Increasing asynchronous classes grants students flexibility
Tim Petersen wrote this article for Cal State Fullerton’s Daily Titan. It is available for republication or reference. If you think their work is important, you can support it here.
As the transition back to campus continues into fall 2022, Cal State Fullerton needs to embrace the value of its online courses. Asynchronous courses, in particular, offer a level of flexibility that can help facilitate success for a specific segment of the student body. CSUF needs to continue to add to these offerings.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the sudden online shift, it also forced an optimization of the university's online course infrastructure. It is wrong to simply throw away the progress made by professors, students and the university.
Data from the university highlights the strides made in the number of online and asynchronous course offerings over the past three years.
Mark Filowitz, associate vice president for Academic Programs and Enrollment, said that in spring 2019, approximately 95% of CSUFs courses were in person and 5% were online. By spring 2022, about 20% of CSUF’s courses are online, and 75% are in person, with an additional 5% available as hybrid online and in-person classes.
Gains made in the availability of online courses at CSUF are among the few positive outcomes of the pandemic. It would be unfortunate for these improvements to go to waste, especially since a sizable amount of CSUF students and faculty prefer online classes.
“We’re not oblivious to the fact that there’s demand out there by both students and some faculty who’ve learned to become accustomed to teaching online, that there could be more demand in the future,” Filowitz said.
A virtual learning environment allows students to juggle personal responsibilities while being time efficient.
Jacob Whitehouse, a second-year cinema and television arts major, said he intentionally takes half of his classes online and half in person.
“I think keeping the online classes for flexibility is a good thing so that I don’t have to waste a bunch of money on gas just to come here for a GE for like two hours,” Whitehouse said.
Whitehouse said he prefers taking his courses for his major on campus because of the networking opportunities and hands-on experience.
Not every class works online. Classes that require hands-on work and teamwork should stay in-person. In-person courses are an essential aspect of the college experience. However, asynchronous classes should be made as accessible as possible for students who want them.
Asynchronous online courses can do more than save students a little gas money. A 2019 study from the United States Government Accountability Office states that 22% of undergraduate students in the United States are parents, and 55% of student parents work full-time. Online classes can provide the flexibility required by some students to succeed in college.
Another important aspect to consider is the value of education provided by online courses. Filowitz said that success rates had not been impacted by taking online courses. In fact, the overall GPA of CSUF students has increased during the pandemic.
Reducing the options for online education may impact the success of students who have grown to rely on the flexibility provided by online and asynchronous classes.
Right now, CSUF has three fully online degree programs where students can earn a bachelor’s degree in humanities and social sciences, business administration or sociology. Additionally, CSUF students can enroll in one online course per semester offered at other CSU universities. The CSU and CSUF have a plan for an online future, which is a good sign. But more bachelor’s programs should incorporate online components or be fully taught online if possible, making education more accessible and affordable.
Filowitz said the academic affairs office considers input from the different communities on campus before the format gets changed. However, he said, no matter the modality, the academic affairs office wants to ensure that students receive the educational outcomes desired by the university.
Any student who enjoys asynchronous classes or sees the value in them should advocate for increasing them. If a class could be taught equally well online, that should be mentioned in course and instructor feedback.
Filowitz said he does not foresee the current number of online courses getting reduced, but said he is unsure whether more online classes might be added in the future.
The point is not to reduce the number of in-person courses. Instead, the goal is to give students as many possible choices when it comes to their class schedule. As a result, CSUF will provide its students with more opportunities to succeed by providing more options.
As we move further away from the peak of the pandemic and closer to a sense of normality, the university needs to fight the temptation to eliminate online courses that students have come to value.