Distance education enrollment on the rise

By Sarah Loughlin

Published: Thursday, November 18, 2004

Enrollment in distance education classes has increased significantly during each year at UNLV since the program has been in existence, according to Distance Education Director Charlotte Farr. The program, which was instituted at UNLV in 1996, began with a 200-student enrollment during its first year. During the 2003-2004 school year, the program enrolled 13,000 students who were taking at least one distance education class, an increase that has almost doubled in each successive year. According to Farr, the UNLV program boasts a 74 percent retention rate of all students who enroll at the beginning of a semester, which far exceeds the national average of what Farr estimates to be about 50 percent.The retention rate includes students who successfully passed the distance education class with a grade of "D" or better.

Media Credit: Jummel Hidrosollo Thanks to distance education classes, students can sit at any Internet-ready computer and "attend" class

"We have a remarkable success rate," Farr said. "Far above the national average."

The increase in the number of students taking distance education classes at UNLV matches a rising trend at the national level. National enrollment for distance education classes increased from 1.3 million in the 1997-1998 school year to 2.9 million in the 2000-2001 school year.

The number of institutions that offer distance education courses are also rapidly increasing at the national level. In the 1994-1995 school year, 754,000 four-year institutions offered distance education. During the 2000-2001 school year, that number jumped to 2,876,000.

Studies show that at the national level, distance education courses are more likely to attract older women with families and jobs. At UNLV, however, no one type of student dominates the enrollment.

"We have a mixture of both traditional and non-traditional students here at UNLV," Farr stated. "An awful lot of [distance education students] are our on-campus students who take these classes for convenience."

Students taking distance education classes say that the courses make it easier for them to manage their time between school and other priorities.

"I like distance education classes for the convenience," business major Leta Rose, who is enrolled for a three-credit English distance education class in the Spring, said. "I'm an athlete who is trying to start my own business, while taking 18 credits. Not having to sit in class twice a week makes just makes things easier."

Farr agrees, saying that convenience is the main reason many students take distance education courses.

"A lot of UNLV students work," Farr stated. "It's very convenient for students who have a job and a family at home to squeeze in classes when they can."

Students taking distance education classes, however, have to be careful to manage adequate time to keep up with the classes, which have specific deadlines set for tests and papers, but do not have any scheduled meetings in between.

"Distance Education is good for people who are motivated and self-starters," Farr said. "They have to have their own initiative. The classes turn over a lot of responsibility to the students."

The classes, therefore, are not for every student; although Farr maintains that there is adequate support for students who are not normally self-starters.

The absence of the social aspect is another drawback to the online courses.

"Some students may miss the social part," Farr said. "Engaging in conversation with other students inside an actual classroom is a very powerful thing."

Farr said her biggest piece of advice would be to just keep up with the class.

"Students have to check in with the classes just as they would with any traditional class," Farr said. "We don't want students to wake up and find themselves not in the classes."

Support is available in a number of ways to students who are enrolled in distance classes. From student labs to online and telephone support, help is always available. The classes themselves are set up to cater to the students.

"We have a staff who works with the faculty to make sure the classes are workable for students," Farr said.

UNLV currently offers over 100 undergraduate distance classes and over 30 graduate classes. Students who have completed approximately two years of college can earn a bachelor's degree in Social Science through UNLV's distance education program. Students can view the course list offering at the distance education homepage, http://distance_ed.unlv.edu.

While distance education is not likely to ever replace the role of the traditional classroom, UNLV students have a variety of distance classes from which to choose if they wish.

"I wouldn't like to see all classes this way," Farr stated. "But it's nice to have that option available."