e-Learning Pundit

Blogging distance learning opportunities at traditional colleges and universities
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Iowa State writing course reviewed

July 02, 2009 By: Paul Category: Continuing Education, Unique Online Degree or Certificate, Resume Boosters, State Colleges and Universities

Approximately 3 months back, we reported on the Basics of Professional Writing course offered in a self-study format by Iowa State University.

A student over at DegreeInfo decided to “take the plunge”, so to speak.  Please go here for the comments.

Ethics certificate from University of New Mexico

July 01, 2009 By: Paul Category: Continuing Education, Unique Online Degree or Certificate, Resume Boosters, State Colleges and Universities

It has come to our attention that Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico offers an online certificate program in business ethics.

This ten-week program has two start dates per year and costs $895.  The next course begins on September 14, 2009.  A certificate from the UNM Management Development Center is awarded upon completion.

Will return on July 1

June 29, 2009 By: Paul Category: Uncategorized


Friday News Roundup - 06/26/09

June 26, 2009 By: Paul Category: News

A short, sweet news roundup for this Friday. 

+ Oklahoma Christian University now offers an online MBA.

+ The University of North Dakota online MBA option: “Where all pay in-state tuition“.

+ More on the “Green Degree” offered via distance learning by the University of Wisconsin system.

+ Central Texas College signs an articulation agreement with Indiana Wesleyan University Online.

+ Food Science online, at Kansas State University.

+ Some info about the online Master of Fine Arts program through Wilkes University (PA).

+ Northeast Community College (NE) now offers “complete associate of arts degrees” online.

Have a great weekend!

United Kingdom Universities: World Distance Learning Leaders?

June 25, 2009 By: Paul Category: Outside the USA

At least this is how our brethren across the pond may envision their global role with respect to post-secondary education in the online sense.

A new task force to ensure our universities become the first choice across the world for on-line distance learning was announced yesterday by Higher Education Minister, David Lammy.

The task force chaired by Lynne Brindley, the Chief Executive of the British Library will advise on a wider strategy to build on our past and present successes and ensure we do not lose pace on increased demand in expanding and new markets.

It will be backed by a new Open Learning Innovation Fund aimed at helping universities build on their existing world class reputations to access and engage future markets that are expected to value around £15bn in the future…..

It goes without saying that DL = big $, or in this case, £.

A new Jack Welch MBA and the semi-nameless U

June 24, 2009 By: Paul Category: For-profit watch, Private Colleges and Universities, Online Education, Name Recognition

By now, almost everyone has heard about the new online MBA program which teams former General Electric CEO Jack Welch with Chancellor University.

Let’s begin by saying congratulations to Shaun Redgate, COO of Chancellor U.  Shaun and I have corresponded back and forth a few times in the past.

Second, BusinessWeek published a report yesterday describing the deal between both parties, Chancellor and Welch.  Strangely, Chancellor University was not mentioned in the BW piece by its current name.  Only the school’s former name (Myers University) received any exposure at all.  I thought this a bit odd.

Everyone who has followed this blog knows my thoughts on for-profit colleges.  Still, the Chancellor-Welch connection is good news.

Walking in Memphis, Part 2

June 23, 2009 By: Paul Category: State Colleges and Universities

Just over three months ago, we mentioned the online MA in Journalism from the University of Memphis.

Thanks to information provided by a poster on Degreeinfo.com, we now hear that the Tigers will offer an online MBA beginning in Fall, 2009.

And when it comes to those annoying fees for non-residents of Tennessee, the university says:

Out of state and international students are eligible for our online student out-of-state fee scholarship. When you apply to the program, be sure to indicate your out of state status. The out of state fee scholarship will result in total fees equal to those paid by in-state students

Not bad.  Fee charts are found here.  There’s also a $100 per semester-hour distance learning fee.

Website of the week - AboutEdu

June 22, 2009 By: Paul Category: Website of the Week

As promised earlier, we’ll discuss AboutEdu.  My thoughts:

- AboutEdu appears “Non-advertiser supported”, and is a “dot org”.

- How can anyone not like the site’s focus on distance learning opportunities through community colleges?

- Breaking down tuition costs (i.e. “Under $100 p/unit”, etc.) into price levels really simplifies things.

- Disclosure.  Take a look at the following statement:

AboutEdu Disclosure: One of the principals of AboutEdu completed a course at Foothill College while attending Stanford University. The course was not offered by Stanford University at that time.

Too cool.

- After playing the pundit role for a few years, I have not seen such a comprehensive catalog of 2-year programs available online or via distance learning.

- The “Statewide & Regional Search Sites” page contains a treasure trove of state-specific information.

Out of 5 stars, AboutEdu may deserve 6.  It’s that good.  A fantastic, highly informative site.

Friday News Roundup - 06/19/09

June 19, 2009 By: Paul Category: News

Here’s to you, dear readers. 

New online degrees, certificates, and courses 

+ University of Kentucky: online certificate in developmental disabilities.  This is significant news for two reasons.  First, UK charges both KY residents and out-of-state dwellers the same tuition rate.  Graduate tuition costs $410 per credit hour or roughly $1,230 for each 3-credit hour distance class there. Second, we now have a third distance degree/certificate program “available nationally” from UK.

+ Northwestern State University of Louisiana: an online “Bachelor of Arts in Journalism will be available online beginning this fall”. 

+ New York University-ePoly adds 8 new online graduate programs

+ Canisius College (NY) will offer three new online masters degrees beginning this fall.  

+ Stevenson University (MD): new online criminal justice bachelors

+ Northern Kentucky University: new online bachelors in Library Informatics. 

+ New course through Montana State University Online: “Native America: Dispelling the Myths”.  

+ A distance degree for civil servants starts up in the United Kingdom. 

In other news

+ ABC7 News asks, “Are online degrees worth it?” 

+ Expanding online undergraduate classes at Auburn University. 

+ The St. Petersburg Times (FL) publishes a lengthy piece on University of South Florida’s ECampus.

+ Debating distance learning within the University of Arkansas system.

+ US News and World Report: “10 Reasons to Pick a Community College“.

+ Educational opportunities for servicemembers receives a fair amount of coverage on this site.  But what about the spouses?

Have a wonderful weekend! 

U.S. News and World Report may expand rankings

June 18, 2009 By: Paul Category: For-profit watch, Online Education

to possibly include colleges and universities having significant distance (online) degree programs?  So reports Inside Higher Ed.

The Good:  Information is power.  In theory, consumers might make better-informed choices concerning the many schools inhabiting cyberspace.

The Bad:  This endeavor could easily evolve into a lead generation service for a bunch of for-profit colleges.

Let us see how this turns out.