Over the past two years, LSU has launched nine graduate degree programs, graduating 42 students at its most recent commencement in May alone. At that same, LSU master’s programs in higher education administration and social work that are available online have been ranked as two of the top 10 such programs in the country by websites TheBestSchools.org and BestColleges.com.
LSU says such accomplishments are testament to its push to increase online programs while maintaining its academic reputation as a traditional state university known for highly-regarded research.
“This is as much an outreach effort as it is an effort to grow enrollments,” LSU says of its online initiatives in a press release issued today. “Launching 100% online programs offers those students, often working adults with multiple demands, a means to attain higher education.”
Entering into the 100% online space requires a paradigm shift for traditional universities, LSU says, in which they must add or enrich methods for reaching and supporting online students—to the point of reconstructing business processes—in addition to merely adding to their education repertoire.
To help navigate the challenges involved in further entering the highly-competitive landscape of online education, LSU has partnered with the online program management provider Academic Partnerships. Also known as AP, the company offers full-service online programmatic support, including graduate degree course development, digital marketing and consultative expertise. LSU credits AP with helping it achieve successes with its increasing online offerings, an effort it has branded as LSU Online.
“These continuing efforts have resulted in high retention rates and high program rankings across several graduate program areas, but the success of LSU Online is more than that,” the university says. “LSU’s 100% online programs offered in an accelerated format have resulted in the university expanding its reach to offer high-quality, master’s-level education to qualified students who would not normally complete their graduate education on campus. That is momentum that is best measured by the individuals, who as online students, are achieving their dreams by earning a high-quality, reputable degree.”
