LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Reasons for not choosing classroom learning9
Executive Summary
Premiere College has been in operation since 2006. In a bid to embrace technological advancement and make education more convenient for the students, the college embarks on the development of an online program for the courses offered. The research proposal outlines a plan to add the online component through a step-by-step exploration of what is needed and how it can be achieved. It explores the issue of costs and ensuring the program is in line with the college mission and goals. It analyzes how the program is likely to benefit the students, faculty, and college once it is operational. Although there are many online college programs existing today, the proper implementation of the research proposal will set the college apart from its competitors locally and globally. The success of an educational institution is evident in its effectiveness, efficiency, and impact on the society. A focus on that will allow the online program to grow and attract more students to its services.
Introduction
Technological advancements and the need for convenience has made online colleges a common phenomenon globally. With internet access, students can enroll in a variety of online programs and graduate without the need to relocate to a different part of the world or disrupt work and family commitments. It is with this in mind that we seek to establish an online component at Premiere College. The establishment of an effective online program requires commitment and the consideration of vital factors such as the costs, marketing, curricula and accreditation among others. The research proposal explores the college’s plan to venture into an online component of its education program. It occurs through a focus on the following.
About the College- Since 2006, the college has focused on the provision of high-quality educational experiences that prepare the individual for success in life through its mission statement. Its mission statement is to produce professionals who can thrive in the global arena and have a positive impact on the society. The college has a student population of 949 and hopes to expand it through the online program. The online program will ensure all activities are founded on the college’s mission statement and goals as it endeavors to impact the lives of students across the world.
Establishing costs- through the development of a business plan, the college will have an estimate of the funds needed to operate the online college. It will outline the budget, expected source of funding, and operational costs. The program can be funded through the existing campus’ revenue, grants, donations or loans. If necessary, fundraisers can also be used in gaining additional financial support. There is a need to ensure students have reliable computers to carry out their learning (Kruski, 2016). Costs will be incurred in the provision of free laptops for students enrolled in the courses as an incentive and ensuring they have what they need to learn. However, laptops will be returned upon completion of the program by every student.
Training faculty and recruitment- It is vital to ensure the faculty members and other parties involved in the implementation of the program are adequately trained on online learning, web-based training, and instruction. It will ensure the program runs smoothly and that any arising technological challenges are dealt with before they have a detrimental impact on the program.
Developing an online curriculum and courses- Most of the curricula and courses will be borrowed from the existing on-campus program. However, there will be additional introductory ICT and English courses to ensure every online student has the computer skills and language needed to receive the maximum benefit from the online learning mode. The curriculum will emphasize on convenience and meet the unique needs of every online student (Moore & Kearsley, 2012). Considering the differences in time zones, job schedules, family and other responsibilities, the curriculum will be tailored in a manner allowing maximum independence. It will occur through the provision of flexible and self-paced programs ensuring the online students are not disadvantaged in any way. At the beginning, the courses offered will be 50; this will increase gradually in line with those offered at the campus.
Web page creation- It will be structured to be user-friendly and responsive. Providing necessary information about the available courses, credit hours, resources, and schedule will keep students in touch with any changes. It will also facilitate academic advising through telephone, email, and live chat with qualified career advisors. The web page will include a feedback segment and student portal allowing students to evaluate the quality of the program and satisfaction with the curriculum and faculty. Periodical evaluation will provide opportunities for improvements.
Legal issues- Before operations, the college will research and develop a better understanding of the state’s requirements for starting an online educational institution. Only then can it apply for a license of operation and get approval through a provisional license. The initial research will ensure the board is aware of what is needed to eventually get the final approval for operation.
Developing admission standards and costs- The program will target working professionals and other individuals seeking to acquire practical knowledge and skills to help in career advancement. Depending on the courses available, the admission standards will range from a high school diploma upwards.
Seeking accreditation- once the online college is running, it is vital to ensure operations according to the accreditation guidelines before it can apply to become an accredited program. It will set the college apart as an approved and reputable place to undergo training. Once teaching begins, the college will be reviewed by a peer review group to evaluate the quality of its program. An accreditation agency can be selected from the list provided by the USA Department of Education.
