By David Salazar

As of April 15, more than 400 students have registered for online summer courses at the University.

According to Ronald Chamlers, the University’s coordinator for the distance learning programs, the total registration is up approximately 46 percent from last year’s total. “The response has been extremely positive from both students and professors alike,” said Chamlers.

Last summer, when the online courses were offered for the first time, only 20 courses were available. In order to spread the word about the online summer courses, the distance learning programs sent out a series of e-mails, summer bulletins, Web sites, and even Hofcasts.

Ultimately the additional advertisement had a positive affect with 276 students registering for summer courses. As a result, the distance learning programs, who organize summer online courses, increased the offering to 54 classes.

The majority of the courses are distribution courses that are offered through the University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. However, all the colleges are offering online summer courses which will be “conducted” entirely on Blackboard. Professors who participate in the online courses are “self-selecting,” meaning that they choose to teach the courses. According to Chamlers the response from professors has been encouraging.

The courses are offered through the distance learning program coordinated by the Faculty Computing Services department, which is involved in incorporating technology into the classroom and courses. According to Chamlers, the courses were offered in response to the University’s geographically diverse student body. “There are many students that want to take summer courses at [the University], but cannot afford to stay during the summer,” said Chamlers. “These courses give them that opportunity.”

In addition to the summer online courses, the distance learning programs offer a fully online masters degree in computer science that was launched in January, 2008, and an online graduate certificate in the School of Education, which was launched in Fall of 2007.