N.C. A&T was ranked 18 for the best online graduate computer information technology programs, 85 for best online graduate education programs and 106 for best online bachelor’s programs by U.S News and World Report in January 2013.
A&T sees a three percent increase in online enrollment each semester. U. S. News and World Report’s article “Online Course Enrollment Climbs for 10th Straight Year,” stated the 2011-2012 online enrollment was up 9.3 percent from the previous year.
It also noted that, in the 2011-2012 fiscal school year, 32 percent of total higher education enrollment was online and 62.4 percent of colleges surveyed in 2012 offer full online degree programs compared to 32.5 percent in 2002.
There are currently 10,075 students enrolled at A&T.
From those, 1,957 are online and 369 are dual, online and
campus based, students.
According to Gwendolyn
Godard, the Associate Director for the Center for Distance Learning, the most common online courses are general education and business economics.
The most common programs are information technology, education, health professions and criminal justice, with bachelor’s and master’s a the most common degree certificates.
Godard believes distance learning offers flexibility and convenience for students who have busy lives.
“With the economic challenges that our country has been experiencing, it has provided a mechanism for adult learners to retool and pursue new career paths,” she added.
Online classes are also cheaper than campus classes.
Students only pay for their classes and books, as opposed to paying for classes and your main campus charges.
A&T charges undergraduate residents $104 per credit hour (Undergraduate Non-Residents pay $462 per credit hour) plus a $8 per credit hour technology usage fee and a $5 Distance Learning Access Fee. Graduate Residents pay $187 per credit hour (Graduate Non-Residents pay $747 per credit hour) plus a $10 per credit hour technology usage fee and a $5 Distance Learning Access Fee, according to Godard.
Godard also said there is no reason to fear the dissipation of physical universities. “While distance learning does provide many viable alternatives, this mode of delivery is not the preferred delivery mode for everyone,” she said.
This holds true to Malcolm Miller, a junior computer engineering student from Chicago, who prefers classes on campus rather than distance learning for now.
Miller took a required course online and said it gave him the ability to work at his leisure. He said it allowed him to devote his time elsewhere as he was working while taking online classes. “It’s very hard to work and go to school unless you work on campus. You have to account for time to work and time for homework. Online, it’s spelled out for you.” Miller noted that online assignments are due on specific dates that professors provide in the beginning. This allows students to equally divide their time elsewhere.
Miller continued to explain everyone does not have time for the classroom. Despite this, the lack of “human interactivity” makes Miller prefer the classroom. “Online, you are on your own. In a classroom, you have a professor who will teach you and if you have a question, they can help you. You can also go to their office if you need to.”
Miller would consider taking strictly online classes in the future when he has a career as he believes that he will not have time to be on a campus for classes at their designated meeting times.
Godard said, “Some people still enjoy having the opportunity to meet with their classmates and faculty members face-to-face in the traditional manner.”
Online classes are also cheaper than campus classes. Students only pay for their classes and books, as opposed to paying for classes and your main campus charges. A&T charges un dergraduate residents $104 per credit hour (Undergraduate Non-Residents pay $462 per credit hour) plus a $8 per credit hour technology usage fee and a $5 Distance Learning Access Fee.
Graduate Residents pay $187 per credit hour (Graduate Non-Residents pay $747 per credit hour) plus a $10 per credit hour technology usage fee and a $5 Distance Learning Access Fee, according to Godard.
Godard also said there is no reason to fear the dissipation of physical universities.
“While distance learning does provide many viable alternatives, this mode of delivery is not the preferred delivery mode for everyone,” she said.
This holds true to Malcolm Miller, a junior computer engineering student from Chicago, who prefers classes on campus rather than distance learning for now.
Miller took a required course online and said it gave him the ability to work at his leisure.
He said it allowed him to devote his time elsewhere as he was working while taking online classes.
“It’s very hard to work and go to school unless you work on campus. You have to account for time to work and time for homework. Online, it’s spelled out for you.”
Miller noted that online assignments are due on specific dates that professors provide at the beginning of the course. This allows students to equally divide their time elsewhere.
Miller continued to explain everyone does not have time for the classroom.
The lack of “human interactivity” makes Miller prefer the classroom.
“Online, you are on your own. In a classroom, you have a professor who will teach you and if you have a question, they can help you. You can also go to their office if you need to.”
Miller would consider taking strictly online classes in the future when he has a career as he believes that he will not have time to be on a campus for classes at their designated meeting times.
Godard said, “Some people still enjoy having the opportunity to meet with their classmates and faculty members face-to-face in the traditional manner.”
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- Kim Fields, Register Reporter