Online Degree Company Dukes It Out with Naysayers

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 04/16/15

2U wants to nail the coffin shut on certain beliefs that persist in the realm of online degrees in its latest impact report.

For one, the idea that online degree programs are "low quality" doesn't hold up, reported the company, since the institutions that it works with issue the same degrees to their online students as their on-campus students.

For another, the notion that students can't network to the same level as face-to-face programs is disproved, the company said, when universities promote in-person networking experiences and an engaging virtual campus. At the University of North Carolina, for example, the online business school graduating class raised $100,000 to endow a scholarship in the name of a classmate who had passed away during their time in the program.

2U goes into business with institutions to build out new online degree programs, handling much of the work for marketing, recruiting, tech support, customer relationship management and other functions in return for a share of the profits. The universities retain control over accreditation, admissions, financial aid, faculty, curriculum and the delivery of teaching, grading and assessment. Partners include the University of Southern California, Georgetown and Northwestern, among others.

During 2014, the company surveyed 1,241 faculty members in 2U-"enabled" programs and found that 90 percent said they believe the quality of the online courses is "better than or the same as in-person courses" for delivering content that meets learning objectives. During that year schools launched 109 new courses working with 2U and "on-boarded" more than 500 new instructors.

The mean class size for last year was 10.48 students, close to what it was in the previous year. The small size, noted one professor, translates to a class that facilitates more interaction. "You're automatically going to have to be engaged and that's a good thing. You're going to get more out of this class than you are going to get if you're in the back row of a class of 50 people," said Maureen Berner, who teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel's School of Government.

This year's report comments on the number of "successful student field placements" or internships facilitated by 2U. The total is 20,493 at about 14,000 different organizations around the world. Those placements are of significance as the organization expands its business in health care and other fields where clinical practice is a requirement.

"The preconceived notions about online education are often quite negative. Our new impact report strives to shatter those preconceived notions, offering proof that 2U-enabled degree programs are having a positive effect on students, faculty and institutions," said 2U's CEO and co-founder, Chip Paucek, in a statement. "Innovations in technology and content delivery are dramatically changing the world of online education, allowing for a learning experience that is just as engaging as the traditional classroom."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • From Fire TV to Signage Stick: University of Utah's Digital Signage Evolution

    Jake Sorensen, who oversees sponsorship and advertising and Student Media in Auxiliary Business Development at the University of Utah, has navigated the digital signage landscape for nearly 15 years. He was managing hundreds of devices on campus that were incompatible with digital signage requirements and needed a solution that was reliable and lowered labor costs. The Amazon Signage Stick, specifically engineered for digital signage applications, gave him the stability and design functionality the University of Utah needed, along with the assurance of long-term support.

  • cybersecurity analyst in a modern operations center monitors multiple digital screens showing padlock icons, graphs, and a global map with security markers

    Louisiana State University Doubles Down on Larger Student-Run SOC

    In an effort to provide students with increased access to real-world cybersecurity experience, Louisiana State University has expanded its relationship with cybersecurity solutions provider TekStream to launch TigerSOC, a new student-run security operations center.

  • flowing lines and geometric shapes representing data flow and analysis

    Complete College America Launches Center to Boost Data-Driven Student Success Strategies

    National nonprofit Complete College America (CCA) recently launched the Center for Leadership, Institutional Metrics, and Best Practices (CLIMB), with the goal of helping higher education institutions use data-driven strategies to improve student outcomes.

  • geometric pattern features abstract icons of a dollar sign, graduation cap, and document

    Maricopa Community Colleges Adopts Platform to Combat Student Application Fraud

    In an effort to secure its admissions and financial processes, Maricopa Community Colleges has partnered with A.M. Simpkins and Associates (AMSA) to implement the company's S.A.F.E (Student Application Fraudulent Examination) across the district's 10 institutions.