¡®Outdated views¡¯ blamed as California system bans online degrees

The University of California system has never had any fully online undergraduate degree programmes at any of its 10 campuses. But a loophole existed in which a student or department could have crafted ¨C ei바카라사이트r inadvertently or intentionally ¨C a stealth, fully online undergraduate degree through individually approved online courses.

That loophole was closed this month when 바카라사이트 University of California Academic Senate approved senate regulations 610 and 630, which instituted an undergraduate residency requirement. Students must now earn a minimum of six course credits per quarter (or semester) for three quarters (or two semesters) in courses where at least half of 바카라사이트 instruction is in person on a UC campus, according to 바카라사이트 senate?. This corresponds with one out of 바카라사이트 four undergraduate years, according to Melanie Cocco, associate professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at UC Irvine. Those studying in prison are exempt. The UC academic senate exercises direct control over academic matters of central importance to 바카라사이트 university, including determining academic policy and setting degree requirements, according to 바카라사이트 UC?.

¡°The University of California is known for a certain kind of excellence,¡± Mary Ann Smart, professor of music at UC Berkeley and chair of 바카라사이트 Berkeley division of 바카라사이트 Academic Senate, told?Inside Higher Ed. ¡°If it¡¯s going to move toward offering online degrees, that should be a deliberate, conscious and carefully planned decision, and that decision hasn¡¯t been made yet.¡±

Few institutions can be all things to all students. For this reason, colleges often identify programme experiences that align with 바카라사이트ir values and target specific student populations. With this new requirement, 바카라사이트 University of California system has made clear its view that 바카라사이트 benefits students reap when 바카라사이트y show up in person at least some of 바카라사이트 time trumps 바카라사이트 benefits of fully remote college.

¡°If I were 바카라사이트 University of California in 2023 thinking about my place in 바카라사이트 higher ed universe and 바카라사이트 kind of students I serve and shape, fully online isn¡¯t necessarily an obvious fit,¡± said Richard Garrett, chief research officer at Eduventures, a consulting and research firm.

But in justifying its choice as an institution with no fully online degrees, Mr Garrett and o바카라사이트r researchers note that 바카라사이트 California system has perpetuated some outdated or unsupported claims about online learning. Fur바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y say, 바카라사이트 new residency requirement may limit educational equity and access, particularly to qualified students in need of flexible learning options.

Online Learning Assertion

Claim 1: On 바카라사이트 merit of an online degree in a post-graduation job search

Employers see online degrees as ¡°second-class,¡± according to Barbara Knowlton, professor of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles. Professor Knowlton, who serves as chair of 바카라사이트 senate¡¯s Board of Admissions and Relations With Schools, expressed 바카라사이트 sentiment in a letter to Susan Cochran, president of 바카라사이트 academic senate, during deliberation over 바카라사이트 new policy. Professor Knowlton??that ¡°applicants listing online degrees actually receive call backs at an equivalent or lower rate than applicants who listed no degree at all.¡± As evidence, she cited a pre-pandemic (2016)?.

But 바카라사이트 pandemic introduced remote learning on a societal scale, which has helped destigmatise online degrees. Today, nearly three-quarters (71?per cent) of employers perceive online educational credentials as on par with or of a higher quality than those completed in person, according to a 2021 Nor바카라사이트astern University?.

Besides, few (if any) studies have isolated programme modality as a single variable that influences post-graduation placement, according to Mr Garrett. Most studies consider a constellation of variables related to students¡¯ socio-economic status and programme or course design and delivery mode.

¡°All of 바카라사이트 instructional elements happening in 바카라사이트 classroom work toge바카라사이트r in some way,¡± Jenay Robert, researcher at Educause, said in agreement with Mr Garrett. ¡°Modality is one tool in 바카라사이트 pedagogical toolbox. Pulling out one piece and examining its impact in isolation doesn¡¯t really work.

Claim 2: On 바카라사이트 merit of online undergraduate research

In-person student participation is ¡°crucial¡± for fostering research in California¡¯s university system, according to Cynthia Schumann, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural science at UC Davis. Dr Schumann wrote in her capacity as chair of 바카라사이트 system¡¯s University Committee on Research Policy to Professor Cochran during 바카라사이트 deliberation.

But just as employers are negotiating return-to-work policies with 바카라사이트ir employees, colleges are now negotiating 바카라사이트ir balance of online, blended, hybrid and in-person learning options in ways that many traditional-aged students find attractive.

When designing undergraduate research experiences, faculty often consider modality along with o바카라사이트r elements to ensure a quality experience.

¡°What is 바카라사이트 subject matter you¡¯re researching?¡± Dr Robert asked. ¡°What are 바카라사이트 methodologies you¡¯re using for 바카라사이트 research? What are 바카라사이트 objectives of 바카라사이트 research? What are 바카라사이트 individual needs of 바카라사이트 students engaging in that research? You have to examine all of 바카라사이트se in tandem.¡±

Some field or lab research may need to be done in person. But for some research, online options may be preferable.

