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Online Learning at the University of Illinois
Quality, Scale, Breadth
Burks Oakley II Associate Vice President for
Academic Affairs Director, University of Illinois
Online Professor (with appointments on all 3
campuses) University of Illinois 11 December
2004
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University of Illinois Online

• The University of Illinois is committed to using
  the Internet to deliver affordable, high-quality
  educational opportunities to individuals in
  Illinois (and throughout the world).
• U of I Online supports the three campuses by
  engaging in activities that increase the number
  and quality of the Universitys online courses,
  certificate, and degree programs.

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University of Illinois Online

• U of I Online provides information to the public
  about the online programs of the University of
  Illinois through a centralized Web portal
  http//www.online.uillinois.edu/
• U of I Online serves as an initial
  point-of-contact for all inquiries about these
  programs
• 1-866-633-UIOL (toll-free)
• Online inquiry form

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University of Illinois Online

• U of I Online actively promotes the University of
  Illinois Online brand name and assists campus
  units with the marketing of their respective
  online programs

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University of Illinois Online

• U of I Online supports the specific objectives
  for online education on each campus by
• fostering new approaches to online learning
• identifying grant sources for online program
  support
• creating opportunities for sharing best practices
  between campuses
• providing seed funding to the campuses for
  high-priority online implementations.

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University of Illinois Online

• 419 different online courses
• 63 online degree and certificate programs
• 6 baccalaureate degree completion programs
• 14 masters degrees
• 31 certificate programs
• 9 continuing education programs
• 3 other programs

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U of I Online Programs

• BA degree completion programs
• English, Liberal Studies, History, Comp. Science,
  Philosophy, Math, Math Education
• Masters degrees
• Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical)
• Computer Science
• Library and Information Science
• Education
• Management Information Systems
• Human Resource Development
• Public Health, Health Professions Education

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U of I Online Programs

• Certificate programs in
• Nonprofit Management
• Renewing Public Housing
• E-business/E-commerce
• Certified Firefighter II
• Business English
• Health Informatics
• School Nursing
• Dairy Science

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U of I Online Programs

• Continuing professional education
• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Veterinary Medicine
• K-12 education

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University of Illinois Online

• During the 2003-04 academic year, there were more
  than 21,000 enrollments in online courses offered
  by the three campuses of the University of
  Illinois.
• Chicago 13,312
• Springfield 3,988
• Urbana-Champaign 3,767
• Total 21,067

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Univ. of Illinois at Springfield

• Campus was founded in 1969 as Sangamon State
  University to be a regional capstone university
• Became the University of Illinois at Springfield
  in 1995
• 20 bachelors degree programs 18 masters degree
  programs 1 doctoral program

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Univ. of Illinois at Springfield

• UIS/SSU traditionally has served a large
  population of non-traditional students (working
  adults with families, older students, part-time,
  commuter students)
• In 2001, added a lower-division Capital Scholars
  program (100 students/year)
• 2,820 FTE students, 4,396 head-count, 170
  full-time faculty (Fall 2004)

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A vibrant campus at UIS
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A wireless campus at UIS

• UIS was the first public university in Illinois
  to implement wireless networking throughout its
  campus even in the soccer stadium

University Hall Opened July 2004 31
million 116,000 sq. ft.
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But what are the enrollment trends at UIS?
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This is not a new trend
UIS Credit Hours Taught Fall Semester
On-Campus excludes CapScholars
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Where have all the non-traditional students gone?

• Non-traditional students have constraints (work,
  family, commuting time and expenses)
• Previously, UIS was the only university in the
  region with programs designed for working adults
• But now, non-traditional students have other
  options through online education

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Online is part of the solution
UIS Credit Hours Taught Fall Semester
On-Campus excludes CapScholars
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Online degree programs

• The online program at UIS was started in 1998
• Masters degrees
• Management Information Systems (98), Master
  Teaching and Leadership (00)
• Bachelors degrees
• Liberal Studies (99), English (02), History
  (03), Computer Science (03), Math (Fall 04),
  Philosophy (Fall 04), Math Education (Fall 04)

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UIS online enrollments
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Penetration of online learning

