Paving a way for the future of higher education

Moorpark College will use grant to expand online degree offerings



DIGITAL DESKTOP—Moorpark College will use a recent grant to establish more online programs especially suitable for non-traditional students. Teachers of the new online classes will receive support and guidance in creating the courses.

DIGITAL DESKTOP—Moorpark College will use a recent grant to establish more online programs especially suitable for non-traditional students. Teachers of the new online classes will receive support and guidance in creating the courses.

Online courses are the way of the future.

Last year, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office found that one-third of its 2.1 million students took an online class. Another 6.5 million adults ages 35 to 65 said they could benefit from virtual programs that provided industry-valued credentials or increased their employability, according to the Chancellor’s Office’s 2017 Distance Education Report.

To support this growing area of education, the state set aside $35 million in one-time funds to distribute to community colleges across California. The effort, formally called the California Virtual Campus Online Education Initiative, aims to provide more students with opportunities to reach their educational goals through virtual classes and support.

This summer, the state awarded the grant funding to 70 California community colleges. Moorpark College is one of the few recipients to receive the maximum grant amount of $500,000.

“It’s an exciting time for us as an institution to transform students’ lives,” said Matt Calfin, Moorpark College’s dean of student learning. “The intent of this grant is to offer online degree programs and certificates to support our students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to coming to Moorpark because of their busy schedules.”

Moorpark College plans to use the funding to create online degree programs for business/ accounting, hospitality management, child development and journalism/public relations.

Calfin said the college decided to focus on these careers after hearing feedback from local students and from employers in the Ventura County region.

The child development program, for example, will offer students certificates to teach transitional kindergarten, which more elementary schools are offering in the area.

“It’s really about understanding what students need, what industry trends are and being able to respond accordingly,” he said.

In addition to expanded course offerings, Moorpark College will be using the grant to develop classes that have no textbook costs.

“When they enter the classroom there are zero textbook costs in these courses and that’s what makes this program unique,” Calfin said. “We want to make sure we are removing any barriers there are for students.”

The courses will also have their own dedicated counselors and tutors to ensure students complete their programs and succeed.

Teachers will also receive guidance from an instructional designer to help with course content and its delivery systems and from a “zero textbook cost coordinator” to create classes that are easy to follow in an online setting. Both positions are also funded by the state grant.

Moorpark College officials plan to spend the next year perfecting the new online programs before opening them up to students in June 2020.

“We’re really excited to be a part of this,” Calfin said. “Online courses provide greater access for students who aren’t able to attend traditional classes due to a variety of competing interests and commitments they have. They allow students to learn when it’s convenient for them.”