Cost Effectiveness of Asynchronous Learning as a Scheduling Option

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Cost Effectiveness of Asynchronous Learning as a
Scheduling Option

• The Case of the University of Illinois Graduate
  School of Library and Information Science M.S.
  program
• Leigh S. Estabrook

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Introduction

• LEEP-M.S.in LIS/ GSLIS
• Scheduling option, not separate program
• Fully integrated into school in dollars, faculty,
  students and support staff
• Admittedly an historical accident

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Background

• Strong demand
• Maldistribution of LIS Schools
• Strong interest in rapidly changing field
• Interest of working adults who cannot afford to
  become traditional graduate student
• Market demand for more technologically literate
  students
• University stake
• interest in distance education
• desire for model

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GSLIS Faculty

• Interest
• Full involvement from start
• Asserting LIS leadership--past and present
• Overcoming state obstacles
• Integrating technology
• Alignment with field and trends
• Willingness to take risks

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Cost Model

• Fee structure identical to other scheduling
  options
• Depended on 70 out-of-state with 140 students
• Use of LEEP format to teach specialized courses
  to on campus
• On load for all faculty
• High start up investment for faculty and
  technology staff

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Benefits to students

• Access to accredited, highly-ranked program
• Increased earning potential
• Opportunity for career change
• Increased facility with technology
• Involvement in full range of ancillary activities

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Benefits to School

• Faculty proficiency
• Course offerings in new areas
• Optimization of instruction
• Enhanced on-campus technologies
• Student retention
• Valuable publicity
• Budget increases to variety of areas

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Reconsidering Cost-model

• Potential increase in tuition income
• Could pay premium to faculty or increase profit
• Loss to School as a whole
• Added cost of accounting
• Question of viability as number of ALN programs
  in LIS increase

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Unlikely to change model costs to School appear
to be much greater than dollar returns would
warrant