- Link:
- http://hdl.handle.net/1860/2622
- Collection:
-
- Creators:
- Paolucci, Rocco Gambescia, Stephen F.
- Language
- en_US
- Publisher
- University of West Georgia, Distance Education Center
- Relation
- Drexel University. College of Nursing and Health Professions. Faculty Research and Publications.
- Type
- Article
- Description
- Online distance learning or distributed learning
(i.e., learning via the Internet and the World Wide Web) can be
regarded as one of the fastest mainstreamed instructional delivery
systems and technologies introduced in higher education. Naturally
with such a fast introduction of a radically new instructional
innovation, major stakeholders were quick to assess distance
learning via the Internet for its quality, academic standards,
affect on accreditation, institutional strategic opportunities,
pedagogical potential, and market value potential. I t is evident
that colleges and universities see online distance learning as part
of their strategic plans and initiatives. Therefore, more attention
should be given to how best to structure distance learning programs
within higher education organizations. This study identified the
range of general administrative structures that universities are
currently using in offering online degree programs. A typology is
identified that accounts for the extent and nature of these general
administrative structures through our analyzing 239 universities
selected for offering at least one graduate degree fully online.
The study looked at the launch date trends as they relate to
selection of one of the six general administrative structures
emerging into a typology: 1) Academic Department; 2) Continuing
Education/Professional Studies Unit; 3)Distance Education Unit; 4)
Consortium; 5) Alliance and 6) Outsource. We learned that 90
percent of schools in our study are delivering their online degree
programs with an Internally-based administrative arrangement. Only
10 percent of the schools we investigated are using some type of
External administrative structure to offer their online degree
programs. More specifically, when we look at the locus of control
for internally-based administrative programs, we see that 62
percent of those schools analyzed for this study still have the
academic departments in control. When examining the frequency of
launch dates for the respective Internal administrative structures
for the yearly range 1998 to 2004, we found two significant trends:
The decrease in the Department as a chosen Internal administrative
structure and the more recent popularity of the Distance Education
Unit as the chosen administrative structure. Findings from this
research corroborate, clarify, or correct findings from prior
research that looked at administrative structures used for online
degree programs. Research limitations are given. Authors outline
their areas for further investigation.
- Publisher
- University of West Georgia, Distance Education
Center
- Relation
- Drexel University. College of Nursing and Health
Professions. Faculty Research and Publications.
- Visits:
- 2
- Access:
- Instructions in case access is denied
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