College students want more options and flexibility when it comes to online learning, said Michelle Marks, George Mason University’s vice president for innovation and new ventures. George Mason students are a big part of that trend.
The university’s 10-year agreement with Wiley & Sons will expand Mason’s online graduate programs and allow Virginia’s largest research university to reach more students who want to advance their education but may not have the ability to spend time in a physical classroom.
“The landscape of higher education is really shifting and Mason has to be ready for a new generation of learners,” Marks said. “It is critical to Mason’s long-term strategy of access to high-quality and innovative education. The partnership with Wiley is one critical step to expanding our delivery options.”
The partnership allows Mason to focus on its mission of providing affordable and accessible education opportunities while turning over technical support services to Wiley. Under the agreement, Mason will provide the programs, courses, faculty and academic support. Wiley Education Services will provide market research and materials, prospective student outreach, enrollment and retention services, and technological support.
Though Mason’s strategy for online learning includes both graduate and undergraduate programs, the partnership with Wiley is geared toward graduate programs.
The initial master’s programs offered by Mason through the partnership will be in business, health system management, health informatics and special education with certificates in applied behavioral analysis and autism. Programs will be available in January 2018 and will expand as additional programs that align with the needs of students and employers are brought online.
Increases in student enrollment will also help Mason become more self-sufficient in the face of continued decreased state funding.
Bottom line, Mason President Ángel Cabrera said, the agreement strengthens the university’s commitment to provide accessible and affordable education.
“Students want to be able to fit their education into their busy schedules and not be forced to adapt to a more traditional version of higher education,” he said. “This partnership is about creating options for students, so they can craft a more personal education plan.”