Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Rising above the Phoenix

After the dismissal of Teresa Sullivan, the worries started - the University of Virginia is turning itself into the University of Phoenix.
How about the other way around?
How about the University of Virginia leading the way into online learning, taking a centuries old way of doing things and improving on it? Put the special UVa stamp on it.
That seems to be the way the Board of Visitors wanted to go.
Why not?
We can't bring everyone who wants to come to Charlottesville here, but we can take some University of Virginia to them.
It's time to lead, follow or get out of the way.
What do the emails show Sullivan doing?
Sullivan is not quoted at length in the e-mail files that were released, but one from an alumnus/donor to Kington says that Sullivan provided a "pedestrian" answer to a question about how UVa was embracing the online education revolution. Sullivan is not responding to press inquiries at this time, but sources familiar with discussions she has had on distance education said that she viewed it as an important trend, but had expressed skepticism about the idea that it was a quick fix to solving financial problems, and that she viewed distance education as having the potential to cost a lot of money without delivering financial gains. Sources also said she viewed distance education as an issue on which faculty input was crucial.

College education is going to change. Maybe before this year's incoming class earns their degrees. Online may be the way to go - get the best lectures no matter where you are.
Let the University of Virginia be great for all those who come here - not how many want to come but can't.

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