With entire degree programs being cut from UNC-system schools, members of the UNC-system Board of Governors are pushing for online education to help schools cope.
Two national studies — the 2010 Sloan Consortium report and the Managing Online Education Survey — detail the impact of the economy on rising online enrollments. The University system’s online demographics show that online education is comparably on the rise, but could be affected by budget cuts.
Sloan Consortium report
*?The number of students taking online courses nationwide has increased from 1.6 million in 2002 to 5.58 million in 2009.
- Of the 19 million full-time and part-time students enrolled in all colleges and universities in the U.S., 29.3 percent were enrolled in at least one online course.
*?About 75 percent of surveyed institutions reported that the economic crisis increased demand for online courses and programs. Only half of those institutions reported an increased demand for face-to-face instruction as a result of the economic crisis.
*?Online course enrollment increased by 21 percent in fall 2009, compared with a less than 2 percent increase in higher education enrollment.
*?While many institutions make money on online education, others are unsure of profitability. About 45 percent of the institutions reported not knowing whether they made profits from online education programs this past academic year.
Managing Online Education
