In recent years, Ohio University has seen a substantial increase in its online enrollment numbers, mirroring national trends.
Since the 2004-2005 academic school year, the number of students at OU and its regional campuses taking at least one online course has gone from 2,894 to 9,955. Non-traditional students likely have contributed to this increase, said Charles Bird, vice provost for the University Outreach.
There is a growing population of adult learners who are returning to college to gain additional education
Bird said. Online courses allow them to cope better with their family and job responsibilities.
Approximately 4.6 million students were taking at least one course online in the fall of 2008, as compared to a reported 2.3 million in fall 2004, according to an annual survey by the Sloan Consortium, an organization dedicated to the integration of online learning to mainstream higher education.
But it isn't just those returning to school who are padding the statistics.
People younger than 35 are very comfortable ... and appreciate the technology and advantages Bird said.
Senior Melissa Short, who is studying political science, has taken two online classes during her time here in Athens. The first was on campus during Spring Quarter 2007, and the other was from her home in Stryker, Ohio, during this past winter intercession.
I took the spring class to have more free time and (the other) was to catch up on credit hours
Short said.
Katie Destadio, a sophomore studying education, said she is taking Health 202 online because it's convenient.
The reason I took it was so I could do the work at my own pace and not have to walk across the campus in the snow twice a week
Destadio added.
The Enrollment at a Distance program at OU is trying to meet the needs of students who want to take online classes. OU and its branch campuses will be offering more than 100 online courses for students to enroll in during the upcoming Spring Quarter, according to course listings.
The big advantage is clearly flexibility
Bird said. (Online education is the) fastest growing segment of higher education
and it has been growing at a double digit rate.
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Pat Holmes
