Tennessee’s Regents Online Degree Program–A Success Story: An Interview with Dr. Robbie Melton, Associate Vice Chancellor for RODP

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Introduction As one of the nation’s top virtual university systems, the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Online Degree Programs has a great story to tell. And at Tennessee Tech University, Kevin Liska and students in the Business-Media Center specialize in telling great stories through technology. Together, the two groups will soon release marketing materials designed to inform people across the state about the online degree program, which has been named one of the three best virtual university systems in the country by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and it is the best accredited and affordable online program in Tennessee. “Our mission is to meet the educational needs of rural and urban Tennesseans in a non-traditional setting,” said Robbie Melton, RODP’s associate vice chancellor. “People are able to attend college at their time and location using the Internet 24 hours seven days a week. They are able to receive the same course content and instructions online as on ground. These classes are fully interactive with professor led media rich instructions. Online students graduate with the identical diploma as on campus students. They also receive online student services, advising, access to the virtual library and bookstore, and 24 x 7 live online tutoring in English, Math, and Spanish. Now Tennessee Tech has produced the materials we need to get the word out to citizens across the state.” Since its implementation in 2001, RODP has exceeded projected enrollment caps every year. The fall 2004 headcount was capped at 6,000 and enrollment capped at 10,000. It was estimated that over 60% of the students were only taking RODP courses. Since the inception of RODE there has been an increased of over 39% returning students (students that have been out of school at least a year or more) and new student headcount. RODP was rated as one of the top three virtual programs in nation by The Center for Academic Transformation Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2003; recognized by Southern Regional Electronic Campus (SREC) for online student services, showcased as an exemplary system wide model at the national WebCT International Conference, 2003; selected as the virtual university of choice by the Asian American E-Learning Education Support Community, 2004; selected for international presentation by the Oxford University Round Table, 2004; and chosen as one of the five successful virtual universities at the upcoming SREC Conference, December 2004. RODP’s Growth and Influence Since its launch in the fall of 2001, the RODP has served as a way for hundreds of Tennesseans to earn associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees without having to travel to one of the TBR’s six university or 13 community college campuses. Recently the 27 technology centers, which offer technical certificates and diplomas in computer operations, drafting, and the upcoming Business Technology, also joined the online program. “Our message is ‘Now College Comes to You,'” said Melton. “Using the Internet and web-based courses, we can deliver education anytime and any where a student needs it. We have students from all over the nation and from fourteen different countries. We even have a student from Antarctica and a missionary from Haiti taking classes.” The concept of offering online degrees is not new. But the TBR’s effort to consolidate its resources, faculty and staff into one effort is a model that has received national attention and accolades. Through RODP, students may choose the institution from which they receive their degrees and still receive full student support and services online. Each TBR institution employs an RODP Campus Coordinator, and most schools have filled their allotted virtual seats since the program’s inception because its popularity has spread by word of mouth. Even though the program has over 4,000 students in just two years, “RODP” and “Regents’ Online Degree Program” still aren’t familiar terms to most Tennesseans and businesses.