Bill would partner state with online university

“Bill would partner state with online university” by Katherine Long The Seattle Times Published 3/19/11 Retrieved 3/29/11 Complete URL: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014547061_wgu20m.html Intended Audience: general public, college students, those looking to return to school Summary: A new bill in the Washington legislature proposes to create a partnership with Western Governors University (WGU), a college institution that functions completely online. Supporters of the bill, such as those with full-time jobs and little money to enroll in a traditional four-year program, say the opportunity to earn a degree online, with its increased flexibility, will allow them to return to school and advance or expand their career options. Those who are against the bill do not believe an online institution provides the classroom interaction necessary to pull a more meaningful experience from the courses taken. Key Points: • Support: flexible schedule, lower tuition than a traditional four-year program, mobile • Resistance: no classroom interaction, WGU faculty does not teach, programs do not encourage development of higher thinking skills, less exposure to the arts and sciences Relevance: It’s the wave of the future. As long as the institutions are accredited, online universities are an attractive alternative for those looking to return to school. As the classroom becomes increasingly more technologically dependent, the need for physical classrooms decreases significantly, especially for college and graduate-level courses.