State, national universities see spike in distance-learning enrollment - Kansas City Business Journal:

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With universities offering undergraduater and graduatedegree programs, distancde programs can be beneficial for traditional colleger students as well as adults. “It expandss opportunities for many, Kansans,” says Wichitan Jill Docking, a membeer of the . One such program recentlhy garnerednational attention. ’s “virtual in November was recognized with the Excellencedin Institution-Wide Online Teaching and Learning Programming Award for 2008. The universitu offers 28 degree programs through its accrediteds virtual college along with a variety of certificates andnoncredit opportunities.
Fort Hays State officials say the award is a testamen to its commitment tobroaden higher-learning opportunities. Enrollment at Fort Hays Statr topped 10,000 students this fall. Of its virtual college accounted for an increase of 649 students from a similad period infall 2007. Dr. Edward H. Fort Hays State University president, says the growth is the resultg of a plan that targets students The plan, he also includes a partnershi with China that started in 1999. The partnershi accounts for about half of Fort virtualcollege students. He wants Fort Hays to servre 20,000 students by 2020.
Of that, Hammond hopezs about12,500 will be in the virtual But FortHays isn’t alond in its growth. Others, such as in Winfield, are seeing a spikwe in distance-learning enrollment. “Thagt is an area of focus for us,” says Karebn Pedersen, vice president for Southwestern’s professional studies programs. “We’re working to provide additional educational solution s foradult learners.” Betweeb 85 and 90 percent Southwestern’s professional studies studentsd use its distance programs to some Pedersen says. Southwestern has experienced five to 10 percent growty in online enrollment each year since starting onlinee programsin 2000.
Enrollment increases for distance-learning programds at the state’s colleges and universities also mirrodnational trends. According to a November 2008 study by theSloan Consortium, more than 3.9 milliob students nationwide took at least one onlines course during fall 2007, a 12 percenrt increase over the number reported the in 2006. In some students complete coursework at their own pace onlinse by usingthe Internet, videos and guided Others, such as Fort Hays’ virtual college, also offerd a way to interact with professorxs through streaming video via the Internet.
Students stilkl have to pay for books and tuition foronline classes, but Pedersen says students can save moneuy in other ways such as not having travelp expenses to get to class. Offeringg online classes, she says, doesn’t mean institutionz are saving money. It’d more of a reallocation of funds, she says. Schools still have to pay for a facultuy member to oversee the courses as well as any necessar training toadminister them.