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New 'Learning On Demand' Program Offers UCF Degrees Online
By Courtney Gilmartin Feb. 6, 2009
Learning On Demand will offer degree programs online for students across Central Florida.
Seed NewsvineFor anybody concerned about job uncertainty and the economy, earning a college degree can offer stability and reassurance.
A new University of Central Florida online degree initiative will help people find the time to fit a good education into a busy life without increasing stress. Called “Learning on Demand,” the new program will target those who’d like to pursue a degree but don’t have the hours to commit in a classroom.
The program, sponsored by UCF Regional Campuses, offers flexible and high-quality education to working professionals, parents, at-home spouses and anyone looking for an individualized schedule.
Students can attend class online, at any of UCF’s 11 Regional Campuses across Central Florida, or a combination of the two.
“Instead of making people rearrange their lives to become students, we want to change the way we deliver education to help them earn their degrees,” said David Harrison, vice provost for UCF Regional Campuses. “We want people to know that UCF fits into their lives.”
Learning on Demand integrates the physical resources of UCF’s Regional Campuses and the university’s virtual resources, Harrison said. “Combining the two dramatically increases the opportunity for students to earn degrees without coming to Orlando,” he added.
During the past several years, UCF’s online course offerings have grown into many academic fields as virtual learning becomes more popular. During the current academic year, UCF will offer more than 1,100 online courses, generating more than 53,000 student registrations, said Joel Hartman, vice provost for Information Technologies & Resources. Learning on Demand aims to expand the options for entire degree programs online.
When it debuts in Fall 2009, Learning on Demand will offer five programs of study: bachelor’s degrees in Applied Science, Interdisciplinary Studies and Nursing (for students who are already registered nurses) and master’s degrees in Nursing and Social Work. The programs were chosen according to student and employer demands.
Students have the option to do almost everything virtually, but they will enjoy all of the benefits of being UCF students, including in-person access to advisers and libraries. Learning On Demand students also pay the same tuition as other UCF students enrolled in online courses.
“Learning On Demand is a higher-quality, lower-cost solution to students who can earn a degree that is going to stand the test of time,” Harrison said.
People looking to increase their marketability and the transitional workforce looking to learn new skills before returning to jobs could also benefit from the program.
Learning On Demand is sponsored in part by a three-year grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The grant allowed UCF Regional Campuses and Information Technologies & Resources to partner with academic departments to set up the classes, develop a curriculum and create additional online courses. “This has been an excellent example of Regional Campuses collaborating with other areas of the university to create new and more convenient learning opportunities for students,” Hartman said.
Harrison would like to add more programs and expand the grant beyond three years. He estimates that the program would serve 2,500 students by its fifth year.
For more information on Learning On Demand, visit www.ucflearningondemand.com. To learn more about UCF Regional Campuses, go to www.regionalcampuses.ucf.edu.
UCF Stands For Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 6th largest in the nation with more than 50,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information visit http://news.ucf.edu.
