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Dec. 01, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

More students going to college without actually going to college

By RICHARD LAKE
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
24,656
College students enrolled in at least one distance education course in Nevada in the fall of 2007, compared with 5,798 in the fall of 2001. Distance education consists almost entirely of online courses.

3.9 million
Students nationally enrolled in at least one online course in the fall of 2007, compared with 1.6 million in the fall of 2002.

SOURCES: Nevada System of Higher Education, The Sloan Consortium

Going to college doesn't always mean lousy parking, annoying roommates and hanging out in the student union between classes.

Not anymore.

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    • These days, for an increasing number of students, going to college can mean sleeping late, attending class in your underwear and never meeting your professor.

    Welcome to the world of online education. Nationally and in Nevada, the popularity of online-only college classes is not just growing; it's exploding.

    In the last few years, the number of college students taking at least one online course more than doubled nationally. In Nevada, it quadrupled.

    "One of the primary reasons is to make education accessible to students," said Lesley DiMare, provost at Nevada State College.

    Across Nevada, according to an internal report to be presented this week to the university system Board of Regents, nearly 25,000 students were taking at least one distance education course last fall.

    That's up from fewer than 6,000 in 2001.

    Distance education is primarily online courses, though it does include a small number of courses taught via video conferencing in Northern Nevada.

    Numbers aren't available for this year, but indications are the overall trend is continuing.

    A report from the Sloan Consortium, a nonprofit group that promotes online education, says nearly 4 million students are taking online courses nationwide.

    Jessica Kusak is one. Kusak, 27, is studying communications, business and psychology at Nevada State College. She's the editor of the school newspaper and has a job.

    So fitting classes into her schedule can be tough. Which is why an online course or two is always welcome.

    She doesn't see much difference between attending a virtual class through a computer hookup and attending an actual class in a room full of desks.

    Both require work.

    "As far as what you're getting out of the class, I don't see any difference at all," Kusak said. "Of course, like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it."

    What a student gets from an online course often depends on the subject, and on the professor.

    Professors say they always include written lectures, and sometimes include videos, photos, Powerpoint or Flash presentations, live or delayed chats with the professors and other students, as well as things like a calendar to remind students about when assignments are due.

    There is very little hand-holding when it comes to online courses.

    Sondra Cosgrove, who teaches history at the College of Southern Nevada, said she did not take immediately to teaching courses online. It was too much work.

    "I swore I would never do it again," she said.

    But as time went by, she realized how convenient it was for the students, particularly those who are already working, have families and are looking to enhance their education.

    She said some old-school professors still hate the idea.

    "They call it going over to the dark side," she said.

    Still, online courses are gaining ground, even among professors. Half the courses Cosgrove teaches are online only.

    Online classes have gotten so popular in Nevada that National University, a private nonprofit with a campus in Henderson, recently opened a storefront in Summerlin dedicated to selling its online program.

    Bill Regenhardt, the Summerlin center's manager, said it's similar to three such centers already opened in California.

    Its goal is to provide information about online classes to potential students. Online classes have become mainstream, Regenhardt said.

    "It's a lot different than it used to be," he said. "They are much more interactive."

    Terry Norris, director of e-learning at the College of Southern Nevada, the state's largest institution, said the growth locally in online courses is partly a reflection of changing times, and partly of the nature of Las Vegas.

    It is typical for those taking online courses to be working professionals who are looking to enhance their education.

    "That's part of what's been driving the enrollment growth in Nevada," he said.

    Couple that with gasoline prices that rose for three years until the recent drop, and you have an environment ripe for online growth.

    Norris, who also teaches an online business course, said today's software makes it easy to take a course online.

    The downside? Students don't get to participate in "college."

    Grace Thomson, who teaches business courses at Nevada State College, both in a classroom and online, said another downside is that online courses aren't for students who need a lot of handholding.

    Generally, those who are focused and self-reliant will do better with online courses.

    Kusak, the student, agreed.

    "It really takes that much more dedication," she said of the virtual classes. "You need to be your own cheerleader."

    Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.

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    Jesskerr wrote on March 31, 2009 11:37 AM: I relate to students who can't make it to class all the time. Lots of students work full time and it is tough. Try online education. I went to Saint Leo University http://www.saintleo.com and it saved me money and the hassle of going to class.


    DL-Learner wrote on December 01, 2008 10:19 PM: Reply to Michael R. Thompson's post:
    Check out Degreeinfo.com for information on distant/on-line degrees.
    DL-Learner


    John wrote on December 01, 2008 10:06 PM: I too am an ex-unlv student.
    even though a HUGE percentage of students at UNLV are non-traditional they insist on marginalizing us.

    The power that be want so badly to be taken seriously on the national stage that they forget their responsibility to us: Residents of Nevada.

    I am very glad I transferred to NSC.


    Ex UNLV Student wrote on December 01, 2008 08:21 PM: As a former student at UNLV I can tell you that online classes are about the only way a non-traditional student can attend classes. Most of the classes offered at UNLV can not be taken at night because as one UNLV official put it, "non-traditional students are not our focus". Because of that attitude and the availability of online and night classes at Nevada State College I switched. NSC has a great selection of classes offered online. If UNLV would do the same they would see an increase in enrollment. And if they would start marketing to the non-traditional crowd, they could start taking away business from extrememly expensive and useless faux colleges like University of Phoenix.


    annonymous wrote on December 01, 2008 02:59 PM: The Universities and Colleges have long-standing accreditation...I highly doubt these online schools have that much on that end. Sometimes the school's accredidation is much more important than laziness.


    Michael Ray Thompson wrote on December 01, 2008 02:56 PM: I really wish that I could get involved in an online program. I returned to school 2 years ago in Texas in a traditional 4 year University. I stuck with it for a year, but I really didn't like the small town where the school was located. I left after a somester.
    I would appreciate information about online degree programs.

    Sincerly yours,
    Michael R. Thompson


    Stanley wrote on December 01, 2008 02:40 PM: SOUTHWEST GAS IS MOVING THEIR LOCATIONS TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN AND HENDERSON AND CAUSING THE EMPLOYEES TO HAVE TO DRIVE THOUSANDS OF MILES MORE EACH YEAR ADDING TO WASTE AND GLOBAL WARMING.

    THEY ARE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN ENORMOUS SURPLUS OF CASH AND NEED TO INVEST ITOR BE TAXED ON IT.


    John wrote on December 01, 2008 02:38 PM: Iam a 42 year old student at Nevada State and Iam taking all of my classes this semester online. It requiresmuch more discipline than the traditional in-person classes.

    Next semester I will be back at the campus for all but one class but I will take an online class over in person anyday on subjects that do not require a hands on componet.


    Dave Morgan wrote on December 01, 2008 09:04 AM: Learning is life-long. In many venues. This is but one of them. Certifying what you're taught or have learned is the key to determining whether credits or degrees obtained are worth the paper (or screens) they're printed on.


    beentheredonethat wrote on December 01, 2008 08:07 AM: Now if business would just get smart and start having their employees--especially those whose work is performed on a computer and/or telephone--work from their homes, think what a better world it would be for everyone. Unfortunately, the managers and supervisors are control freaks who don't want to give up any of their self-perceived power.


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