California’s use of online distance education is “limited,” and campuses across the state should partner with a leading online university to expand students’ access to a college degree through online college classes, according to an extensive review of the state’s college access.
“Using Distance Education to Increase College Access and Efficiency,” released Oct. 25 by California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office [1] (LAO), suggests campus officials could create more college access through online college classes despite the state’s budget woes that have raised tuition at many public institutions.
Bringing more online college classes to California, the report says [1], is the next step in fulfilling the Master Plan for Higher Education, a statewide framework published 50 years ago that promotes universal access to a college education.
LAO analysts point to Indiana [2] as a possible example for California. Indiana legislators passed a law this year [3] that would let students apply for state-funded financial aid grants to Western Governors University [4] (WGU), an accredited online university based in Utah.
The state money would not fund WGU’s operational costs, but rather “increase the number of graduates—particularly for nontraditional students—with minimal cost to the state,” the report said. Undergraduate tuition at WGU costs about $6,000 a year.