BusinessTN

A mere ten years ago, "e-learning" was in its infancy. The technology was there, but many schools were reluctant to incorporate cyber-learning--in virtual classrooms--into their traditional ivy-covered curricula. While continuing education and professional training has been available for decades--on college campuses--utilizing a personal computer at home to obtain a degree was unheard of until recently. Schools across the state have only come online with degree programs for the e-learner since the dawn of the new millennium.

In the beginning, much of the push to incorporate distance learning, e-learning and online degrees came from the need to meet the academic demands of busy nontraditional students anxious to pursue coursework and even degrees in their spare time. These days, students of all ages are taking advantage of online courses, completing part of the necessary coursework toward their degrees on campuses and part online and, in some cases, pursuing entire degrees online.

One question on the minds of those in the business of e-learning is how the economy affects enrollment. In the wake of gas prices topping $4, some schools are reporting a spike in enrollment numbers. According to Robbie Kendall- Melton, the associate vice chancellor of academic affairs and educational technology for the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), gas prices are affecting the numbers in a positive way. "This summer, we've seen a 29% increase over last year in enrollment in online classes throughout our collaborative of schools. And for the upcoming 2008 fall semester, we've seen an increase of 22% over last year--with three weeks left in the registration period."

Beth Dodd, director of continuing education at UT-Chattanooga, agrees that the price of gas may very well be affecting enrollment--which is up at her institution as well--but stipulates that if the economy is a factor, students are not saying so. "We've continued to grow from our inception in 1999. We've recently added two new degrees to our program, and along with the selection we had in place, we're doing very well," she says. Dodd believes that the economy and rising gas prices may be responsible for an increase in enrollment in non-credit programs, though.

In 2001, the Regents Online Degree Program, or RODP--the collaborative of six universities, 13 community colleges and 26 technology centers under the TBR umbrella--began with a headcount of 500 students. "We now offer three master's, three bachelor's and three associate's degree programs, four technology certificates and two diplomas from the Technology Centers--all online," Kendall-Melton says. "Our enrollment stands, currently, at 10,000 students. So, while soaring gas prices might be giving our program a push, it's not a temporary effect."

Kendall-Melton believes that students with sophisticated skill sets are one of the main components in the exponential increase in the number of students interested in online learning. "Young people are coming out of high school already able to navigate a virtual classroom, and they have no fear of using computers and learning the technology. And more and more older people are learning technology because our lifestyles are becoming increasingly more linked to technology," she says.

One of the main appeals of online learning in the new millennium is that there is no discernible difference between learning "on-ground" and learning online. "Online degrees are exactly like traditional degrees," says Stanley Groppel, dean for the Center for Extended and Distance Learning at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville.

Kendall-Melton agrees. "Initially, there were some negative feelings about online learning--jokes about 'becoming a doctor in two weeks,'" Kendall-Melton says. "That paradigm is shifting as research shows that our programs offer the same quality and rigor as traditional programs." Transcripts and diplomas from RODP programs are the same as those that traditional students attending physical campuses receive. Kendall-Melton points to the RODP's Platinum Award win at the IMS Global Learning Consortium for 2008 as evidence of the program's high standards and excellent results.

"If you look beyond the factors of gas prices and the economy, we have increased enrollment each year--and we have retained those students," Kendall-Melton says. "We also now know that people who have graduated from the RODP program have found jobs comparable to those attained by traditional students."

Will the growth of online learning cut into enrollment on traditional campuses? Those in the business of teaching in cyber-space say no. "With online learning, we're able to bring more students to education," Kendall-Melton says.

Granted, online learning isn't for everyone, so it won't prove to be a panacea for anyone concerned with gas prices. Those students who opt for the virtual classroom over traveling to a local campus must be self-motivated and able to manage their time. But neither is online learning a trend that will diminish or disappear in the face of a booming economy, either. "We're so proud of the people who started with us and are staying with us," Kendall-Melton says. "Once they go online, they tend to stay online."