Moving Community Colleges Online Can Reduce Costs for Students and the State

Connecticut has 12 community colleges. Recently, there has been discussion about

consolidating them into one administrative unit.  Assumedly, one of the motivations
for this is a reduction in cost. Unfortunately, the State has missed a major avenue of
cost reduction: the conversion of community colleges to online institutions. Many
accredited colleges throughout the U.S. provide online options, some are fully online.
Required are (1) giving every student a laptop computer if they do not currently
own one, (2) the provision of a home internet connection where one is not available,
and (3) the training of faculty in the development and delivery of online courses. 

Online courses can be delivered in real-time (synchronously) where instruction is provided
by a professor at a specified time to all students in a class or asynchronously where students
individually can access course content at any time that is most convenient to them. The latter
does not require the full participation of an instructor as course content is developed
in advance, saved on the internet, and made accessible to students from anywhere at any
time. However, instructors will still be needed to grade assignments, provide for testing, and
assist needy students.

The potential savings of transitioning to an online model are substantial due to:
(1) the closing of some campus buildings, and (2) a reduction in staff, especially
those involved in building maintenance and the provision of food services. 

There are many advantages for students and faculty when classes are moved online:

* Learning modules can be developed by faculty in advance and saved permanently on the
Internet.
* These learning modules can be accessed asynchronously by students at any time from
any location.
* The need for students and faculty to travel to and from college is minimized as most
learning is completed at home (or from anywhere with an internet connection.)
* Students can take courses that accommodate their schedules. Part-time students
who have jobs can more easily continue working when course modules are
provided online asynchronously.
* Students can enroll in colleges that are too distant for traveling from their homes.
* All course materials can be made available to all students when posted online.
* Completed assignments can be delivered to professors via the internet. The use of
paper is eliminated, Graded work can be transmitted back to students via the internet.
* Faculty can have more time for research and writing periodicals, especially when
learning modules are provided to students asynchronously.
* Faculty will have more time to communicate with their students at any time. Office
hours are eliminated.
* The need for expensive textbooks can be minimized when free, curated internet resources
are utilized.
* Class size is no longer limited by classroom capacity when students are instructed online.
* Lab exercises can be provided online when virtual reality is incorporated.
* Some activities like graduation, social gatherings, class projects, and some labs can
continue on campus.

Colleges can be totally online or a combination of online and on-campus instruction.
Closed buildings can be leased to businesses or used as hotels or apartment units adding
a source of income for the State. Alternatively, vacated dormitories can be used to house
the homeless.

The economies and convenience realized from an online learning model are too
enormous to ignore:
(1) Savings can be passed to students by reducing the cost of tuition as college operating

expenses decline. (2) The State can save money as the cost of operating
online community colleges decline.