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WebCT User Survey Shows Significant Increase in Enterprise-Wide Implementations, Usage and User Satisfaction
LYNNFIELD, Mass. --(Business Wire)-- July 14, 2004 --
Colleges and universities worldwide bolster commitment to e-learning
Despite the relentless pressure on higher education to accomplish more with less funding, colleges and universities are intensifying their investment in e-learning, according to an independent survey of customers of WebCT, provider of the most flexible and widely used higher-ed e-learning solution. These institutions are relying on the use of e-learning to enhance education and compete for students.
Thirty-seven percent of the survey's 416 respondents say they have implemented e-learning institution-wide, up from 25 percent in 2002. The institutions were likely driven to that decision by student demand for e-learning and high satisfaction rates. Student participation in e-learning is growing at a 31 percent clip, and faculty members are catching up to the demand with a 44 percent aggregate growth rate in e-learning participation, according to the survey. The survey results indicate e-learning is no longer a peripheral part of education at colleges and universities around the world.
"E-learning is a core offering, inextricably integrated with traditional courses and an indispensable part of the traditional education mission," said Villanova University CIO Steve Fugale. "E-learning is a fundamental component of education with both students and faculty driving demand. Students and faculty are enthusiastic about flexibility, convenience, options and new ways to learn."
Fully online programs are one key competitive strategy for colleges and universities. More than four out of 10 institutions surveyed offer fully online degree programs - a rate that understates its significance given the challenges of getting online courses approved by stringent accreditation agencies.
Overall, WebCT customer satisfaction rates are up in nine categories, including "the WebCT experience" (95 percent satisfied to extremely satisfied), "WebCT customer service" (90 percent) and "WebCT software" (89 percent). Eighty-one percent were satisfied to extremely satisfied with WebCT software's ease of use, a leap of 11 percentage points. Approximately 80 percent of respondents say they are using WebCT software to reduce in-classroom time, a decision that means convenience for students and capital investment savings for institutions with burgeoning enrollments.
"It's very important for WebCT to hear from customers, in structured surveys like this and in the hundreds of conversations we have every day," said Carol Vallone, WebCT president and CEO. "We've done this survey every year for the past five years, and we never fail to be enlightened, surprised, pleased and inspired to do even better."
The survey was conducted by Boston-based Atlantic Research & Consulting in April of this year.
About WebCT
WebCT has set the standard for e-learning systems in higher education. Based in Lynnfield, Mass., WebCT provides a highly flexible e-learning environment that empowers institutions across the educational spectrum with the ability to achieve their unique objectives. Thousands of colleges and universities around the world - from community colleges to large university consortia - are using WebCT to expand the boundaries of teaching and learning. For more information, please visit www.webct.com.
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