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Degree in cyberspace(Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids, IA) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 4--CEDAR RAPIDS -- Visit the classrooms of Kaplan University in southwest Cedar Rapids any weekday and you will see only a fraction of the students enrolled at the college. "Kaplan University has a little over 30,000 online students and around 6,000 on-campus students," said Susan Spivey, president of Kaplan's Cedar Rapids campus, 3165 Edgewood Pkwy. SW. "Our online enrollment has been a huge undertaking, but it's also been exciting." Kaplan University's main campus is in Davenport. In addition to Cedar Rapids, the for-profit college also operates campuses in Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Mason City, as well as Lincoln and Omaha, Neb. Kaplan University on Oct. 30 acquired Quest Education, corporate parent of Hamilton College, Iowa's oldest continuously operating career college specializing in business education. Hamilton had operated since 1900, offering programs in allied health, business, computer information systems, legal studies, nursing and travel. Spivey said Kaplan University is owned by Kaplan Inc., a subsidiary of the Washington Post Co. "Kaplan was already involved in elementary and high school students through its test preparation centers," she said. "When the company decided to jump into higher education, it purchased Quest Education, which had regional accreditation and online accreditation through Hamilton. "Hamilton had been part of the first distance education demonstration project through the federal government to offer courses online. We offered our first online course in 1996 over the Internet." Spivey said Kaplan's acquisition of Quest Education expanded the options for students. "It allows students to explore degrees online with the benefit of additional programs, which were not previously available (as Hamilton)," she said. "We encourage our students to take some of their courses here at the campus and other courses online. We want to keep that initial tie with them because the success rate is typically better when they can tangibly 'touch and feel' the college experience." Spivey said Kaplan has a staff member who calls each online stu dent to inquire how they are doing in their classes, who needs extra help learning how to use the Internet site, and whether they have turned in their homework. "We monitor their attendance on a weekly basis," she said. "We make certain that they are getting online regularly and completing their work. "If we see that they are not getting online or are failing to keep up with their courses, we look for ways to help them get back on track. In some cases, they are signing on, but they're not turning in any assignments." Spivey said using a computer for classes also prepares students for the workplace. "In today's working world, you have to be an avid user of a computer to really stay competitive," she said. "We feel that providing the services to help them be a successful online student will pay dividends in the long run. "Some people prefer to just be residential students, and that's fine. However, at some point in their career they will likely have to take a class online. We want to really prepare our graduates to be as productive as possible in the world of work." Spivey said some students have no experience with computers. Kaplan makes sure they take a basic course in how to operate a computer and become fluent in its use. "Some young people feel they know all there is to know about computers, but they learn that there's more than just Web surfing or text messaging," she said. "An online site requires more knowledge in order to turn in drafts, communicate with an instructor and take full advantage of online learning." Spivey said Kaplan University's student body is a mixture of first-time college students and those looking to further their career or change careers. "We need to keep every type of learner engaged, balancing the need for classroom instruction with people who are used to doing things on their own time," she said. "We live in a 24-hour world where many students want to do things when it makes sense for them." Spivey said the October merger greatly expanded the degree options for students. "Kaplan has bachelor's and master's degrees in areas expanded beyond Hamilton," she said. "We offer a bachelor's in criminal justice, bachelor's in education, master's in education and master's in criminal justice. "A student can start out with an associate degree and later earn a bachelor's degree or master's degree. There's really a lot of opportunities, depending on how people want to structure their classes." Spivey said some students are taking core arts and sciences courses on campus and their electives online. She expects that situation to continue growing as more courses and degree programs are added. "We expect to continue offering more bachelor's and master's degree programs in new areas of study," Spivey said. "We are already offering Saturday classes and we will continue looking at how flexible we can make class schedules for our students. "When people have the opportunity to do things that fit into their schedule, they're a lot more likely to be successful." To see more of The Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.gazetteonline.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |