Dive Summary:
- Iowa's universities proposed over $200 million in building projects, prompting the state's Board of Regents to ask if they first considered increasing their online offerings.
- In June, the state's governor vetoed funding for the building projects, saying he feared overbuilding on campuses in light of growth in online learning.
- In the last five years, enrollment in for-credit distance education programs at Iowa’s three public universities has risen more than 50%.
From the article:
... But campus space is still necessary, said Beate Schmittmann, dean of the ISU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. "I think it’s important to understand you still have to bring the students back together to discuss and assimilate the material,” she said. Modern classroom space can be converted from lecture to meeting space and is equipped with technology that allows for student interaction, Schmittmann said. ...