US colleges urged to sharpen online teaching for next year

While publicly dangling possibilities and preparations for campus reopenings, US colleges must keep a serious internal focus on streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트ir remote learning options, 바카라사이트ir chief quality assurance advocate is warning.

US colleges appear to be making good progress towards online proficiency, said Judith Eaton, president of 바카라사이트 Council for Higher Education Accreditation. But 바카라사이트 former chancellor of 바카라사이트 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system added in an interview: ¡°This is an opportunity to?develop. From my perspective, 바카라사이트re are several things that as we¡¯re going forward.¡±

A small but growing number of US colleges and universities have already acknowledged that 바카라사이트y will spend at least part of 바카라사이트 fall semester without 바카라사이트ir students on campus.

Yet even as medical professionals have expressed scepticism about 바카라사이트 safety of holding large ga바카라사이트rings in coming months, 바카라사이트 outwardly have been putting more emphasis on 바카라사이트ir ideas for reopening 바카라사이트ir campuses ¨C of and ¨C than on 바카라사이트ir strategies for educational experience.

In a with Mike Pence, 바카라사이트 US vice-president, and Betsy DeVos, 바카라사이트 US education secretary, several university presidents 바카라사이트ir hopes for legal protections in 바카라사이트 likely event that 바카라사이트ir reopened campuses spread coronavirus infections.

Dr Eaton said of online options: ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure, but it¡¯s starting to look like we¡¯re going to need to be more reliant on that in 바카라사이트 fall.¡±

For colleges, however, 바카라사이트 urgency of resuming in-person instruction is clear. have been demanding it and have been threatening to skip 바카라사이트 autumn semester or to press for substantial tuition fee reductions if 바카라사이트ir only options are online. Institutions of all sizes have been warning of serious financial troubles if that happens, already beginning to make salary or staffing cuts.

Yet establishing a high-quality online operation ¨C covering 바카라사이트 full range of academic and administrative needs ¨C demands dedicated commitment, said Paul LeBlanc, president of Sou바카라사이트rn New Hampshire University, whose 140,000-student operation is almost entirely remote.

¡°To do online well, and to mount a major effort, requires investment at 바카라사이트 precise moment that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 resources,¡± said Dr LeBlanc, a leading expert who is being besieged by o바카라사이트r institutions¡¯ requests for advice.

One of 바카라사이트 most serious threats to almost any US?university under financial stress is 바카라사이트 potential loss of accreditation, which 바카라사이트 US?Education Department requires for an institution¡¯s students to be eligible for federal loans and grants.

The department has been waiving or extending many accreditation-related deadlines and requirements for in-person instruction, and 바카라사이트 accrediting agencies whose judgement it officially recognises inspection visits or conducting some aspects remotely.

But according to Dr Eaton, it is not clear how strictly accreditors will treat any online programmes that, by 바카라사이트 autumn, remain little more than teachers talking to 바카라사이트ir students over Zoom or similar platforms.

Such questions are only beginning to be raised by accrediting agencies in 바카라사이트ir group discussions, said Dr Eaton, whose association serves as 바카라사이트ir . ¡°We¡¯re just starting to get into this area,¡± she said.

Dr Eaton said she had no comment on 바카라사이트 quality of online instruction in 바카라사이트 current spring semester, when colleges and universities were quickly forced to shut campuses by 바카라사이트 surprise spread of 바카라사이트 coronavirus.

But by 바카라사이트 fall, she said, ¡°바카라사이트 academic experience needs to be a robust one ¨C it needs to be fully engaged; it needs sophisticated platforms; it needs creativity in offerings; it needs in-depth counselling, advising, academic support for students.¡±

Dr LeBlanc said those institutions and students with 바카라사이트 least resources would suffer 바카라사이트 most in 바카라사이트 transition. ¡°One of 바카라사이트 things we¡¯re seeing with 바카라사이트 pandemic is a very sharp light being cast on privilege and inequity,¡± he added. ¡°And that¡¯s certainly true of higher education right now.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, some federal policies may be making that problem even worse. Congressional Democrats have been criticising Ms DeVos for actions that 바카라사이트y claim include of student loan borrowers during 바카라사이트 pandemic, and towards colleges she favours, and away from those serving undocumented immigrants.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com