'Digital campus' centralizes online classes

A new campus has been added to the University of Minnesota system, but it’s not in any physical location — it’s found on the Internet.

The University Digital Campus, unveiled at the end of November, was created to centralize all of the University’s online offerings, ranging from degree completion to fully-online bachelor’s degrees.

The program will partner with all the University campuses to create a hub for students interested in online or distance learning.

A nationwide survey released last month found that online enrollment serves nearly 22 percent of total U.S. college enrollment — higher than it’s ever been.

On the same day as the Digital Campus unveiling, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Chairman David Olson announced initiatives to promote online learning across Minnesota.

Pawlenty and MnSCU agreed to have 25 percent of all credits earned to be earned online by 2015.

“It's a stretch goal, but we think we can get there,” Olson said. “One of the reasons we're trying to do that is because the students have told us they'd like to have more online courses, and we're going to try to deliver.”

Digital Campus Initiative Lead Bob Rubinyi said the Digital Campus, a long-term process, has been in the making for about a year.

They hope to work with the University’s different colleges to encourage additional online degree programs, and make the online course catalog easier to use and more comprehensive.

There are currently three bachelor’s programs at the University that are entirely online: applied health, manufacturing management and business.

Seven other master’s and doctorate degrees are also available.

College of Continuing Education Director of Individualized Degree Programs Josh Borowicz said individualized degrees are still “not available in a big way,” but University students will be able to benefit from the Digital Campus.

The Digital Campus also offers degree completion. Students who have been away from the University but wish to complete a degree now have the opportunity to do it through the Digital Campus.

Bachelor’s degrees in applied studies and multidisciplinary studies were approved by the Regents board over the summer, according to Digital Campus Programs Lead Amanda Rondeau.

Although Pawlenty didn’t invite the University to the online initiative announcement, Rondeau said the governor “supports the work” that the University is doing with the Digital Campus.

“This is a first step in establishing some presence in the online degree world,” Borowicz said. “We're just starting.”

Rochester student Lois Kennis , who’s taken classroom-based courses before, is completing her degree online through the University’s Digital Campus. Although she said she thinks new students could benefit from a traditional classroom setting, her online version is going well.

“We've been able to have good, effective discussions between members of the class,” Kennis said, “so I feel like I kind of know the other people in the class, even though they're as far away as Texas.”