• In the Fall 2004 semester at UIS
• 31 of the students are taking at least one
  online course (about 1 in 3)
• 17 of the students (about 1 in 6) are taking
  online courses exclusively
• 19 of all course credits are generated by online
  courses
• The online course enrollments (numbering 2075)
  are 34 greater than they were during the Fall
  2003 semester

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Master Teaching Leadership

• Masters degree in Educational Leadership with a
  focus on Master Teaching and Leadership (MTL)
• The goal of MTL is to provide teachers the
  opportunity to earn a high-quality degree while
  using university courses toward certificate
  renewal (for regular classroom and special
  education teachers)
• MTL is also a valuable aid in preparing for the
  master teaching certificate
• Enrollment of approximately 400 students
• Only offered online

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Master Teaching Leadership

• Take everything you know now about being a
  teacher leader in your school and multiply it 10
  times and you will get a feel for what you learn
  in the MTL program. This program not only taught
  me how to do in-depth research but also how to
  organize and analyze improvements for my
  building. It has also broadened my understanding
  of how schools function at a much higher level
  than I ever knew before. My writing skills have
  increased exponentially. The first time I will
  set foot on the campus will be when I cross the
  stage to graduate. Carolyn Diann Heck

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Master Teaching Leadership
Gaylee Harris (in pink) is an MTL student who
lives in Saudi Arabia. During an unannounced
campus visit, she met with three of her online
professors Dan Matthews, Patricia Tucker-Ladd
and Theresa Sullivan-Stewart.
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College of Arts Sciences

• Current LAS enrollment includes approximately 280
  online majors
• Approximately 35 of online majors in the Fall
  2004 term are out-of-state
• Approximately 50 of online majors in the Fall
  2004 term originate from community college
  partner institutions

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e-tuition

• In the Fall 2003 term, UIS implemented an
  e-tuition policy
• All Illinois residents automatically qualify for
  the e-tuition rate
• Out-of-state students who are enrolled in an
  online degree program and are taking only online
  classes also qualify
• The e-tuition rate is 124.25 per credit hour
  (continuing undergraduate) and 140.00 per credit
  hour (graduate)

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e-tuition

• Due to e-tuition, UIS is now attracting a
  national (and international) audience
• During the Fall 2004 semester, students are
  enrolled in online courses from 36 states and 8
  foreign countries
• 22 of the online enrollments are now from
  out-of-state
• For online majors, 35 out-of state at the
  undergraduate level, 20 at the grad level

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Online is part of the mainstream

• At UIS, online courses are taught by the same
  faculty who teach on-campus courses
• Online teaching is done on-load it is part of a
  faculty members regular teaching assignment

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The future of UIS

• Address the institutional goal of increasing
  enrollments
• Serve its non-traditional students through an
  expanded online program
• Increase enrollment of traditional students on
  the residential campus
• These two directions are not mutually exclusive

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What is the future for UIS?

• UIS is poised to become the prototypical 21st
  century institution, in which online teaching is
  integrated into the mainstream
• UIS will serve a growing population of
  traditional residential students
• UIS will use online education to address the
  needs of its non-traditional students, its
  on-campus students, and students throughout the
  country and beyond

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Urbana-Champaign Campus

• UIUC has emphasized masters degrees in its
  online program
• Examples include
• Computer Science
• Library and Information Science
• Global Human Resource Education

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Urbana Campus

• Non-credit online programs
• Continuing education in veterinary medicine
• Certificate programs in dairy science,
  firefighter training, hazardous waste

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LEEP Program

• An online scheduling option for courses in the
  Graduate School of Library and Information
  Science
• Initially 31 students - 3 courses (Fall
  1996)
• Currently 206 degree-seeking students (plus
  others) and 396 graduates - 50 online courses
• http//alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/gslis/degrees/leep.html

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LEEP Model

• Program design emphasizes communication and
  community
  (quasi-cohort model / emphasis on interaction
  / degree program)
• Principally online / hybrid model
  (synchronous, asynchronous, brief
  residential, and independent learning components)

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LEEP Students

• LEEP students have lived in 46 of the 50 states
  (all but Arkansas, Mississippi, Rhode Island,
  and South Carolina), Argentina, Bahamas,
  Belgium, Canada, China, England, France, Germany,
  Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Mexico, Saudi Arabia,
  Thailand and the Virgin Islands.

