CSU online education

Oakland Tribune, Sep 25, 2008 by editorial

CAL STATE EAST BAY announced that for the first time, this semester students in certain programs can complete master's degrees or the final two years of their bachelor's degrees online. we would like to welcome them to the 21st century.

This is certainly a good option for local students, but we wonder what took the CSU so long to join the parade.

This new program is certainly attractive for local students, who not only can earn degrees online but they can receive services such as financial aid and career advice, although the university is starting rather small with three bachelor's and two master's degree programs.

Still, this is a help for students who work or are physically challenged, and in their elder years who can now earn degrees without physically attending classes.

In fact, over the Internet, students can help each other with problems and many who are intimidated by a big classroom setting can utilize the one-on-one online instruction to answer specific questions they might not normally receive. This is a superb avenue to enhance college education and, let's be honest, for California State University-East Bay to tap into additional revenue.

A study conducted in 2006 shows the biggest barriers for online education are discipline of online students and faculty issues, such as acceptance of online education and devoting more time and effort to teach online. No question these will be issues Cal State East Bay will have to address.

However, there are many schools -- most of them private -- that have traveled this course and perhaps it would be wise for Cal State East Bay to research the pitfalls and the benefits for online education.

But online education hasn't been the sole province of private schools like the University of Phoenix, Capella University and National University. CSU Northridge began online teaching in 1999. Penn State launched its World Campus in 1998 and UMassOnline started in 2001.

According to a study on online education, 96 percent of the large institutions offer some sort of online course. Even schools such as Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill have been on board for years.

So it's a pleasure to welcome Cal State East Bay to a new wave of education that already serves more than 3 million students.

Perhaps it's time for other CSU and University of California schools who have not done so to follow suit and offer online education before they miss the boat.