Benefits of an Online Program
The rise in the number of online college programs can be attributed to the benefits it has for both the institutions and students. Some of the benefits Premiere College and its students will have from the online program focus on convenience, cost, collaboration, and customization.
Convenience
With the internet, students can study and complete their coursework from anywhere. It is a factor valued by students with tight schedules or living far from the college campus. It allows one to pursue further education while still meeting family and work expectations. The adoption of video lessons, live streaming, and other interactive learning experiences ensures the students get their maximum benefit from the course content and instructors. They can also carry out discussions and group activities among one another through audio and video chats, emails, and message board platforms. According to Al-Kassir (2008), this overcomes the barriers of time and place thus making learning more flexible.
Cost
The college is spared the expenses one would incur on building additional physical premises and equipment. It can thus lower the tuition cost for online students whose programs do not cost the students a lot. It is also an advantage to the students who will be able to access quality and affordable classes in comparison to the more expensive on-campus programs. Furthermore, they can save money they would have spent in relocating to the campus, housing, and other services such as commuting. It also promotes financial stability through the fact that the students do not have to interrupt their jobs and source of income for the sake of school.
Collaboration
The fact that online colleges go beyond the limitations of a physical location means it brings together students and instructors from diverse backgrounds. The diverse student population accessing the services benefit from a better understanding of life, culture, and experiences from different parts of the world. It facilitates the exploration of a wide range of issues, topics, and worldviews during course coverage; this enriches the learning experience. The students can also help one another progress and improve in courses that may have some challenges. The collaboration is also evident between students and their instructors who find it easy to mentor them.
Customization
While making changes to an on-campus curriculum is harder, the customization of online programs to suit the student needs is easier. Although the basics of the online curriculum will be similar to the on-campus one, the schedules, timing, duration, resources, and assessments will be tailored to the unique needs of online students (Moore & Kearsley, 2012). The program will allow the college to accommodate a large number of students as it grows; this is due to the lack of physical limitations like classroom capacity. It will also allow the students to enroll for major courses while adding courses they need to improve ICT skills, soft skills, and other competencies. It will allow the college to evolve with the changing needs of its students.
According to a study in 2014, the reasons for preferring online programs to the traditional classroom are outlined in Figure 1 below.
The benefits of online learning are evident in the success stories of several online colleges that have made an alarming growth in the last decade. MIT Open Courseware, for instance, was founded in 2001 and offers over 2,300 courses to students globally. It ensures convenience, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility by allowing free access to all educational materials for both graduate and undergraduate levels. It also ensures collaboration with partners like iTunes, Accenture, and MathWorks to provide quality education to those seeking resources for their training (MIT, 2017).
Alison is another successful online college program offering a range of courses from diploma, digital literacy and IT skills, business skills, languages, personal development and soft skills among others (Alison Online Learning, 2016). With over 9 million students, it ensures the provision of online standards-based and certified courses helping individuals develop new skills and become more valuable employees.
Conclusion
The number of online college programs continues rising with the need for improved access to higher education globally. The college seeks to take advantage of this through the development of an online component allowing students to engage in self-paced and flexible learning programs. It will give students from across the world an opportunity to access quality education and progress in their career development. Through the proposal, the college hopes to be set apart from other colleges offering similar programs.
References
Alison Online Learning. (2017). About Alison. Galway Ireland. Retrieved from www.alison.com/company/about/
Al-Kassir, S. A. (2008). The Effects of the Instructor’s Skills on Online Learning at Community Colleges in Southern California. Retrieved from ProQuest LLC. The University of Phoenix. UMI Number: 3346631.
Clinefelter, D. L. & Aslanian, C. B. (2014). Online College Students 2014: Comprehensive Data on Demands and Preferences. Louisville, KY: The Learning House, Inc.
Kroski, E. (2016, January 2). Online Colleges that Offer Laptops and iPads. Open Education Database (OEDb). Retrieved from www.oedb.org/librarian/guide-online-college-offering-free-laptops-ipads/
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2017). Open Courseware. Office of Distance Learning. Open Education Consortium. Retrieved from www.ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
Moore, M. G., & Kearsley, G. (2012). Distance Education: A System View of Online Learning (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