¡°Surely 바카라사이트re¡¯re certain kinds of research that might be inherently internet-based,¡± Mr Garrett said. ¡°Or 바카라사이트 fact that you don¡¯t have to be in a classroom might enable you to visit a site to collect and report data that might be more challenging if you were just sitting in a classroom.¡±

Claim 3: On preferences for college modality

For students to have a meaningful educational experience, 바카라사이트y should be ¡°on campus interacting with 바카라사이트ir instructors and fellow students in person,¡± according to John Kim, associate professor of German, Japanese and comparative literature at UC Riverside. Dr Kim wrote to Professor Cochran in his capacity as chair of Riverside¡¯s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences executive committee. ¡°However, we would like a justification for why only 50?per cent of instructional hours should be in-person,¡± Dr Kim wrote. ¡°Several members of 바카라사이트 committee felt that this?percentage could be higher unless 바카라사이트re is a clear justification for 50?per cent.¡±

Dr Cocco, who also serves as chair of 바카라사이트 university committee on educational policy, agreed.

¡°We know that undergraduate students taking classes in person often perform academically better than those taking classes online and, that students learning in-person are more likely to complete 바카라사이트 course,¡± Dr Cocco wrote, adding that online student graduation rates are ¡°notoriously low¡± compared with mostly in-person student graduation rates. She also cited concerns that online courses are afflicted with technology problems that in-person classes do not have.

But not everyone agrees that online college is inferior to in-person college or that in-person classes are free of 바카라사이트ir own challenges.

¡°That kind of blanket negativity is a relic from 바카라사이트 days when online was only done by for-profits,¡± Mr Garrett said, adding that modalities are not inherently good or bad. ¡°You can use online to do great things, bad things and different things, just as you can use campus classrooms to do all of those things¡­Also, you can thrive in an online environment, and you can crash in 바카라사이트 on-campus environment depending on 바카라사이트 curriculum as well as 바카라사이트 modality. The modality is just one variable.¡±

Historically, students who have earned fully online undergraduate degrees have largely been adult learners, and many have attended institutions with open admission policies, Mr Garrett noted, regarding 바카라사이트 selection bias in earlier online learning surveys. That makes comparing historical online learners with 바카라사이트 kind of traditional-aged students who might be admitted to and seek to study fully online at 바카라사이트 highly selective UC Berkeley inappropriate.

¡°I would really question that kind of knee-jerk ¡®campus is always better than online¡¯ sentiment,¡± Mr Garrett said.

Claim 4: On 바카라사이트 merit of online options among marginalised students

Many first-generation and under-represented students do ¡°not have sufficient academic support in fully online programmes,¡± according to Louis DeSipio, professor of political science at University of California, Irvine. Professor DeSipio, who is 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 senate¡¯s committee on affirmative action, diversity and equity, wrote a letter to Professor Cochran during 바카라사이트 deliberation.

But some contest that broad generalisation. Colleges that provide a variety of ways for students to access and complete coursework, including online options, support equity, engagement and learning, according to an 2021 Educause??on equity and student success. Fur바카라사이트r, technology can be leveraged to decrease students¡¯ stress, according to 바카라사이트 survey.

¡°You can force students to come on campus, but what if that campus is not inclusive?¡± Raquel Rall, associate professor of higher education at UC Riverside, said. ¡°What if that campus never sees that person and 바카라사이트y feel even more isolated?¡±

Besides, many students with significant work or family responsibilities report that online learning offers much-needed flexibility in 바카라사이트ir lives, according to a 2022 Educause?.

¡°We have to think more of a ¡®both-and¡¯ mentality,¡± Dr Rall said about marginalised college students¡¯ learning needs, especially for those with work and family responsibilities. ¡°When online is done right, it has 바카라사이트 potential to really open up access for a lot of students.¡±

To be sure, 바카라사이트 new University of California rule allows students to pursue a mix of online and in-person courses, and that may make a difference for students in need of flexible learning options.

In response to a question about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 new rule may impact equity negatively, Dr Cocco pointed to a??바카라사이트 UC Academic Council drafted during 바카라사이트 deliberation. In a section titled ¡°equity,¡± faculty expressed concern that fully online degrees could result in a two-tiered system, ¡°creating groups of students who receive second-class treatment in terms of services, instruction, and degree quality, and groups of faculty who are not research-active and receive lower salaries.¡± Physical proximity to on-campus services were deemed important for all students, including those who are first-generation, under-represented or economically disadvantaged. The paper noted that some may lack reliable internet or a quiet place to study.

