2008 Woodie Awards
Distance learning program receives upgrade
David Burrows
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News
For almost 10 years students have been able to take online courses for select degrees. Now, students have a greater selection to choose from thanks to a recent "blanket accreditation" awarded to the university.
In the past, every time Youngstown State University wanted to offer a new degree program through Web-based courses, administrators would have to request accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
YSU can now offer new degree programs through Web-based courses and distance learning without requesting new accreditation.
"This puts us at a huge advantage over other universities," says Sal Sanders, director of distance learning. "Now we can work at our own pace without having to get new accreditations."
According to the YSU institutional accreditation Web page, the whole process took about two years, starting in spring of 2006. Within those two years, committees and analysts prepared questions to submit to the Higher Learning Commission. Then, the commision returns with team members from other institutions to visit the university to interview individuals and groups and writes a report on their findings. After the report is filed, the commision decides whether to accredit the university or not, and in this case, they did.
Bege Bowers, associate provost and chairwoman of the Steering Committee said, "The university will be allowed to offer more courses to students we may have not been able to reach."
Some students find this a convenience and a major value to the university, but only to a certain extent.
"I think it is good because it broadens the spectrum of what one can learn at YSU," says sophomore David Sembach. Sembach is taking German courses through the distance learning program and said he has seen positive and negative aspects to it. His professor teaches from a classroom in Cleveland in front of a camera and the signal is sent to a classroom television in Cushwa Hall.
"It is something to get used to," says Sembach, "If this is the first time you are taking a distance learning class, and it is the first time your professor is teaching the course, know the phone extension for the tech guys. Know it well."
Despite the difficulties, he plans on taking more classes in this style.
New programs start fall 2009 and are available to students interested in taking Web-based courses.
editor@thejambar.com
In the past, every time Youngstown State University wanted to offer a new degree program through Web-based courses, administrators would have to request accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
YSU can now offer new degree programs through Web-based courses and distance learning without requesting new accreditation.
"This puts us at a huge advantage over other universities," says Sal Sanders, director of distance learning. "Now we can work at our own pace without having to get new accreditations."
According to the YSU institutional accreditation Web page, the whole process took about two years, starting in spring of 2006. Within those two years, committees and analysts prepared questions to submit to the Higher Learning Commission. Then, the commision returns with team members from other institutions to visit the university to interview individuals and groups and writes a report on their findings. After the report is filed, the commision decides whether to accredit the university or not, and in this case, they did.
Bege Bowers, associate provost and chairwoman of the Steering Committee said, "The university will be allowed to offer more courses to students we may have not been able to reach."
Some students find this a convenience and a major value to the university, but only to a certain extent.
"I think it is good because it broadens the spectrum of what one can learn at YSU," says sophomore David Sembach. Sembach is taking German courses through the distance learning program and said he has seen positive and negative aspects to it. His professor teaches from a classroom in Cleveland in front of a camera and the signal is sent to a classroom television in Cushwa Hall.
"It is something to get used to," says Sembach, "If this is the first time you are taking a distance learning class, and it is the first time your professor is teaching the course, know the phone extension for the tech guys. Know it well."
Despite the difficulties, he plans on taking more classes in this style.
New programs start fall 2009 and are available to students interested in taking Web-based courses.
editor@thejambar.com
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