main criticisms of distance learning has often been that the lack of interaction and community that traditional classroom settings can create.’
‘ ‘I think online education is a totally efficiency-based model,’ said Irene Ushomirsky, a senior at UMass. ‘It’s a way to teach the most amount of people with the least amount of money but not having a campus, a community, is awful.”
As technology becomes more entwined with higher education, it is expected that distance learning will be more appealing and acceptable to students.’
According to Brady, ‘Lots of high school students today are being introduced to online learning nationwide.’
UMassOnline expects the number of online students to grow across all age demographics as professors in traditional classroom settings continue to utilize technology as a medium for teaching.
Claire Bronchuk can be reached at [email protected].
