University sets record for online education enrollment

University sets record for online education enrollment

Officials at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) have announced that the school has set a new record for spring student enrollment.

Moreover, the number of students participating in online degree programs is at an all-time high for a spring semester, increasing by nearly 10 percent over last year, according to the State Journal-Register.

According to Ray Schroeder, director of the university's center for online learning, research and service, there are currently 1,290 students enrolled in online programs, accounting for more than 25 percent of the entire student body. More than half of all students are taking at least one online course.

"We are making significant strides in retaining students," said Tim Barnett, vice chancellor for student affairs, quoted by the news source. "UIS is a unique combination of a state liberal arts university with a public affairs mission."

The university offers 26 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs that are available online.

Approximately 4.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in the fall of 2008, according to the 2009 Sloan Survey.

By Mark Danson