Online Learning and DE at NC State UNC Faculty Assembly Meeting March 25, 2011

Strategic considerations leading to the formation of DELTA Changes in the UNC funding formula in shifted DE from a self-supporting extension activity to a core part of our academic mission –How could we meet the de facto state mandate to make our academic offerings more accessible to NC citizens? –How could we position ourselves to meet the growing campus demand for online instruction, and teaching and learning with technology in general?

Solution Consolidate campus-wide resources supporting distance education and learning technologies into a single organization under the Office of the Provost –Leverage the synergies of infrastructure, training and support for online teaching and learning, both on campus and at a distance –DELTA (Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications) established in January, 2000

DELTA’s Role DELTA strategically manages the DE enrollment funding to –Meet the university’s overall DE enrollment growth objectives –Support new DE program development in the colleges –Grow and support the university’s learning technology infrastructure to meet both on- campus and off-campus LT needs

NC State DE today 64 degree/certificate/licensure programs 700+ course sections 14,000+ students served 80,000+ SCH –Additional 11,700 SCH via “online courses” –Currently 10.8% of NCSU total SCH

Who Are Our DE Students?

94% GR, 6% UG 94% GR, 6% UG 10% GR, 89% UG, 1% AGI 10% GR, 89% UG, 1% AGI 69% PBS, 27% UGS, 3% cert/lic 1% other 69% PBS, 27% UGS, 3% cert/lic 1% other

Challenges going forward Fixing the tuition problem –How? –Dealing with increased demand To grow, or not to grow? –Can we continue to sustain 20% / year? Currently, Demand > Supply –How do we deal with resource allocation? Fast growth or slow growth strategy? –Incentive structures? Faculty, department, college What’s next?