Although I've never personally considered enrolling and trying to complete a degree online, I've always had a negative (maybe stereotypical) opinion of online education. I know people who are studying in these for-profit programs, and despite a seemingly non-existent application process, they appear to be earning a high quality, challenging, and applicable education. However, I still seem to cringe when I think of "faceless" students across the globe who earn not only undergraduate degrees, but graduate degrees, in fields such as counseling, education, and other helping professions. In my limited viewpoint, I assumed these universities flew under the "We'll take anyone who can pay us," mentality to enrollment, despite any indepth personal contact with potential students to assess capabilities, appropriateness, or career goals.
While much, little, or somewhat of my assumption may have been true, it may be time to reconsider this opinion. In a recent article in InsideHigherEd.com, we see many for-profit institutions such as Kaplan and University of Phoenix reconsidering their enrollment strategies to become more selective and accountable to student outcomes. For-profits globally have taken a considerable hit in recent years with enrollment--Kaplan alone experienced a 42% decline in applicants this past year.
However, authors of the article/blog claim that Kaplan and U of P may be doing this "voluntarily." These institutions are beginning to become more selective in their admissions, and releasing "unprepared" students without stapling debt to their efforts. The article discusses an attempt to lessen the emphasis on the original "business model" to education, and to start better serving student consumers, despite the net monetary profit this will risk. Reading these words on paper (or on screen) was one of those "maybe there is still some good in this world" moments for me for sure!
Pairing my previously narrow opinion of these for-profits, and the little I know about the daily tasks of our U.S. military overseas, I came across yet another humbling article in the Chronicle recently. The piece titled, "For U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan, Online Courses Fill a Valued Niche," authors explain how the U.S. military is meeting the increased need for personnel overseas with an offer to pay for online education. Within ten years of this ongoing ten-year war, military members in Iraq and Afghanistan taking online courses rose from 15% to over 60%. As a result, our military members are now beginning to surpass non-service citizens in educational success. Fewer high school dropouts and more college graduates are within our military than ever before, and approximately 92.5% have high school diplomas compared to 82.8% back in the states.
Reviewing both of these articles has given me a broader and less "simple" perspective on online education and for-profit institutions. Increased accountability on behalf of enrollment hungry universities will undoubtedly lead to more student success, higher graduation rates, and fewer gate-keeping ethical issues. As a country, I am overjoyed that our government has offered to provide a full-expense paid education via distance learning for those who are serving our country for months and years at a time.
Kylie
While much, little, or somewhat of my assumption may have been true, it may be time to reconsider this opinion. In a recent article in InsideHigherEd.com, we see many for-profit institutions such as Kaplan and University of Phoenix reconsidering their enrollment strategies to become more selective and accountable to student outcomes. For-profits globally have taken a considerable hit in recent years with enrollment--Kaplan alone experienced a 42% decline in applicants this past year.
However, authors of the article/blog claim that Kaplan and U of P may be doing this "voluntarily." These institutions are beginning to become more selective in their admissions, and releasing "unprepared" students without stapling debt to their efforts. The article discusses an attempt to lessen the emphasis on the original "business model" to education, and to start better serving student consumers, despite the net monetary profit this will risk. Reading these words on paper (or on screen) was one of those "maybe there is still some good in this world" moments for me for sure!Pairing my previously narrow opinion of these for-profits, and the little I know about the daily tasks of our U.S. military overseas, I came across yet another humbling article in the Chronicle recently. The piece titled, "For U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan, Online Courses Fill a Valued Niche," authors explain how the U.S. military is meeting the increased need for personnel overseas with an offer to pay for online education. Within ten years of this ongoing ten-year war, military members in Iraq and Afghanistan taking online courses rose from 15% to over 60%. As a result, our military members are now beginning to surpass non-service citizens in educational success. Fewer high school dropouts and more college graduates are within our military than ever before, and approximately 92.5% have high school diplomas compared to 82.8% back in the states.
Reviewing both of these articles has given me a broader and less "simple" perspective on online education and for-profit institutions. Increased accountability on behalf of enrollment hungry universities will undoubtedly lead to more student success, higher graduation rates, and fewer gate-keeping ethical issues. As a country, I am overjoyed that our government has offered to provide a full-expense paid education via distance learning for those who are serving our country for months and years at a time. Kylie
Well it seems that even our for-profit counterparts are now seeing the bigger picture, and thankfully seem to be willing to give up some profits. This is encouraging because I have feared that public institutions would be forced to become more business like to compete with for profits. Now it seems that they are becoming less business like to compete with us. So I wonder if these two types of educational models will simply meet in the middle with for profits worrying less about the bottom line, and publics worrying a bit more about student retention?
ReplyDeleteKylie, thanks for posting these two articles. It's nice to see that there does seem to be some good coming out of for-profits and the online education industry. I have to admit, it's going to take a lot more positive for me to jump on either of these bandwagons and sometimes I feel a little hypocritical.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I see the good in providing education for military students overseas, for parents who have to work full time but want to remember what their kids look like, for students who the traditional campus just isn't the right fit.
Buuuuuut...how often do you hear someone say they took an online class that they got "nothing out of," "it was the easiest A ever," "I didn't learn a thing." I know you've all heard something to this affect. This is what I struggle with. What kind of education are these online courses bringing to the table? Is the graduate from this program just as qualified as one of us?
And then there's the for-profit. One thing I know they're rocking is great customer service and providing what students want (one thing of which in online education) and they're leaving the rest of us in the dust. As a transfer admission counselor I get numerous calls a week from prospective students wanting to know what sort of night/weekend and online options we have and I'm forced to list the small amount of online programs we have...it's no wonder that the for-profit/online sector enrollment continues to rise.
In fear of this turning a bit more rant-ish, I'm going to leave it at that...Maybe I'm just bitter. :)
Agreed. I am appreciative of the efforts of for profits but similar to Dana I have some trouble getting on the for profit online bandwagon.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder what these military student are getting out of the deal - is there learning happening or as Dana's puts it "it was the easiest A ever." Part of my concern comes from the full paid degree they receive abroad. Will the education be relevant to civilian society upon their return? Will the GI Bill benefits still apply to receive a different or continued education upon their return? I ask because if the degree they decide to get is relevant to their positions now will it then be relevant when they return and if not will the military continue to pay for an advanced degree that would be more beneficial to civilian life.
My son is in the military and is planning on getting his degree at some point. He did earn some credits at a community college while waiting for his start date with the military. Before he left, we did a lot of research of the college programs that were offered. We were actually impressed with a couple of the on line programs! The counselors were very helpful and we even asked for samples of their course work. All in all, we thought it was a viable option for him. He is still in training at his base but he says that when he is done with his training and his schools that he would like to get started. Also, many of these schools give a huge discount for the military.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I do believe that there are on line programs (for profit) that are probably worthless and a waste of time. I would hope that any one looking into these types of programs does their research and finds a program that challenges them.
Interesting connection between online and for-profit. I guess I see them as two separate things. As a public institution, we have a fair amount of enrollments each semester from active duty military members stationed overseas...or, who start their classes here on campus, then get deployed, and need to switch into online sections to complete them. The dedication these students show to their studies is fairly impressive.
ReplyDeleteWhile most for-profit institutions do have fairly significant online presence, and it is great that they can benefit the military population, as the VA tightens regulations about what they will and won't cover (in terms of tuition and fees), we may see shifts in military enrollments from for-profit institutions to public institutions.