I have been an active participant in distance learning for several years now. I graduated from the University of Maryland’s online undergraduate program. I have also been taking a few distance courses from Harvard University. In addition to these activities, I have taken it upon myself to write to the presidents of the top 25 U.S. national universities (as ranked annually by U.S. News) to encourage them to press forward with full-fledged online degree programs. As you are probably already aware, there is only one or two of these top 25 U.S. national universities that offers online programs, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level. (Carnegie Mellon University offers a master’s degree program in computer science; Stanford University offers an electrical engineering master’s degree online.) As expected, most college presidents were unenthusiastic about further development of online learning initiatives. I’m wondering if some form of “coalition” needs to be formed in order to finally get these college presidents and associated administrators to once and for all press forward in this area — especially with regards to online degrees outside of the fields of computer science/information technology, business, and education. (I have absolutely nothing against these fields, of course, I’m just simply suggesting that many other disciplines can be taken up within the online learning environment.) I’m wondering if there is any type of distance learning organization, some organization that may even carry some political clout, as it were? Or what about a simple petition, a petition containing hundreds or thousands of names of potential participants in distance learning online programs? Does anyone have any suggestions, questions, comments, etc.?
Well we can try contacting your congressman or state legislator and at least get pressure on the Public institutions to offer more distance learning options. Unfortunately the guy who would have been the most helpful (IMO) was Sonny Bono (R) Palm Springs but hes dead try e mailing or calling his wife who is now the Rep for the area . I dont know Mary as well as I knew sonny but its worth a shot.
I can understand you perceived need for something like this but I think something is already being done about this. Please forgive me for getting atop my economic/political soapbox but have we not learned yet that anytime you get gov't involved in anything that is simply increases beauracracy and thereby costs and makes it more difficult to get anything done (like getting an education!). A better solution would be to show the colleges how successful DL programs are and how much money they bring in. As a seasoned business consultant working with federal gov't agencies and the military I can tell you from experience that in the public sector their main concern is "he who controls the biggest budget wins". In the mean time don't stir Leviathan, let the universities that were smart enough to provide DL programs benefit from their actions and show the so called "Top" universities what they should be doing - providing educational services instead of protecting a reputation.
New Initiatives in Distance Learning Menger, I think what you're saying is wise. However, one thing that I didn't really clarify is the fact that out of all of the institutions that offer distance learning programs, there is not one of them that seems to have the courage or the initiative to venture outside of the business, computer science, engineering, or education environment. In other words, these are essentially the only fields in which distance learning degrees can be earned (speaking of the graduate-level). (Of course there are a very few minor exceptions here and there.) I am someone who is not interested in any of these fields; I would like a graduate degree in the areas of psychology, philosophy, or social science. Additionally, I have spoken with other friends and colleagues who are interested in programs in history, political science, literature, American studies, and so forth. When it comes to certain fields I realize that distance learning will never be a possibility, such as the biological and chemical sciences, medicine, geology, etc., but there are indeed certain fields that could be easily and wonderfully adapted to the online/distance learning environment. I guess what I was trying to say in my first post as well was the fact that many institutions simply will not venture into certain areas of online learning in regards to certain fields/subjects (such as those noted above, e.g. psychology, philosophy, political science, etc.). Both the University of Maryland and University of Illinois, for example, offer several online undergraduate and graduate programs. However, when I inquired about venturing into these other areas, they were not very receptive. My brother is a professor of music at the Juilliard School. I have sought his experience in higher education to try and decipher exactly why colleges and universities are completely reluctant to venture into these "graduate arts and sciences" fields. It is only his opinion, but he believes it comes directly as a result of the fact that many of the faculty members associated with most institutions of higher learning are reluctant to adapt to new forms of technology, new educational technologies and initiatives, and so forth. