President’s Page

Online Education

By Joel Seligman model. Twenty-six percent of nursing’s tu- ition revenue, or $3.9 million, is generated In mid-November the University an- by online education. nounced that it had joined Semester On- As School of Nursing Dean Kathy Ride- line, a consortium of universities created to out explains, the challenge of sustaining explore the implementation of for-credit and growing the current model is provid- undergraduate online education. ing adequate support for online teaching The Semester Online consortium in- and learning. Instructional design teams cludes the University of Rochester, are needed to collaborate with faculty on Brandeis University, Duke University, Emo- development of courses. Faculty develop- ry University, Northwestern University, the ment programs are essential, and a team of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, technical specialists is critical. University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt Uni- Collaborations such as Semester Online versity, Wake Forest University, and Wash- are promising. With built-in technical and ington University in St. Louis. multimedia support, Semester Online has We have entered into this exploratory the potential to provide our undergraduate partnership so that we are better prepared students with rigorous course offerings, to address potential opportunities to create taught by professors, and offered in small quality online instruction. groups where students are surrounded by Joining this consortium gives the Univer- outstanding peers—much as they would be sity an opportunity to participate in conver- if they were on campus. sations about the future of online education is one example of how the University is em- But there are challenges and much we do with peer institutions that see the same val- ploying technology to offer quality, flexible, not know. In some instances, information ue in the residential experience as we do at in-demand courses. technology has been oversold as the key to the University of Rochester. The school began developing hybrid on- rapid cost reductions in higher education, The University’s participation in Se- line courses, which offer a combination of without a serious analysis of quality trade- mester Online is one of many approaches classroom content and online format, in offs and focus on learning itself. under consideration. Interim Senior Vice 2000. Online education can be a complement President for Research and Hajim School Rochester nursing students, many who to the core mission of universities such as Dean Rob Clark is leading a University- are employed full time and would other- ours if done in partnership with faculty and wide task force assessing the current and wise be unable to pursue educational and deans. future use of technology and digital media career advancement opportunities, are able Key strategic questions for the Univer- in the classroom. to complete degrees in two of the school’s sity will include how online courses can This task force is undertaking a thought- programs. Forty-four other hybrid online enhance the educational experience and ful review of the options before us. What- courses are offered, and the school plans to faculty roles, influence degree require- ever avenues we pursue, we are committed launch two new hybrid online programs by ments, and affect University budgets. to providing academic quality on a par 2015. Our primary objective is unequivocal: with the Rochester classroom experience The School of Nursing’s hybrid courses How can we provide the finest education- and to doing so within a sustainable finan- and degree programs meet a need. Today al experience possible for our students cial model, always coordinating with the approximately 41 percent of all nursing and faculties? This will be the standard schools and their faculties. course credits are offered online. Just as by which we make decisions about on- The success of the School of Nursing’s importantly, the programs operate under a line education and other future academic online hybrid courses and degree programs sustainable, financially successful business endeavors.r

Whatever avenues we pursue, we are committed to providing academic quality on a par with the Rochester classroom experience and to doing so within a sustainable financial model, always coordinating with the schools and their faculties.

Adam Fenster January–February 2013 ROCHESTER REVIEW 3

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