Online MBA

The following is the second part of a discussion with Jerry Trapnell, the executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). The first installment can be found here.

While the AACSB does not accredit any university or institute that solely provides online degrees, the organization does accredit business schools that offer online MBAs.

“We see a business school as a business school,” Trapnell said.

In the eyes of the AACSB, whether a school is delivering its programs via traditional or online methods, the degree awarded is what matters. “In the marketplace, and I think it is important for students, when they are looking [to know] that we look at the whole portfolio, so if indeed the business is offering an online degree, like a graduate degree, or MBA, it’s in the scope of our review.”

With over six million students enrolled in online higher education classes, Trapnell and the AACSB hardly are ignoring the trend. Rather, they want to ensure those students are getting the same level of education that traditional students are receiving.

“Online programs are not for the faint of heart,” Trapnell cautioned.

For the schools the programs are expensive to establish. “It takes big investments of technology trained folks. If you do it well, it’s not a few presentations on the web,” said Trapnell.

Trapnell said that well-developed online programs leverage technology to engage students in the learning environment. Feedback mechanisms also need to be appropriate to make sure the richness of the course work is not altered by the technology or digital delivery. The aim, according to Trapnell, is to ensure that the online platform is comparable to a face-to-face teaching environment.

Business schools need to look at several factors when developing their online offerings. Security needs to be a chief concern. The integrity of the students taking the classes and exams must also be considered. Faculty members have to be trained to teach in an online environment, as well.

“It’s a significant investment to put that kind of program up and do it right for students,” Trapnell said. “Has the school invested in that? Do they have good security, ways to engage students? Even though it’s in a technology-driven environment, you can still meet those expectations. Those are important. Many times, the online environment can be richer than face-to-face.”

Perhaps a solid indicator for the future and growth of the online MBA can be seen at AACSB. The organization holds several seminars for business school deans and higher ed professionals throughout the year. This fall, AACSB unveiled a new seminar, Strategies for Delivering Online/Hybrid Courses and Degree Programs. The seminar not only sold out, but the next one, being held in March 2012, has already sold out as well.

– Alanna Stage

Yesterday: Accreditation and the Online MBA Student
Tomorrow: Will the big boys come out to play online?