letters-to-editor

Letter to the Editor: Cal State Online

By Patricia Jennings & Gretchen Reevy
Professor Sociology & Social Services and Psychology & Professor Department of English

Research shows that most college professors view online teaching as an innovative way to improve access to college for students who would otherwise not have access. Students who live in rural areas, have limited physical mobility, or have work hours that interfere with their ability to attend class, are examples of students who can benefit from online courses and/or degree programs. However, online degree programs do have their drawbacks. For example, many online degree programs are offered through a private for-profit or not-for-profit provider. University of Phoenix is probably the best known example of a for-profit program and Western Governors University is an example of a private, not-for-profit provider. While tuition costs and graduation rates vary widely among private providers of online degree programs, we do know that typical tuition costs are much higher and graduation rates tend to be much lower on average than that of “traditional” state universities. For example, findings from a recent Education Trust study reported in the NY Times revealed that the graduation rate for first time BA degree students at the University of Phoenix is 22%. This compares to a similar rate of 23% for Western Governors University. We understand that state universities find themselves in an economic bind as support for the public sector shrinks. We understand that administrators are forced to generate new revenue streams that increasingly include forming private/public partnerships through initiatives such as Cal State Online. However, a downside of the privatization of public education can take the form of paying more for a poorer quality “product.” The cost and quality of Cal State Online degree programs remains to be seen, but students should by savvy consumers who attend to several concerns when making choices about their educational pursuits. Students considering a fully online degree through Cal State Online or through any other online provider might want to think about the following points and ask the following questions:

1. First, be aware that Cal State Online is not the same as Cal State University as you currently know it. This holds for degree programs currently offered partly or fully online.

9. Will your transcripts and degree read California State University or California State University Online? Be aware that, while research findings show some improvement in employer attitudes toward online degrees, many employers still rank degrees earned from private online universities lower than degrees earned from state universities (e.g., CSU, UC), private liberal arts colleges (e.g., Mills College), and private Research I universities (e.g., Stanford University).

As we move forward, ask yourself if it is prudent for CSU to invest in Cal State Online. Will the benefit to the people of the state of California outweigh the cost? Thus far, the Chancellor’s Office of the CSU took $50,000 from each of the 23 campuses (a total of $1,150,000) as start-up funds for Cal State Online. We do not know who will enroll in Cal State Online, but many students will likely not be California residents. The mission of the CSU primarily involves service to the state of California. For the state of California, the primary benefits of Cal State Online would be: 1) service to California students who cannot enroll in “traditional” CSU, and 2) profits made from Cal State Online. However, given the low graduation rates of online universities, it is not clear that Cal State Online will be profitable, and the university has not clearly stated that any profits that are made would be used to benefit traditional CSU students.

This entry was published in The Pioneer Online on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 11:52 am.