RD219 - Virginia Degree Completion Network: State Report and Proposal - Fall 2015


Executive Summary:
Per language included in the 2016-2018 biennial state budget, the Commonwealth has charged George Mason University with developing a comprehensive online degree completion initiative targeted to adult populations throughout Virginia. The language also requires George Mason to collaborate with other institutions of higher education on this proposal, and as such, Old Dominion University, given its long history in the distance learning arena, has partnered with MASON on this initiative. Both MASON and ODU are hopeful that other institutions within the Commonwealth will express interest in participating, and it is anticipated that discussions will take place during the fall to advance additional partnership opportunities.

As public institutions located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is our obligation to fuel Virginia’s economy by preparing a highly skilled, highly qualified workforce in a growing economy. Higher education institutions in Virginia have been rightfully focusing on enhancing enrollment, retention, and graduation rates in the pursuit of this goal. The same emphasis needs to be directed toward identifying those individuals with some college credit, but who have not attained a degree, and providing easier pathways to degree completion.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, a nonprofit organization that works with colleges to verify students' enrollment and graduation status, approximately 29 percent of those who started college in 2007 are no longer taking classes toward a degree. Over 1.1 million Virginians fit into this category, a significant segment of the population who are potential “degree completers”, and could be encouraged to finish the degree they started.

In general, students who stopped pursuing college degrees are typically working adults, often supporting a family, and unable to resume their education in a traditional classroom-style learning environment during conventional hours. Often they have competing needs for financial resources that make it challenging to continue their education. Completing their degrees through online course offerings is a viable and attractive solution for some of these individuals.

MASON and ODU propose a structure that can serve degree completers and students seeking an alternative path to degree attainment. The institutions have a long history of serving diverse populations, including non-traditional students such as transfer, adult, and military affiliated. The two public universities are strategically located in Virginia offering a wide array of online programs to satisfy the needs of degree completers. In doing so, the program will address demand for a highly educated workforce and increase economic opportunity in the state. Additionally, both institutions offer quality online programs in high demand areas such as business, computer science, engineering technology, human services, teacher preparation and nursing.

More specifically, the program will offer flexible online course offerings, a web portal, advising services and financial aid support, seamless articulation, 24/7 support and a comprehensive outreach strategy targeting those in need.

This proposal is based on the research findings collected in the process of responding to the specific state request to: (1) research similar programs in other states; (2) evaluate the need for adult completion programs; (3) identify the academic programs to be included; (4) develop an appropriate scheduling model; and (5) recommend an appropriate pricing model (see detailed response in Appendix A).

Based on preliminary budget analysis, it is estimated that a biennial state investment of $7m to $10m, and likely continuing base support, will be needed to fund the degree completion program (see Appendix B). Although the exact number of Virginians who will benefit from the proposed program is difficult to project at this point in the analysis, the return to the Commonwealth promises to far outweigh the investment. In 2011, the median weekly earnings of individuals with some college but no degree were $797 and their unemployment rate was 8.7%. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree had median weekly earnings of $1,053 and their unemployment rate was 4.9% (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This degree completion initiative will improve the Commonwealth’s economy and its citizens’ quality of life.