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Colleges Get Creative
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BNH
6/1/2000
By: Priscilla Searles
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It wasn't that long ago that anyone desiring a college degree could go to classes full time during the day or, for those who didn't have the time or money, there were night classes. The latter usually meant a long and frustrating road to a degree.
In today's busy world people are looking for shortcuts to everything, it seems - including college classes or degrees. Enter the newest offering from colleges and universities: online learning. Yes folks, you can aim at a new career, college degree or even take classes that will help you in your business - all on the World Wide Web.
Among Connecticut schools that have entered into this latest offering are Sacred Heart University and the schools in the Connecticut State University system, including Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities.
Sacred Heart offers seven distance-learning courses this summer, open to part-time, non-degree and visiting students from other colleges. According to SHU officials, in the Internet-based learning experience the student and the instructor work together online and with classmates. Of course, the schools don't do it all for you - you have to buy your own computer with access to the Internet and e-mail capacity and have Microsoft Word or compatible word-processing software.
For those of too busy to leave their business for classes, they can learn about business law or take on media studies while tending the store. Sacred Heart assigned students to small study groups with e-mail addresses and requires regular communication with other group members.
Wrapping up its sixth semester, OnlineCSU's class offerings are extensive. The four Connecticut State University System schools will offer 37 courses this summer; 34 are planned for the fall semester. Courses of particular interest to those owning small businesses include cost accounting and principles of accounting, principles of law and project management.
To date, the four schools have enrolled 1,500 learners since going online with 150 courses offered.
Who are these students? In a recent survey of OnlineCSU learners, it was found that “The average OnlineCSU student works full-time, has never taken an online course before and chooses to learn online to earn a degree and/or get a job/enhance present career.”
The state university system also offers some advice on how to avoid getting taken by this newest craze. First, accreditation and licensure information should be listed on the school's Web site or in the print catalogue so make sure the school is legitimate by checking it out carefully. The Better Business Bureau should also be one of your research calls and there are guides available in bookstores and libraries that list schools.
Of course, visiting the school's Web site should provide useful information. Is the site informative, does it address all of your questions? On sure-fire way to test the availability of the school to address your concerns is to try calling them. If you always get an answering service or voice mail and no response, better keep looking.
Talking to others who have taken online courses can be helpful; if you can't find any, try talking to an advisor or professor from the school. The better schools should give you contact names and needed information on school particulars.
In spite of the appeal of online learning, there is more than one way to go. You may want to take a marketing course in order to better promote your business or learn the basics about advertising and can't find an appropriate course. Don't despair: At the rate this new learning tool is proliferating, you won't have to wait long. BNH
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