According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 45 million adults nationwide have acquired some college credit but lack a full degree from an accredited university.
It is also estimated by the U.S. Department of Education that roughly 500,000 of those people reside in Arizona, which is why ASU has worked to expand its online college.
The goal of ASU’s online college is to incorporate, by a mandate from the Arizona Board of Regents, close to 30,000 fully online students by 2020.
Ultimately ASU is providing opportunity for anyone, located anywhere, to have access to learning opportunities at a great research university, said William Knocke, Director of Communications of ASU Online.
“The reality is that we all learn differently, and there are many different ways to learn,” Knocke said. “In an online setting, technology can enable faculty to interact with each and every student in a way that does not exist in the classroom.”
High quality education is something that should be available to everyone, irrespective of economic means, family situations, or geographic limitations, Knocke said.
College classes online can be customized by providing students with specialized content developed by the same faculty who teach on ASU’s campuses.
The faculty members who are associated with curriculum development are “involved in knowledge creation, knowledge synthesis and knowledge analysis, and combining those factors with a state of the art online learning platform,” Knocke said.
For ASU students, online learning offers the flexibility students seek in regards to completing their degree and engaging in life, work and other responsibilities.
Sophomore communications major Trung Tran said that having access solely to an online environment is very convenient when considering different responsibilities that confront young life, such as social activities and work responsibilities.
“For me an online college is very appealing,” Tran said. “If I can just wake up at noon and in my pajamas pop my laptop open and do some homework without getting out of bed, I’m definitely for the online programs.”
Currently more than 20 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are offered entirely online. Recently, the B.S. in Technological Entrepreneurship and Management and the B.S. in Communications were added.
So far 3,500 students are enrolled online, and many students that occupy the online environment are returning students typically ranging between the ages of 32-45.
“Our online students have multiple and competing responsibilities, such as family and work,” Knocke said. “Most of our students reside in the western U.S., but we have students all over the country and around the world.”
Reach the reporter at amatro@asu.edu
