Florida Ponders Opening an Online-Only Public University

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by AV8R, Sep 17, 2012.

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  1. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    Florida Ponders Opening an Online-Only Public University - Technology - The Chronicle of Higher Education


     
  2. Hadashi no Gen

    Hadashi no Gen New Member

    Well, other states have done it. We all know which ones I'm talking about. Good luck to FL on choosing the best fit for what they need.
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm not sure this makes more sense than a portal that guides students to online programs available from all Florida's public colleges and universities, nor am I sure it would be better than the "WGU Florida" approach.
     
  4. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    WGU Florida? Florida is not a western state.
     
  5. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Florida actually did something like this back in the late 90's. Florida Gulf Coast University was supposed to be a "virtual" school at least to the degree possible at the time. It quickly grew into a very traditional school as that is what the market demanded at the time.

    Florida has one of the largest online middle/high schools in the country, it has proven very successful.

    They have run the "distance learning consortium", now called "Florida Virtual Campus" for years Course Search

    I wonder what the effect will be on the rest of the campuses if they allow one big virtual school for distance education. I suspect that for the foreseeable future we will have a University of Florida and a Florida State...but 20 years from now what will the landscape look like?

    my feelings on the WGU model are mixed at best, Time magazine ran a story this week that dealt mainly with certification (degrees) vs education. I so far feel like WGU very much falls into the former...I am being required to do a lot of work, but I'm not so sure I am learning a great deal...the joys of "competency based" education. :)
     
  6. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    It is possible using WGU models. Should it be Eastern Governors University (EGU); since this idea is supporting Governor Rick Scott? However, it would be great if they copy ColState...to make it Florida State University - Global Campus or University of Florida - Global Campus (University College). By the way, what happened to University of Illinois Global Campus?
     
  7. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Yes, it should. Florida is an eastern state.
     
  8. atrox79

    atrox79 Member

    I thought it was technically considered a southern state.
     
  9. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    No football team? Couldn't the new school at least have a fantasy football option? :smile:
     
  10. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    I know that Florida is considering as eastern state. But how do they determine eastern or western; by utilizing the Mississippi river? If so, then Indiana cannot be part of Western Governors University - Indiana.
     
  11. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I'm just guessing, but there may be some resistance against distance-learning at some of the FL universities, ranging from schools like U. Florida and Florida State that might fear that becoming known for lots of DL would damage their reputations, to general opposition from faculty and their unions who associate DL with the U. of Phoenix and with lots of poorly-paid adjuncts. So it's conceivable that starting a DL-specific state university from the ground up might avoid a lot of academic politics and institutional foot-dragging.

    But yeah, it does seem to make sense to have each of the 12 existing FL state universities host one or two large DL programs, capable of accepting a high volume of students. Then gather all of these 12 to 24 degree programs together with a single website, and ideally put in a common admissions process, and apply the same catalog rules and regulations to all of the programs. That way it would look to its students, and perhaps to their future employers as well, as if it was all coming from a single Florida DL state university.
     
  12. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    It is both.
     
  13. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    By gosh, I think you've got that one right.
     
  14. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    Well, Western Governors University was founded by western governors; no matter where it adds locations, it will still have been founded by western governors and its name will commemorate that.
     
  15. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    The University of Florida offers a variey of online programs, including doctorates, and Florida State does also, including an MLS.
     
  16. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Yeah, I was just speculating that perhaps distance learning might be a bit controversial with some factions of academic politics. So the idea of significantly expanding DL offerings might conceivably encounter some push-back.

    I don't know if that's the case. But if it was, then the idea of focusing DL offerings in a state institution that's specifically dedicated to DL might make some sense, since its administration and faculty would presumably have been selected from individuals who are already comfortable with and supportive of the medium.
     
  17. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

    I would be interested in it but want lower costs and monthly start dates instead of fixed semesters at a minimum.
     
  18. TonyM

    TonyM Member

    A new school with a DL mission will not face an old guard resistant to distance learning. It would likely be more progressive and flexible than an old state school with academic policies that predate the Internet.
     

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