University's vice chancellor earns online education award

University's vice chancellor earns online education award

University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell's executive vice chancellor Jacqueline Maloney has recently received an individual online education award at the Sloan Consortium's annual international conference.

Maloney was one of two educators to receive the Most Outstanding Achievement in Online Learning Award for her 15 years of advancing online education on behalf of the Massachusetts institution.

Under Maloney's leadership, UMass Lowell's program grew from 400 students and a few select classes to more than 12,000 online enrollments and several full degree programs.

"Jacqueline Moloney epitomizes UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial approach to education," said chancellor Marty Meehan. "This vision for the future of education and drive to meet the needs of students and employers are just a few of the reasons why UMass Lowell is growing, online and on campus," he added.

Maloney began her career with the school's continuing studies department where she expanded the program to accommodate working adults who wanted to pursue an education but faced time and distance restraints.

The online education sector grew 13 percent last year and had been growing at about 20 percent in previous years. Nearly one in four students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002, Reuters reports.