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Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Scotty Holcomb

Are you an "on-the-go" person with the exhausting task of balancing life, school and work? Or, are you a parent unable to spend more time with your family because of traditional classroom times?

Like you, countless numbers have opted for enrollment in the Virtual College. They are students with a full-time job or adults eager to get back to school. Though the Virtual College could be the answer busy students are looking for, some remain undecided because of their apprehension about online classes.

Although many questions are raised about getting started with the Virtual College, it all comes down to this: Is the Virtual College environment right for "me"?

With another academic year underway, the time is right for an insightful look at DBCC's Virtual College and its enrollment, which is growing astonishingly. Thousands have already put their trust in distance learning.

The rate of online enrollment from 2003 to 2007 has increased at DBCC from 2,440 in 2003 to 10,290, in 2006 and 13,594 presently. These numbers include four types of Web classes, those entirely online, half-and-half, hybrid (75 percent Web) and mixed (physical class with Internet enhancement).

Virtual College Director Dr. Robert Saum believes the reason for such a tremendous growth concerns convenience first."The average student is 20 years of age. They have a full-time job and they are looking to go back to school," Saum said, adding that the need to save money is another reason. "There is also the problem of the mother who cannot afford babysitting," he said. "Consequently, she sees the Virtual College as the solution by allowing her to take classes at home."

Saum said the increasing rate is also an effect of a national trend. "National reports show that 99 percent of high school students have taken at least one online lesson before coming to college," said Saum, noting that most students are comfortable using both the computer and Web.

If so much faith is put in virtual education it is because it's such a suitable environment for distance-learning students. While courses cost a little more money, students save in transportation costs and time. Through the Virtual College, students can earn an AA degree or an AS degree for Business Administration and Criminal Justice. Business certificates are also available for those who only dsire new skills. But the college offers a variety of other courses, too, such as Business Ethics, Algebra, English Composition, Introduction to Health Care, Web Programming and Spanish I, II and III.

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