Students will soon have the option to gain more NIC credits from home. For the first time, North Idaho College will have online course degrees available for students. In the near future there will be enough online courses for students to receive a full Associates of Arts or an Associates of Science degree.
Currently a lab science class is needed for the online program. Several lab opportunities are being looked into to fulfill the requirements needed for these degrees. The lab will soon be chosen. Likely by the beginning of the next spring semester, the program will be ready, said Ann Garnsey-Harter, director of eLearning and outreach.
If at any time there becomes a large demand for online classes, more sections will be added, Garnsey-Harter said.
Garnsey-Harter is new to her job, but she is working on making the program successful and beneficial to students. The word “outreach” in her job title explains the job clearly. Outreach focuses on the all encompassing act of online courses.
The program is not targeted on people living a great distance from campus. It can also help those who live up the street from NIC. This opportunity will help people make time for college when traditional classes may interfere with their work or family schedule.
With the rising prices of gas, many people are looking to find ways that will help limit their driving, Garnsey-Harter said. She said she is not certain there would be a big increase in the number of students changing from on campus to online learning, but she thinks there is a possibility since people want to conserve gas during this time.
The program will be very beneficial because students will have more options. Instead of being required to be on campus for courses, they will be able to stay home for school.
When asked whether the online program would take longer than attending classes on campus, Garnsey-Harter said that in past years there have been “over 150 online courses offered” for students. With so many options the program “shouldn’t slow them down,” she said. There will be nothing keeping students from fulfilling the program requirements in good time.