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LEEP Student Comments

• It's making me reconsider my career goals -- to
  aim a little higher.
• "It has fundamentally changed how I look at my
  job.
• At age 41 I'm finally learning how to
  swim...After LEEP, I'm much braver about a lot of
  things.

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LEEP Faculty Comments

• I spend more time up front making decisions, but
  then enjoying the class and being a part of it as
  it unfolds.
• It provides new opportunities to contribute to
  the profession.
• The space aspect is fabulous because it is not
  an issue to be able to have guests from
  anywhere. Im in the middle of the cornfields and
  yet it is not an issue.

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LEEP Review

• In the final report of a 2004 accreditation
  review, the panel noted the LEEP delivery
  option has enriched the on-campus program through
  enhanced use of technology and the enrichment of
  the learning environment provided by the
  diversity of experience that LEEP students bring
  to their classes.

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LEEP Program

• Recipient of 2001 Sloan-C Award for the Most
  Outstanding Online Program
• Citation For the development and delivery of a
  premier ALN graduate degree program in library
  and information science and exemplary
  implementation of Web-based learning communities.

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New LEEP Initiative

• In partnership with Syracuse University, GSLIS
  recently received a 713,492 grant from the
  Institute of Library and Information Services
  (IMLS) to develop a Web-based Information Science
  Education (WISE) consortium encompassing online
  course sharing, quality metrics, and faculty
  development.

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More about LEEP

• Consult the LEEP bibliography --
  http//www.lis.uiuc.edu/gslis/degrees/leep_bib.htm
  l
• Check out the first LEEP book -- Learning,
  Culture and Community in Online Education
  Research and Practice (Peter Lang, 2004)

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HRE Online - Overview

• The Department of Human Resource Education has
  become a leader in the delivery of online
  education for the adult learner.
• The department currently offers two online
  masters degree programs.
• The audience for the HRE Online programs consists
  of over 60 private companies, 40 colleges and
  high schools, and all 5 major branches of the
  military.

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HRE Online - Overview

• The HRE Online initiative started in 1998 through
  a grant from U of I Online
• Students are admitted to the HRE Online degree
  program in cohorts
• Cohorts enroll in the same sequence of courses
  throughout a 2.5-3 year program of study.
• HRE currently has a total of 102 students from
  eight different countries around the world.

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HRE Online - Overview

• HRE Online now generates revenue (a surplus) for
  the department
• Enrollment in HRE Online has doubled in size in
  the past two years and could continue to grow
  with more resources
• The Global HRD Online Masters program was named
  Top 10 Best Buy among HR-related online
  programs by the editors of geteducated.com (Oct
  04)

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Global HRD Online - Overview

• The Global HRD program has now graduated 53
  students from 3 cohorts and has 76 students
  actively enrolled in the program
• In December 2004, HRE Online will graduate
  another 24 and take the newest group (Cohort 7)
  through a cutting-edge online new student
  orientation

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Global HRD Students

• "I was promoted about 2 years into the online
  program from Training Manager to Director of
  Training. I believe this was a direct result of
  pursuing higher education and applying it back to
  work...The HRE Online program had such relevance
  for me in my current career. I really enjoyed the
  classes, and I am very thankful for the
  attendance requirements and the group projects -
  kept me motivated. The instructors and students
  provided insight, and it was great to learn from
  them." -- Cindy Collado - HRE Online Graduate
  2003 - HRD Cohort 3

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Global HRD Students

• "I would not have been able to complete this
  program if it weren't online, so the convenience
  factor was a big plus. I attended synchronous
  sessions from Chicago, London, and Paris! Also, I
  enjoyed the freedom of planning my own schedule
  in regards to readings and assignments. It was
  helpful to be able to work ahead when I knew I
  would need to due to being out of town and a busy
  schedule." -- Dana Schmalz - HRE Online Graduate
  2003 - HRD Cohort 3

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CCTL Online - Overview

• The Community College Teaching and Learning
  online program was started in 2000 and currently
  has 9 certificate graduates and 26 active
  students.
• In August 05, HRE will graduate its first Ed.M.
  CCTL group and begin its third cohort.
• The Community College Teaching and Learning
  program was recently profiled in a Chicago
  Tribune Education Today article (Nov 04)

