Interview with an Online College Professor

In addition to playing an administrative role as a dean, Justice also teaches two sections of an introductory sociology class. Like the other instructors at Strayer, she is highly qualified. Justice holds an MS in Counseling from Villanova University. Prior to joining Strayer, she taught seminars in career counseling. The basic requirement for instructors, Justice says, is "a master's degree in the particular area." "For graduate level classes, the person must have a PhD, as well as practical work experience prior to teaching."

The training process for instructors teaching in the online mode is also rigorous. "They go through training in preparation for online teaching. We turn away some professors who just don't become comfortable enough to teach on our platforms." The instructors teach from all over the United States.

Online classes are taught in one of two formats. "In the synchronous (live) format, students must log in at a scheduled time." The online college professor lectures live, and students have instant access to them via online chat. However, she says, "Our asynchronous courses are more sought out." Asynchronous lectures can be heard and processed at the student's leisure. "It can suit all types of learning styles," Justice declares, "since the audio and the scripts are online." For students who struggle with note taking, this is a boon.

Justice thinks that the resources are more adequate than what a traditional university might provide. The archived audio and scripts allow students the "time to ponder and think about what the professors are saying."

Her classes usually have about 25 students and she tries to remain accessible to all of them. "I provide my email address and phone number and am available Monday to Friday. I also try to post announcements and reach out to students on a weekly basis." In addition, Justice has created an online "coffeehouse" forum for students to have discussions with each other. The coffeehouse is a place where students can discuss issues related or unrelated to sociology. It's a bit like hanging out with your fellow classmates for a casual discourse and friendly chat.

Strayer's online university degree program does not provide a career center or a formal co-op/internship placement program, but they do offer a myriad of other resources. "Each student has an assigned academic advisor. Since the majority of our professors have outside work experience, they can be a good resource for career advice," Justice says. She adds, "We also have the Library Resource Center, which has a career site that students can visit." Students, she says, are usually quite satisfied with the career boosts that their degrees provide them.

"Lots of students who graduate submit their stories to us telling us how they worked two jobs and had children but still got through the program. They tell us about promotions and higher salaries they are now getting."

The average age of an online student, according to Justice, is about 34 or 35. "Their motivation is usually a little different than students just out of high school going to college. They are a little more focused and understand why they're seeking this program." But as online degree programs grow in popularity, Justice finds more and more people in their twenties in her classes.

"Five years ago the majority of my students were in their mid-thirties. I have recently seen a growth in the number of younger students." The flexibility and convenience of the online programs is attractive to all age groups. "We see growth every quarter, and each quarter we are adding more online classes."

This type of program, Justice believes, is for "the student who is highly motivated, disciplined and responsible." For those with the right attitude, she concludes, "It can be an excellent opportunity to earn a degree for personal enrichment or professional advancement." All from the comfort of your home and the convenience of your personal computer.