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The University is looking to put more classes online and collaborate with Baton Rouge Community College to provide more financially feasible education services.
 
Both ideas would be money-saving opportunities for the University, said Chancellor Michael Martin.
 
Online courses would reach students who wouldn’t normally be able to take classes because of time or other lifestyle constraints, Martin said.
 
Martin said the University currently only offers one online degree, a master’s degree in human resources, but is moving toward several other online degrees.
 
The engineering department offered an online course in construction safety this summer, and 20 students participated.
 
Richard Koubek, dean of the College of Engineering, said the motivation for online courses is more about providing opportunities for students than saving money.
 
“We offered it so engineering students could have the ability to do internships but also matriculate through their degree,”  Koubek said.
 
Martin said recent budget cuts increased the University’s motivation to create the online classes, which would bring in extra revenue in the form of more tuition. Martin admitted it would take resources and time to get the classes started and said private partnerships could help bring in those funds.
 
Martin said the individual colleges would reap a larger share of the tuition from online courses, which could motivate them to increase those offerings.
 
Besides the convenience of taking courses online, students can save money by attending community colleges prior to attending the University.
 
The engineering department recently partnered with BRCC to create a joint engineering program that is more affordable. Koubek said at least 70 students have already expressed interest in the program.
 
The new engineering program would create collaboration among the professors and students at both schools.
 
“It doesn’t matter where the student starts, but we get them through the system successfully,” Koubek said. “When they come here from there, they’re prepared to succeed.”
 
Koubek said the collaboration between the University and BRCC would involve more than sharing students. Students at BRCC would be able to participate in students’ activities at the University. BRCC faculty would be invited to participate with University faculty in workshops, and faculty from both would collaborate on grants to improve engineering education.
Teachers from both engineering programs will meet every few months to make sure the curricula are similar and share tests.
 
“I believe there’s a bigger role for community colleges,” Martin said. “I see BRCC as a natural partner with LSU.”
 
Martin mentioned the idea of a joint housing deal for BRCC students who plan to attend the University. As Kirby-Smith Hall is renovated, some of the upper levels could be reserved for BRCC students, who would be known as “Tiger Trackers.”
 
Martin, who has worked for both traditional four-year institutions and community colleges, said he doesn’t see a problem with University students taking  BRCC classes.
 
“I held the same standards [for students] at a community college [as at a four-year-institution],” Martin said.
 
Martin said community college classes are not “watered-down” versions of the same courses at four-year schools. He said in some cases, community college professors have higher focuses on teaching and can better inform students than University professors, who are simultaneously researching and consulting.
 
 
 
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Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]