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CCTL Students

• First and foremost, I feel the best thing about
  the CCTL program is the quality of the curriculum
  and instruction we receive. I find the program to
  be as rigorous and rewarding as any face-to-face
  graduate level experiences I've had, if not
  moreso. The convenience of working from home is
  also a vital feature for me, as I would not be
  able to fit work on a Masters degree into my
  schedule without this option. Finally, I am
  thrilled that without fail, each semester I am
  able to use what I'm learning in the CCTL courses
  immediately in my job. -- Shelly Hokanson -
  CCTL Cohort 2

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CCTL Students

• I can fit the class schedule into my schedule
  with little negative effect. I can apply so much
  of what I have learned within days, sometimes
  even hours of learning a new concept or
  procedure. From eye-opening dialogue, to using
  technology for classes, my entire experience in
  CCTL has been incredibly memorable. -- Paul
  Carlson - CCTL Cohort 2

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Chicago Campus

• Largest online enrollments of any public
  institution in Illinois
• Emphasis on health professions and urban
  initiatives
• Masters in Health Professions Education
• Masters in Public Health Informatics
• Graduate Medical Education Core Curriculum
• Certificate in Nonprofit Management
• Certificate in Renewing Public Housing

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MHPE Online

• Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE)
  online degree.
• Provides the training necessary to produce
  effective leaders in health professions
  education.
• The program is targeted to health professionals
  who have, or are preparing for, educational
  leadership positions but who lack formal training
  in education and management.
• http//www.mhpe-online.org

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MHPE Online

• Enrollment in the courses has grown from 16 in AY
  98/99 to 91 in AY 03/04
• Students from 10 states throughout nation and 6
  countries throughout the world
• Online program has higher application rate than
  face-to-face program
• 2 out of 3 applicants are wait listed for online
  program
• No wait list for the face-to-face program

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MHPE External Review

• If one were to change nothing about the MHPE
  program, it would remain a gold standard among
  programs that seek to prepare individuals for
  leadership positions within health professions
  education. The spirit of innovation, the
  excellence of the curriculum, the dedication of
  the faculty, the administrative oversight and
  support, and the quality of the students
  attracted to the program, all indicate a program
  of exceptional quality. -- 2003 IBHE review of
  MHPE program

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Student comments

• "My personal time is important. One of the deals
  with the MHPE schoolwork was that I wouldn't
  let it eat into my family time. After I put my
  children to sleep I work for an hour or two,
  often at 2 or 3 in the morning ... It's worked
  out nicely that I have this night-owl habit.
  Julia Corcoran, MHPE Student

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Health Informatics Certificate

• The online health informatics certificate program
  makes is targeted to the motivated mature health
  care professional, who already has a masters
  degree.
• Provides advanced understanding of the
  application and management of computers within
  the health care setting.
• http//www.uic.edu/ahs/sbhis/him/cert.htm

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Continuing Medical Education

• CME Online - Specialty Needs for Primary Care
  Physicians
• Participants develop their abilities to diagnose
  and manage specialty related diseases.
• An immediate impact on the physicians practice
• Improved identification and knowledge of disease
• More efficient and effective diagnosis
• Knowledge and application of the latest
  diagnostic and management techniques
• Integration of new techniques into participants
  practice and clinical activities
• Six modules Gastroenterology, Womens Health,
  Cardiology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and
  Arthritis, Pediatrics

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Public Health Informatics

• MPH in Public Health Informatics
• Public health informatics relates to the
  fundamental role that information gathering,
  analysis and dissemination now play in health
  care delivery and in public health.
• This program provides public health professionals
  with an understanding of core public health
  principles and the design and use of information
  systems.

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GME Core Curriculum

• The GME Core Curriculum for Residents and Fellows
  was created to ensure that residency programs
  include a review of ethical, socioeconomic,
  medical/legal, and cost-containment issues that
  affect graduate medical education and medical
  practice.
• Because the topics span all of the medical
  specialties, this is referred to as the GME
  core curriculum.
• http//www.uic.edu/classes/dme/gme

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GME Core Curriculum

• Recipient of 2002 Sloan-C Award for the Most
  Outstanding Online Program
• Citation For the creative use of technology to
  meet the certification needs of a large and
  dispersed professional training program, while
  maintaining sound educational practices

