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What to Look for in Online MBA Faculty

By WTOP Staff

When Audrey McLaughlin was looking into online MBA programs, the Cleveland, Ohio, native cared a lot about overall prestige and program rankings. But she also paid attention to something more granular: the instructors.

“I wanted the same faculty as the residential program,” says McLaughlin, who ended up enrolling in Indiana University‘s online MBA program in 2013. “I wanted access to the same classes that I could have in person.”

Vetting online MBA faculty is key, experts say, since instructors not only shape a student’s academic experience, but can also serve as helpful connections down the road. As a result, they suggest students follow in McLaughlin’s footsteps and research instructors, as well as the overall structure of a program’s faculty.

“There are all kinds of models out there, and these are things that students should be aware of,” says David Sylvia, director of academic affairs for graduate programs at Pennsylvania State University–World Campus.

[Discover why it may be easier to get into online MBA programs.]

One marker of a reputable online MBA program is shared faculty with the residential division, says Phil Powell, faculty chair of the online business programs at Indiana University. If an online MBA program outsources instruction, it’s a sign that school officials aren’t prioritizing the educational experience as they should, he says.

“It’s a very quick and dirty way to differentiate whether the online program is seen as a strategic asset for the school or whether it’s just a quick way to make a buck,” says Powell, whose program, ranked No. 1 among online graduate business programs, uses the same faculty as the on-campus program. “All schools see their residential MBA programs as a strategic asset.”

McLaughlin, who now works in North Carolina as a business support consultant, says online students benefit from instructors who teach the same courses in a classroom setting.

They “have a better understanding of the students that way and what they need,” says McLaughlin, who spent time reading about faculty on her program’s website. “And I think that it adds more caliber to the program.”

[Explore these online MBA networking tips.]

Prospective online MBA students would also be wise to look into whether they will be working primarily with full-time, tenured faculty or part-time instructors, says Stacey Whitecotton, senior associate dean of graduate programs at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. At her institution, she says, there is an emphasis on hiring full-time professors with research experience.

“Part-time faculty, by definition, really only have to teach for the university. So they might be great teachers, but they don’t have the research expectations,” she says. “Students are looking for knowledge they can apply at work. They want faculty who understand what is happening in the business world, but they also have to have faculty who are on the cutting edge of the field and generating new knowledge. It’s important to expose students to both.”

However, some school officials, particularly in the for-profit sector, argue that even programs with large numbers of part-time faculty can provide a solid academic experience.

At Kaplan University, a for-profit school with an online MBA program, almost 70 percent of instructors are adjunct faculty, says Tina G. Allen, associate dean of the School of Business and Information Technology. The school does have research expectations for the adjuncts, she says, but industry experience tends to be a larger focus.

“For-profits tend to put more of an emphasis on practitioners and people in the field,” she says. “In a school like ours, when we have adjuncts, most of them are still in the workplace and are up to date on everything in the workplace. They are not surrounded by an academic group that you find in a traditional university.”

[Weigh taking a MOOC before getting an online MBA.]

Beyond the full-time or part-time divide, Whitecotton suggests students look for faculty who are responsive, have experience teaching online courses and are accessible during orientations, office hours and on discussion boards.

“From the student’s perspective, you want to be sure there are opportunities to interact with faculty across the board,” she says.

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

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What to Look for in Online MBA Faculty originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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