Spring Break
Western offers three new online courses
Amanda Lyons
Issue date: 3/26/03 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Several years ago, Western Illinois University gave students the opportunity to take an online course.
This process has grown, and today Western offers 34 online courses.
Every semester, about three new Internet courses are developed and added to the curriculum.
According to Patrick Stout, director of Extended Learning, and Angela Lynne, assistant director of Extended Learning, this is a good idea because it is designed to help the nontraditional students. These are students who have to work full-time or stay at home with children.
After registration, an on-campus student may be eligible for Internet courses if the class is not filled with nontraditional students.
The classes are worth three semester hours, while tuition fees are the same as on-campus courses and in-state tuition.
“It is accessible because students can work on classes in their free time,” Lynne said.
According to Lynne, students go online to find reading and homework assignments.
If a student decides to transfer, the online class may or may not be transferred, depending on the school.
“The idea for Internet courses has been in high demand,” Stout said.
The very first online course was offered around 1994. As of last year, 34 courses were available for nontraditional students.
The enrollment was 931 students for the 34 Internet classes, while 2,419 students participated in 88 print-based classes. The print-based classes are classes done through mail.
In 2002, there was a combination of online and print-based courses resulting in 13 firefighter courses with 328 firemen participating and receiving certification.
According to Stout, many firemen take part in these courses.
“Early retirement is an option, and some decide to take business courses online and do something with it when they retire,” Stout said.
Students can access these online courses by logging onto S.T.A.R.S. during their registration period.
This process has grown, and today Western offers 34 online courses.
Every semester, about three new Internet courses are developed and added to the curriculum.
According to Patrick Stout, director of Extended Learning, and Angela Lynne, assistant director of Extended Learning, this is a good idea because it is designed to help the nontraditional students. These are students who have to work full-time or stay at home with children.
After registration, an on-campus student may be eligible for Internet courses if the class is not filled with nontraditional students.
The classes are worth three semester hours, while tuition fees are the same as on-campus courses and in-state tuition.
“It is accessible because students can work on classes in their free time,” Lynne said.
According to Lynne, students go online to find reading and homework assignments.
If a student decides to transfer, the online class may or may not be transferred, depending on the school.
“The idea for Internet courses has been in high demand,” Stout said.
The very first online course was offered around 1994. As of last year, 34 courses were available for nontraditional students.
The enrollment was 931 students for the 34 Internet classes, while 2,419 students participated in 88 print-based classes. The print-based classes are classes done through mail.
In 2002, there was a combination of online and print-based courses resulting in 13 firefighter courses with 328 firemen participating and receiving certification.
According to Stout, many firemen take part in these courses.
“Early retirement is an option, and some decide to take business courses online and do something with it when they retire,” Stout said.
Students can access these online courses by logging onto S.T.A.R.S. during their registration period.