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Public Health Preparedness

• The Illinois Public Health Preparedness Center
  (IPHPC) works to enhance the readiness of the
  public health workforce in responding to routine
  and urgent public health threats, including
  bioterrorism events.
• Provides for public workforce development through
  a battery of more than 60 competency-based,
  completely online courses that are continuously
  available, at no cost, and offered in a unique
  self-directed, instructor-led format.
• http//www.uic.edu/sph/prepare/

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Master of Public Health

• MPH with an emphasis in Informatics
• Program is collaboration of two UIC colleges
  Public Health and Applied Health Sciences
• Certificate program and complete MPH
• As of Fall 2004, both programs combined have 71
  students enrolled
• New Environmental Health Informatics Certificate
  program in development for Fall 05

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Master of Public Health

• International student population with students in
  15 states and 3 countries
• Students in program are leaders in healthcare
• Senior Director of Cardiology at Evanston
  Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston
• Professor Consultant, Department of
  Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic
• Supervisor, Department of Public Health Human
  Services, State of Montana

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Student comments

• Public health educational opportunities are
  somewhat limited in general, particularly in
  Montana, which is the fourth largest state in
  land area, with a total population of slightly
  under 1 million people, so there is no school of
  public health nearby. These factors, coupled
  with my professional schedule, meant that I would
  not have been able to attempt a degree like this
  had it not been for the availability of web-based
  distance learning program. James Aspevig, PHI
  Student

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Student comments

• After attempting to juggle work, family
  responsibilities and factoring driving/class time
  commitment, I postponed my desire to seek a
  graduate degree. An Internet search led me to UIC
  and their new online Masters in Public Health
  Program. The description of the program matched
  my interests and professional goals.
  Additionally, the fact that it was completely
  online fit in with my busy hectic schedule while
  allowing me to continue working full time.
  Teresa Adams, PHI Student

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Nonprofit Management

• Non-credit certificate program
• 278 enrollments during AY 03/04
• Students located in 40 states and 12 countries
  Canada, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Jamaica,
  Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Thailand,
  United Arab Emirates, United States
• Initial program expanded to include two new
  tracks Fund Development and Human Resources

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U of I Online Marketing

• Marketing Goals
• Increase or maintain enrollment
• Increase brand awareness
• Increase visibility among constituent groups
• Marketing Strategies
• Global marketing for 60 plus programs across the
  three campuses
• Highly targeted, individualized strategy for each
  program
• Statewide and internal communications to
  constituents

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Marketing Strategies

• Search Engine Optimization
• U of I Online website is typically between 4 and
  12 on Google for the term online degrees which
  is searched for approximately 2.5 million times
  per month
• Each unique program page on the U of I Online
  website is optimized individually resulting in
  51,315 program description views between April
  and September 2004
• Also resulted in 11,547 click-throughs to program
  websites during the same time period

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Marketing Strategies

• Pay per inquiry
• Contracts with companies such as classesusa
  provide targeted marketing to prospective
  students
• In 2003, a 16,000 investment produced tuition
  revenue of approximately 200,000 estimated
• U of I Online is also listed at
• Petersons.com
• Military.com
• GetEducated.com (listing and banner ad)
• GradSchools.com

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U of I Online Website Traffic

• Year Unique Visitors Inquiries
• 2002 111,000 1,340
• 2003 136,000 1,747
• 2004 160,000 1,335
• January through November only
• Lower inquiries per unique visitors may
  indicate that prospective students are finding
  the information they need or are going to the
  specific program of interest website from the U
  of I Online website.

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Increasing Visibility

• Article in Inside Illinois
• PR via Campus News Bureaus
• U of I Online Newsletter- Over 3,000 subscribers
• Advertisement in Illinois magazine
• Advertisement in UIAA magazines
• Advertisement in Illinois Issues

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Marketing Outcomes

• Most programs have seen out-of-state online
  enrollments increase dramatically
• Many programs are at capacity
• Increased visibility and demand have increased
  the quality of enrolled students
• Work with program directors has resulted in
• Improved understanding of program markets
• Improved tracking of marketing activity
  effectiveness
• Improved communication with prospective students

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Online Learning at the University of Illinois
Quality, Scale, Breadth
Burks Oakley II E-mail oakley_at_uillinois.edu Web
http//www.online.uillinois.edu/oakley/