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that these programs couldn't be easily adapted to the online environment (I mean think of a simple English degree; all there is involved is a tremendous amount of reading and writing -- something that could easily be accomplished in the distance learning environment) but rather the fact that these institutions have faculty and/or administrators who are unwilling to accommodate themselves to new forms of technology involved with education. He said that he actually knows of many professors at Juilliard who will not -- absolutely will not -- have anything to do with computers, e-mail, even cellphones in their personal or professional lives. They are completely adverse to many forms of new technology. If you want to study with them (speaking of instructors at Juilliard and elsewhere), he says that they have the attitude that "you must come and sit in front of me and pay homage to me..." I'm just trying to get some of these college presidents and associated administrators to make an honest push to fight these antitechnology, long-lasting negative trends within higher education. Again, I have written to 25-30 different college presidents, not to mention individual faculty members (heads of departments), and most of them, pardon my negative description, sound like "old fogies" who want nothing to do with any brave new world. I have been at this for several years. I'm starting to get a little bit discouraged, to say the least. New graduate-level programs do indeed come out on a somewhat regular basis here and there, but they are always programs that are centered in those four areas of learning noted above. I think this is simply because those minor portions of colleges and universities that are willing to think outside the box are those sections dealing with new business initiatives, computer science and information technology, new forms of engineering, and those few areas of the education departments that are willing to think about new forms of delivery. But when you think about all of the college departments as a whole, only a small percentage are willing to investigate/implement distance learning initiatives. Mike, I have written to many politicians including my own senators and representatives (both on the federal and state levels), but distance learning initiatives are not a big priority with them. Any further suggestions? Thanks!
In many cases it will require the retirement of key faculty and administrators who are antagonistic toward distance learning. Years of research supports the idea that people can learn at a distance if the instruction is well-designed and delivered. A move to try to force or legislate institutions into offering distance learning programs will liekly be sabotaged at either the legislative or institutional level. If stodgy institutions cannot or will not evolve to meet the needs of learners, they will be replaced by those that will. Tony
Technical schools In regards to your wonderful suggestion about writing to technical schools, I have written to Caltech, MIT, Texas Tech, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New York Institute of Technology and a few others. They do have a few distance learning programs in computer science and engineering. But almost nothing outside of these technical fields. I remember writing to the president of Caltech about 18 months ago. This was soon after Caltech had received $600 million in the largest ever endowment bestowed upon any institution of higher learning. The endowment was from the Gordon Moore Foundation, Gordon Moore being one of the founders of Intel. I told the president of Caltech -- who was and is a Nobel laureate -- that this represented a wonderful time and opportunity to investigate expanding the educational initiatives at Caltech, including distance learning. The letter that I wrote to him was two full pages in length. I was trying to specifically explain to him exactly how many different types of individuals would benefit from distance learning and how Caltech would remarkably expand its reach across not only the United States but throughout the world as well. His reply letter came to me about six weeks later. Even though I had written to him a full two pages of explanation, his letter of dissent was exactly two sentences. I do not remember the exact phraseology, but it was something akin to "how ridiculous". He never even thanked me for the time and effort that went into the letter. He never said anything complementary about any aspect of distance learning. He was just wholly dismissive. This represents my experience with most of the college presidents and/or administrators I have made contact with over the past few years.
Keep at it Highland. The responses you receive are typical of such unionized organizations. It is analogous to when legislation is passed. Once it is passed, no matter how bad the law is, it is extremely difficult and costly to have it repealed. In other words, once you receive money from the gov't and have gov't backing you pretty much do not have to listen to the wants and needs of the consumer. As far as the anti-tech people...that is something that has existed on the left for many many years. During the beginning of the industrial revolution there was an organized group known as the "Ludites" that actually believed that machines were bad/evil in that they took jobs from "workers" and they would break into companies and destroy the machinery. Many times no penalties were given them (gov't backing). So as long as the gov't backs the universities and takes their focus off of the consumer then there is little chance of change unless you convince politicians and/or professors that it is in their own best interest to do so. My suggestion would be to tie it in with some political interest group...for instance, DL education allows minorities to attain education that is not available to them otherwise. DL education "levels the playing field" between the "haves and have nots". DL education raises people out of poverty and improves moral character. Not that I believe these leftist or rightist socialist ploys but it might get them to listen.
UMUC is not Univ of MD It is important to note that the University of Maryland does not offer online courses. Univ of Maryland Univ College does. Two totally different schools.
