The Auburn Plainsman - Distance learning entices

The Auburn Plainsman - Distance learning entices

Opening the door of opportuinty via e-learning

Many universities are finding out that distance learning is not just for remote students but instead that it can be a great complementary tool to good onsite instruction. Even in the early days on online learning Mercy College saw this as a great deal of the busy adults in its traditional campused programs sought to balance their schedule with e-learning courses.

As the first college to receive full accreditation to offer 100% online programs by the Middle States Association, Mercy saw what now Auburn is confirming. This should be of particular interest to universities that have taken a stand against e-learning initiatives. As a Vice President of a university put it to me when I inquired about the possibility of complementing its programs with e-learning, "that is not the kind of university we want to become". The answer made clear his perception of new instructional initiatives and those that pursue them but, it also provide me with a insight on where his competition should focus.

E-Learning in its many forms is a powerful competitive edge. It can reach those that would have never considered enrollment in an educational program. It can also entice those weighing alternatives between a job and an education. This is true to working adults in the US but it is also true with some traditional age students from overseas. As I put it to overseas students with limited resources wanting to study in the US, "an institution offering solid e-learning might be the difference between staying home and your US experience". A few courses taken from home might reduce the cost of a full overseas education making it possible to study in the US for a semester or a year, of a MBA program, for example. A win for the university, a win for the student who realized his educational dream, and in this case, a win for the US as it brings understanding of its culture overseas. Is this the kind of university you want yours to be?