State university told it can only offer online degree outside the state
It is hard to believe, but the University of Maryland University College, a premier online university, has been barred by the Maryland Higher Education Commission from offering its online doctoral degree in community college administration because it might duplicate a face-to-face offering by Morgan State College, another state college in Maryland. It is hard to believe because it is based on an outdated geographic approach to oversight of higher education. It is hard to believe because there are adult students in Maryland who cannot attend on-campus at Morgan State, and who will not have access to a Maryland college for this degree. It is hard to believe because there is an impending shortage of community college administrators, according to the article. It is hard to believe because it will be impossible to protect Morgan State from other competitors.
But there is more to the story. The decision in Maryland was a sensitive one because it was based on the desire to protect historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) from competition by nearby universities. I understand and support the desire to assure that these historically black institutions receive some protection from competition. I just don’t know how to protect a school in a situation like this. Perhaps it would make more sense to help Morgan State develop an online version of its program, so that the people of Maryland would be able to access a Maryland-based doctoral program.
Regardless, there is an element of absurdity here.
Your thoughts? Please feel free to leave a comment.
Mike
Share This2 Responses to “State university told it can only offer online degree outside the state”
Mike Offerman Says:
Will, thanks for your comment. And for a good suggestion about how this might be resolved. I totally agree with you about the value of the HBCUs and hope that you will teach for one.
Mike
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Will Says:
I would not call it absurd, but I will say that both universities should come together and develop a dual online doctoral program, in which students at both universities would take courses offered by the other university. There are already degree programs like that in existence.
On a side note, HBCU’s fill a huge cultural and educational need for students of African decent. As much as I value my master’s and am enjoying the Ed.D. from Capella, my one biggest regret is that I did not graduate from an HBCU.
I guess I have to it up by teaching at one.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:51 pm