why doesn't all colleges and universities offer distant learning programs plus their in campus program?

Question

distant learning programs are very good system, it gives the opportunity to people with busy schedule the chance of getting higher education and improve careers to make well educated community. But why there are few accredited universities that offer it. Why big and well known universities only offer in campus programs like, Stanford and Harvard University? But don’t offer online program? Is online education considered lower level?

Answer 1

All colleges and universities, large or small have certain issues to deal with when it comes to distance learning.

1 - Even though the technology seems to be somewhat accessible these days, it still takes a great deal of expertise to make it happen. Administrators and faculty who are already in place need to be willing to participate. It's a hard sell for a generation of professors who started out grading term papers from typewritten erasable bond paper.

2 - Every school has to maintain a certain reputation for excellence. This is hard to regulate in a distance learning program. It's hard to prove that a student is doing well when often distance learning doesn't allow for the same kind of accountability that the classroom environment provides. If for instance an Ivy League school decides they are interested in implementing a distance learning program, how can they guarantee that the program will not detract from or damage the image, prestige, or value of the education they provide? If that damage should occur, how will it affect the admissions demand for that school and the perceived value of their students in the hiring marketplace?

3 - Thirdly, there are security concerns involved. Specifically there are national security issues for certain fields of study.

4 - With lower commitment (not willing to relocate or devote to full-time study) increases the likelihood that fewer would actually finish their study plans and graduate. Guides and ratings lists like US News & World Report are heavily geared towards statistics graduation rates, salaries, acceptance rates, etc. (Also related to #2).

5 - Most larger schools are only partly (sometimes very little) geared towards teaching. In fact many of the top professors in any school spend most of their time researching and writing papers, while only a small percentage of their time and energy is devoted towards teaching classes. Research dollars pay for things like facilities and equipment. Ever wonder why some professors only teach two or three classes and only have office hours for one or two short sessions per week? Research is a priority for many schools.

While I agree with you that distance learning is a good idea, it is still a relatively new phenomenon. It's going to take time for institutions to develop a system that everyone is confident about. Schools get money, growth, and prestige by the quality of education they provide and by shrewd marketing through image, sports, or statistics. It's a delicate balance which most institutions struggle to maintain. The smallest thing, like a sports rules violation, plagiarism incidents, or a failed distance learning program can severely damage a school's reputation. Give it some time. I'm confident that eventually distance learning is going to be "going to school" like anything else.

Answer 2

This is a big question, and it lies at the heart of the issue with distance learning programs in the United States. I answer it from the vatage point of having taken nearly 20 undergraduate and graduate distance learning courses.

1. Distance learning is expensive to deliver. The preferred delivery method available today is streaming video. This requires taping every class. To offer 100 courses in a school year might require the taping of 3200 lectures! Then, all of this must be stored, and delivered on demand. Logistics can be difficult, and not all faculty members want to teach distance learning courses, because extra work is generally involved. And in some courses, enrolment may be too low. More than a few distance learning programs at universities struggle to make ends meet.

2. People often wonder if distance learning is accepted by employers. In many respects, even in academia it is not fully trusted.

This is especially true of undergraduate degrees, where the notion that you are supposed to spend four years studying full time for your BA or BS still runs strong. Faculty can be resistant to distance learning, on the belief that it may reduce their value and importance. I think the reality is that people who can attend class will still tend to do so, and that distance learning will appeal to those who otherwise could not take additional education at all. But not everyone sees it that way.

The attitudes towards distance education master's degrees are different. Here, you can find programs at many accredited universities, and at a few top ones, including at least two in the Ivy League. Now, it may be that not every field of study is represented, and some programs may require that you be employed by a corporate sponsor in the university's distanced program. But there are good master's programs out there.

3. I do not think the difficulty of delivering quality programs is much of an impediment to distance learning. Top universities delivering these programs often have them follow on-campus syllabi and schedules. Distance exams in the good programs all have to be proctored by an approved professional. Universities that have high standards on campus do not seem to me to be relaxing them for video students.

4. Among the very top universities, the resistance to going online is highest. For some of them, distance education may have to mature more as a mode of learning before they get in.

5. Over time, I think more top universities will offer distance education. Many years ago, evening (on campus) classes (disparagingly called "night school") and part-time degrees were not viewed with the highest respect. But companies began sponsoring students and institutions, and executive education was born. Executive degree programs, especially at good universities, are now well respected. As that has happened, it has gradually become OK to pursue your studies part time. The same may someday be said of online learning.

Answer 3

They're good systems, but they're primarily geared for tech or AA degrees. Not full bachelors and up. Big and well known accredited schools don't offer that because it's difficult to put together a legit online program for BA degrees and up. Particularly the graduate degrees. You really need the students to be there physically for some stuff.

Science is absolutely out of the question. Engineering would be hard too. You need labs where students work together. Technology isn't even remotely good enough to replicate the training that doctors need.

The grad degrees, in particular, really require more physical interaction. A lot of it is to ensure the integrity of it all. No one's really come up with an acceptable way to get the regular physically in school teaching system and convert it to online.

AA and other tech degrees lend themselves more easily to the online conversion, and/or they can be more lax in their standards.

I can imagine a future where a lot more schools offer fully online degrees, but technology is holding that back for the near future.