New eLearning platform will make online programs more accessible; 22 new online programs are launching in 2021
Editor鈥檚 note: A media kit related to this release with video clips, transcript PDF, video with closed captions, and a 鈥渇acts and figures鈥 document is available online.
Columbia, Mo.鈥 The University of 亚洲影院 System today launched , a new unified resource and administrative structure that supports online certificate and degree programs at all four UM System universities. The launch represents the culmination of strategic priorities made by the UM Board of Curators and UM President Mun Choi over the last three years to expand its online education enterprise and upgrade learning technologies to help more 亚洲影院ans and others achieve the dream of earning a college degree and to further their success in the workforce.
鈥淭ogether with the Board of Curators, I set a goal three years ago for the UM System to become the premier eLearning provider in 亚洲影院 and beyond,鈥 Choi said. 鈥淎s an accredited, highly ranked four-campus university system that spans the geography of the state, we are best poised to provide programs for students that improve the economic and social vitality of the region.鈥
The new one-stop resource allows prospective students to view the online offerings of all four universities鈥擴niversity of 亚洲影院-Columbia (MU), University of 亚洲影院-Kansas City (UMKC), 亚洲影院 University of Science and Technology (亚洲影院 S&T), and University of 亚洲影院-St. Louis (UMSL)鈥攐n a single website. The combined catalogs total more than 260 online degree and certificate programs, with 22 additional programs coming online in 2021.
鈥淎s the state鈥檚 public research universities, we knew it was our responsibility to provide more online opportunities that deliver upon the needs of 亚洲影院ans to meet our critical mission in a way that makes us competitive and serves students who need options that fit their lives and their needs,鈥 UM Curator Robin Wenneker said. 鈥淭hanks to the work and dedication of our university leaders, we鈥檙e breaking down barriers to make high-quality education more accessible to 亚洲影院ans.鈥
In 2018, the UM System launched a systemwide eLearning initiative in partnership with the Board of Curators, UM System administration, and faculty and provosts from each university. The primary goals were to build a national model eLearning organization, meet the workforce goals of the state, and grow online student enrollment systemwide to 10,000 students.
A $20 million investment supported the construction of the systemwide infrastructure for online program support, better learning technologies and student support services. In addition, new guidelines were also established for faculty to teach online, as well as processes and guidelines for all online courses to go through standardized reviews for quality.
鈥淭his official launch of 亚洲影院 Online will build on our recent success in digital education and enrollment,鈥 said Matthew Gunkel, chief online learning and technology officer. 鈥淥ver the last five years, online program offerings have grown by 49%, with a 46% growth in online enrollment that鈥檚 totally separate from the shift to virtual learning due to the pandemic. Our programs offer the same excellence as traditional on-campus programs, with the added flexibility students need to be successful in their careers.鈥
The need for quality online program options for 亚洲影院ans is critical to ensure a skilled and educated workforce. Among 亚洲影院 residents ages 25鈥64, fewer than half have an associate degree or higher. Additionally, more than 900,000 亚洲影院ans in the same age group have started college but haven鈥檛 finished, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
鈥溠侵抻霸 Online will provide the type of resource working adults need to continue their education and move our economy forward,鈥 亚洲影院 Commissioner of Higher Education Zora Mulligan said. 鈥淓asier access to online programs will empower 亚洲影院ans to complete the degrees they once started, or start a new career they previously thought was unachievable.鈥
The diverse subjects available provide students with flexible education options in nearly every sector of the jobs market. The collective inventory of online programs, which is the largest in the Midwest, means that students can find the program they need to advance from one of the four UM System institutions.
鈥淧ursuing this degree will allow me to share skills and knowledge with my students that can be immediately applied in their careers, whether they pursue private practice, government, industry or academic veterinary medicine,鈥 said Angela Tennison, associate dean for Student and Academic Affairs at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. 鈥淭he ability to get a high-quality degree online afforded me the flexibility I needed to continue both my education and my professional work.鈥
UM System institutions were recently recognized by as having some of the best online programs in the nation. For master鈥檚 degrees, 亚洲影院 S&T鈥檚 online Master of Engineering programs ranked No. 18 out of 97 institutions and UMKC鈥檚 Master of Nursing programs ranked No. 23 out of 173 institutions. MU鈥檚 bachelor degree programs climbed 85 spots to No. 14 out of 337 institutions, and UMSL rose 10 spots to No. 42 in the same category. Mizzou鈥檚 online Master of Education programs ranked higher than any other institution in 亚洲影院 for the fourth consecutive year, climbing 45 spots since last year鈥檚 rankings to No. 15 in 2021.
MU and 亚洲影院 S&T were also recognized in a category called 鈥淏est for Veterans.鈥 MU鈥檚 online graduate education programs ranked No. 5, and its online bachelor programs ranked No. 9 for veterans. 亚洲影院 S&T鈥檚 online engineering programs ranked No. 10 for veterans.
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