Assignment ? Online Education at Pillar College
Title of Paper: Benefits of Creating an Online Degree Program in Higher Education
Note: Must include Introduction and Conclusion. Be sure to use Headings and Sub-Headings.
Basic Premise: For most of their histories, traditional colleges and universities have had no serious competition except from institutions with similar operating models. However, for the first time disruptive technologies are at work in higher education as competitors are offering online courses and degrees. Clayton Christensen describes the evolution of the widely influential Harvard model, and note the disruptive potential of online degree providers. Christianson encourages institutions to commit to real innovation by changing their DNA from the inside out, and discourage them from trying to excel at too much as they attempt to climb ahead of their competitors. Instead, they recommend that traditional universities adopt a pattern of continuous innovation focused on their unique mission?without undue concern for either tradition or what other institutions are doing.
Special Note: This paper is to be written from the perspective of the Director of Admissions (which is me) and to introduce a proposal to bring an online Bachelor Degree program to Pillar College, its President?s Cabinet and Board of Trustees. It is the belief of this writer such an addition will increase our enrollment exponentially, thus adding additional revenues to an otherwise restricted budget.
1. Provide a thorough overview of the reasoning behind the need to bring an online bachelor degree program to Pillar College.
– Pillar College is a small tuition-driven institution of higher learning with its main campus located in Newark, the largest city in New Jersey. As the paradigm has shifted over the years, Pillar has made two major additions over the past decade and a half to stay afloat in the ultra-competitive New York/New Jersey metropolitan market. Below is a brief description of the two stimuli (LEAD and BLEND) along with the final impetus, Online Degree Program.
a. LEAD ? Pillar College introduced its Life Enhancing Accelerated Degree Program in 2001. This program is specifically designed for working adults ages 25 and older. Students can enter the program with 48 or more credits and complete a Bachelor?s degree in 20 to 22 months.
b. BLEND ? Pillar began offering its Bi-Lingual Entry Degree Program in 2012 to meet the needs of our Hispanic students where English is their second language. Students can complete an Associate?s degree in just two years in their native language of Spanish; all while blending five levels of ESL into their program.
c. Online Degree Program ? The third and final addition that needs to be made to take Pillar to the next level is the addition of an Online Degree Program. While students currently can take online classes at the college, there is no degree completion program offered online.
2. Main Topics to Cover:
a. What Makes Online Education Attractive? – An economy in recession.
b. Flexibility ? Online education allows student to attend course at their convenience.
c. Availability and Accessibility ? Online learning is more widely available now than ever before.
d. Increased Student-Student and Student-Instructor Interaction ? Most students find online participation less intimidating than classroom participation.
e. Major Colleges Offering Online Degrees ? Penn State, Oregon State and Harvard.
f. Conclusions and Recommendations ? Online learning has become irreversibly integrated into modern higher education.
3. Sub-Topics to Cover:
a. Remaining Competitive – A key motivator for universities to offer online classes is simply to keep up with online universities and other schools that have added online classes in the early 21st century.
b. Attracting More Students – Online classes allow a university to attract more students and a more diverse population, which also enhances the quality of education.
c. Having Expansion Opportunities – From a business standpoint, traditional universities view online offerings as a feasible, practical way to expand and grow.
d. Meeting Student Needs – Whether a for-profit company or an educational institution, you have to meet the ongoing and escalating demands and expectations of your marketplace.
You are required to utilize a minimum of 6 to 7 academic resources for the Final Essay. These are academic resources other than your texts. Please format your document and corresponding in-text citation in APA Style. Remember to format your document and all citations in APA style, including a University cover page.
Primary Text: You must use the following primary text book:
Goldstein, L. (2005). A Guide to College & University Budgeting. Foundations for Institutional Effectiveness. Publisher: National Association of College & University Business Officers.
Resources: You are required to utilize a minimum of 6 academic resources other than your primary text and format your document and corresponding in-text citation in 6th edition APA Style.
Length of Paper: 5 pages (please do not submit even one paragraph less than 5 pages).
Format: APA Citation 6th edition.
==============