UVa-online education is the only real future for higher education

Maybe the big boys are finally waking up:

E-mails show U.Va. board wanted a big online push | Inside Higher Ed

About time.

 

I agree... It's about time. There are now so many big-name schools with online degree offerings that it no longer makes sense to stay out of the game.

 

Keeping a close eye on how this one plays out. Even though I didn't go to UVa, I'm from Virginia, and my Dad is alum.

This, and how the university president was removed, could really split the University and be ugly. I'm an avid follower of UVa sports, grew up around the University, and have family members there now. I can say this with some degree of experience...most UVa people (students, alum, faculty) have a certain cockiness/superiority complex about themselves that's very apparent.

They truly think of themselves as a public Ivy league school, and plenty of rankings back that up. Alot of folks associated with the school think they're "too good" for their school to have an online label, and don't want to see it turn to an open enrollment model. Others within the university see the writing on the wall and that other high profile schools are opening an online component, and realize the school needs to keep up with the times.

I'm in the camp that it needs to happen, just do it right and you don't have to sacrifice quality. Keep admissions standards tough, offer a good product, and I don't see how reputation suffers when plenty of other reputable schools are already doing it.

 

Very true. That is why I thought this made for an interesting read.

 

FWIW I agree with the UVa Rector's position that UVa needs to move forward with online options, but also feel she did an absolutely terrible job and created a PR nightmare of removing the University President who wasn't moving aggressively enough.

 

Does online education necessarily have to mean open enrollment?

 

I don't think it has to, but that seems to be the connotation.

On another note, I have UVA friends as well and they can be a bit smug to people who attend what they deem to be inferior schools. They need to keep in mind that their school already has a liberal studies program on Campus with very lax (comparatively) admission standards. Not sure why folks would be upset if that program or newly created ones housed in that school/department were offered online, which will most likely be the case as most "elite" school's online programs are called liberal studies/0professional studies/extension.

 

In theory, no.

In practice, though, it usually does -- especially at the undergraduate level.

For example, are there any online bachelor's programs, in any field, from any school, that require SAT or ACT scores for admission?

I will acknowledge that there are online master's programs that require standardized test scores for admission. But I'm asking about online bachelor's programs.

 

The example of a competitive admissions online program that I was thinking about was VTech's online programs (though most, if not all, of these are graduate, not undergraduate).

 

Is VTech one of those schools? :evil:

 

Liberty certainly is. at:

 

They can make what Colorado did a Global Campus just for the DL degrees. This way there will be separation between traditional and DL. Or call it UVa Extension.

 

Ted, the only school in VA that UVa folks consider their "peer" academically is William & Mary.

 

Most people are probably unaware but UVA has already been offering DL degrees for about a decade... just not online. I lived in a small town in VA for about 10 years...about a five hour drive from the Charlottesville campus. My little town had a "higher education center" where we could take UVA classes and complete 100% of the degree requirements without ever attending the main campus. I don't remember everything they offered but I do remember a buddy of mine working on a master's degree in engineering there. VA has several of these "higher education centers" throughout the commonwealth.

 

I believe you are referring to Colorado State University Global Campus.

 

Assume you're referring to UVa-Wise. There are plenty of UVa folks who don't like the name associated in that way either. Many among the alums & faculty of the main campus in Charlottesville are old school...very traditional, and not open to change if it could in any way tarnish the brand name.

Figured the online debate was inevitable, and not surprised it's meeting some resistance.

 

UVa does have a branch campus at Wise, but I think this post is actually referring to UVa's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, which offers certain programs through "Academic Centers" located statewide. These include centers in the DC, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, and Bristol areas (as well as Charlottesville).

 

No, I'm referring to the big-dog, The University of Virginia. They have been offering DL programs at extended campus locations for many years.

I'm very familiar with UVA-Wise. I grew up in the general area where the Wise campus is. One of the first jobs I ever had as a teenager was working a one-night gig as a server during a dinner for an upcoming UVA-Wise graduation. Of course, it wasn't even called UVA-Wise then. It was known as Clinch Valley College, although it was still the one and only UVA branch campus.

 

Yes, this is what I'm referring to.