Distance Course on Electronic Democracy and Identity Theft

Distance learning is the orphan of big universities.

There, I said it.

At many universities, distance learning classes just don't fit in. It's almost a cultural thing.

No one seems to know where distance classes should fit, what sort of tuition should be charged for these courses, and how faculty should be compensated.

I am not talkin' about extension classes, workshops, or special non-credit programs. I'm speakin' about regular, academic, for-credit, classes. Graduate and undergraduate courses linked to departments and programs.

First, but I repeat myself, there is a weird notion that Internet, Web-Based classes are not as good as face-to-face courses.

Second, there is a very profound lack of understanding by many administrators and dept chairs of what exactly distance learning classes are. So, naturally, there is a lot of misunderstanding.

Third, there is the feeling that DL classes are no work and "run themselves". So, once developed they should not count as a part of the teaching load or that an instructor should be compensated each time theyr teach such a class.

Fourth, most universities do not have any credible and consistent central administration leadership that sets a framework which must be applied (let me repeat MUST BE) by subordinate academic units.

All of this amounts to a very weak competitive advantage for universities as they bid for students and dollars in cyberspace.

Unless we resolve these issues mainstream public and private universities will be at a serious disadvantage in competing for the new mobile and agile students looking for classes and programs in today's post secondary environment.

Let us pray!