The COVID-19 pandemic and move to emergency remote learning led to a “positive reassessment” of higher-ed institutions’ online learning priorities, according to a report from Quality Matters and Eduventures Research.
The report is based on survey responses from 422 chief online officers from 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. More than half (57 perent) are examining their institution’s online learning priorities and are focusing on edtech enhancements, faculty professional development, and online quality.
The majority of surveyed COOs are predicting increased enrollment in fully- and majority-online as a result of the move to remote learning and the emergency remote pivot. Sixty percent of those surveyed predict some further increase greater than their pre-pandemic growth pattern, and 17 percent anticipate strongly increased online growth.
The emergency remote pivot has also had a resounding impact on low-enrollment institutions with less than 1,000 fully- and partly-online students. Surveyed COOs representing these institutions reported feeling confident that the pandemic would lead to increased (52 percent) or strongly increased (15 percent) undergraduate online enrollment.
COOs say it’s at least somewhat likely that the move to emergency remote learning, and the development of online courses in response to pandemic learning needs, will evolve into permanent new online degree programs. Nine percent of those surveyed said it’s very likely for undergraduate programs, with another 59 percent saying it would be likely for some programs but not for others.
Breaking this response down by institution type reveals interesting viewpoints–only 15 percent of community college COOs consider it unlikely that emergency remote learning courses would mature into online programs, but 35 percent of private four-year COOs believe it is unlikely.
Overall, 53 percent of surveyed COOs said the pivot to emergency remote learning changed their institution’s strategic priorities and identity or stimulated a reexamination of those issues.
Coming out of pandemic learning, COOs’ top strategic initiatives influenced by the move to emergency remote learning include expanding online course and program choices, recognizing and supporting online learning priorities and needs, and increasing flexibility to meet students needs with multiple teaching modes.
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