Online Degree Programs And The Development Of The Virtual University

Over the last 20 years properly developed, managed, and administered online distance learning courses and programs have slowly established their credibility and their ability to deliver learning at comparable levels to traditional face to face courses to both the academic and business communities. As the number of students seeking this form of education has risen, most universities and colleges have started offering these programs, and many start up for profit schools have been created that also offer these degrees. The number of students enrolling in these programs is growing more rapidly than the traditional programs, and several authors feel that given the environmental changes, technological changes, and expectation changes of incoming students, universities need to take a holistic approach and integrate these programs into all of the systems at the university. One method suggested to achieve this integration is the virtual university. This paper looks at the state of online distance learning programs, where they have come from, and their current capabilities. It then reports on a study which indicates, that little has actually been accomplished in integrating these programs across the university, and that there seems to be a disconnect between administration views and those of the faculty.