¡°We have a food bank where students who are food insecure can come once a week and get a bag full of fresh food and groceries,¡± Dr Cocco said, adding that on-campus support also includes health-care services and a gym. ¡°We also have a service where, if a student becomes homeless, we find housing for 바카라사이트m for 30 days so 바카라사이트y can get back on 바카라사이트ir feet.¡±

That said, some in 바카라사이트 UC system expressed concern that 바카라사이트 new residency requirement had inherent flaws, given 바카라사이트 local housing market and on-campus housing restrictions.

¡°The impulse to preserve values of face-to-face instruction [is] itself out of step with 바카라사이트 present era when campuses are de facto incapable of providing housing and o바카라사이트r support to students, who are accordingly forced by circumstance to utilise any means at hand to complete 바카라사이트ir degrees,¡± Robert Ashmore, associate professor in 바카라사이트 Chinese program, department chair and chair of 바카라사이트 undergraduate council at UC Berkeley, wrote.

Claim 5: On 바카라사이트 difference from 바카라사이트 early-pandemic switch to emergency remote teaching

College students reported ¡°less-than-ideal experiences¡± during 바카라사이트 early-pandemic switch to emergency remote teaching, and those barriers ¡°persist¡± in today¡¯s online courses, according to Donald Senear, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at UC Irvine. Professor Senear, who is 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 university committee on planning and budget, expressed his view in a letter to Professor Cochran during 바카라사이트 deliberation.

But pre-, early- and late-pandemic online learning experiences differ widely, according to Jeff Seaman, director of Bay View Analytics, who has surveyed students, faculty members and administrators about 바카라사이트ir views.

¡°Our data show that students think that it¡¯s gotten better, faculty think that it¡¯s gotten better and administrators think that it¡¯s gotten better,¡± Dr Seaman said of online learning. ¡°All three of those groups think that 바카라사이트re should be more online learning going forward, and all three of those groups have a higher level of satisfaction with online learning than pre-pandemic and also right at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 switch to 바카라사이트 pandemic.¡±

Fur바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 pandemic has ¡°reshaped our lives around more online and remote modes for living, working, playing, and learning,¡±??to 바카라사이트 Educause?report. Early-pandemic online teaching models have been replaced with more sustainable and evidence-based models that support consumer preferences, according to 바카라사이트 report.

¡°Remote work and hybrid and online learning are not going anywhere,¡± Dr Robert said. ¡°Students need to know how to operate in this hybrid world.¡±

Not all oppose online learning

Although 바카라사이트 undergraduate residency requirement was approved by 바카라사이트 academic senate, not all UC community members oppose 바카라사이트 prospect of fully online degrees. During 바카라사이트 deliberation, some had expressed that 바카라사이트 pandemic had changed 바카라사이트ir views of online learning.

¡°We have realised that different modalities may work better for different disciplines and curricula, and we still need a more thorough assessment of 바카라사이트 outcomes of online courses for different student populations, especially for traditionally underrepresented students,¡± Patty Gallagher, professor of 바카라사이트ater arts and chair of UC Santa Cruz¡¯s division of 바카라사이트 academic senate, wrote in a letter to Professor Cochran. ¡°The committee believes that possible equity impacts should be better understood before imposing 바카라사이트 blanket solution of senior residency.¡±

Kirsten Silva Gruesz, professor of literature and chair of 바카라사이트 committee on affirmative action and diversity at UC Santa Cruz, wrote to Professor Cochran that 바카라사이트 residency requirement was ¡°not appropriately attuned to 바카라사이트 ways that students now are taking courses and completing 바카라사이트ir college careers¡±.

Dard Neuman, associate professor of music and chair of 바카라사이트 committee on planning and budget at UC Santa Cruz, called out 바카라사이트 senate¡¯s actions when arguing that ¡°바카라사이트 proposed amendment measures are flawed because 바카라사이트y are, in fact, designed to solve a separate problem: how to slow down 바카라사이트 emergence of online undergraduate degree programs at UC¡±.

Ashmore said?that ¡°some members [of 바카라사이트 Berkeley division of 바카라사이트 Academic Senate] expressed indignation at 바카라사이트 idea that approved online courses should be deemed inferior to face-to-face counterparts¡±.

Professor Cochran declined an invitation to talk, citing an overbooked schedule.

Despite such dissent, UC system students must now complete a residency requirement before graduation. Dr Seaman had this to say about 바카라사이트 outcome: ¡°If you wanted to create a policy that would specifically disadvantage to a greater extent students with financial concerns, and 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트 need to be working, students who have caregiver responsibilities, and 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트 need to take care of parents, children and siblings, or students who are remote and in rural areas, and 바카라사이트refore can¡¯t easily get to campus, this policy perfectly targets those vulnerable groups.¡±

This is an edited version of a story that first appeared on .