Beginning next January, the Georgia Institute of Technology will offer an online master's degree program in computer science, The New York Times reported. Obtaining a master's degree in computer science on campus at the institution currently costs $45,000, but the new massive open online course-based program will be offered for $6,000. The program, which will be accessible to students worldwide, eliminating potential visa issues, could attract up to 10,000 students, said Zvi Galil, dean of Georgia Tech's College of Computing. Higher education experts said they will watch the success of the program closely, since Georgia Tech's low-cost pricing model differs from that of comparable revenue-based programs.
Several small colleges, suffering from low applicant pools and a weakening economy, may soon shrink or close, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported Monday. Last May, public liberal arts institution St. Mary's College of Maryland announced that it had received one-third fewer deposits from incoming freshmen, and Loyola University New Orleans announced this summer that it will enroll about 25 percent fewer freshmen than expected this fall, resulting in a $9.5 million loss. Yet some small colleges at which fiscal meltdowns would seem likely have actually seen increased enrollment and net revenue in recent years. As forces such as technological change and shifting demographics redefine higher education, small colleges must work strategically to reverse enrollment trends, experts said. Campus officials suggested creating new degree programs, evaluating the changing needs of core markets and distinguishing their campuses to applicants as ways to divert enrollment shortages.
On Monday, LinkedIn introduced University Pages, a program designed to facilitate interactions between high school students, university administrators and alumni. Starting Sept. 12, LinkedIn will lower the age requirement for creating a profile to 14 from 18 in the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Over 200 universities are involved in University Pages so far, including New York University, Villanova University and the University of Michigan. The program will help high school students make college decisions and build their resumes to facilitate future internship searches. This new emphasis on younger audiences is meant to foster long-term member use of LinkedIn and build loyalty to the site.
