Congress recently announced that American colleges are no longer required to offer at least half of their courses on campus instead of online in order to receive federal funding. The original legislation, known as the “50 percent rule,” was enacted in order to keep for-profit universities from receiving more student loans. The recent change is expected to help the commercial education industry increase its credibility, but Boston University professors and students say they are unsure about the integrity of online programs.
“I am even more concerned as a citizen than as an educator,” Metropolitan College Dean Jay Halfond said in an email. “I believe that educational programs should be anchored in an established academic institution with a full-time faculty and staff. The 50 percent rule helped to protect that. Now I suspect there will be more self-proclaimed ‘universities’ that will confuse the public.”
Many BU students say they doubt the credibility of online universities that offer college degrees. College of Communication sophomore Maureen Haran said there is no reason for the government to be giving more money to online universities because online diplomas are not comparable to on-campus university records.
“I don’t think any professional should accept an online degree,” she said. “What are they paying them for? Kids are sitting at home at their computers taking classes. Meanwhile, kids who go to school have other expenses that need to be paid for.”
COM sophomore Ivy Li said she can see the benefits of online universities even though she did not even know they existed.
“I guess they are good for people with special needs who can’t make it to an on-campus university,” she said. “Or for people who have trouble leaving their families.”
The University of Phoenix Online was one of the first accredited universities to offer an online college education with complete degree programs. According to its website, the benefits of online college include being able to “attend class at times and places that fit your schedule, complete 100 percent of your education via the Internet and acquire skills and expertise that are in high demand with programs that are continually updated.”
Although online universities may be beneficial for people with limited time, taking classes online is very different than sitting in a classroom with a professor. COM junior Giselle Rivers said online courses may be valuable for some, but it is not comparable to attending class.
“I think online universities are convenient,” she said, “but I don’t think you can get the same advantages from being in the classroom.”
BU is one of many universities that offer online courses, but Halfond said these programs are extremely comparable to regular classes, and that the additional funding will not detract from BU’s reputation.
“We use the same, if not higher, academic standards for online as we do for on-campus students,” he said. “I don’t expect this legislation to have any immediate or even long-term impact on Boston University’s distance education programs. Our programs stand out uniquely both in content and quality — our students want to affiliate with a major, renowned university.”
COM professor Christophor Cavalieri said he does not think the increased funding to online universities would have a negative impact on BU admissions levels.
“I think students that are applying to BU are doing so for some specific reason in terms of the college and the specific programs that it offers,” he said. “So students interested in these programs will apply regardless.”
BU students say they might take an online course for at least one semester. Rivers said she would take classes in the summer instead of going to summer school, but she said it would not be the same as regular class.
“I’d consider it because it would be easier,” she said. “I just don’t think a whole degree should be received that way.”
