Online University Expands to Meet Demand
Getting a college education online is becoming the popular solution in a tough economy, so the University of Phoenix campus in Spokane Valley is expanding.
The University of Phoenix has remodeled it's branch campus in order to meet the increasing demand for online academics. Part of the renovations include a new research center with individual desks set up with new computers
The Director of Academics for the University of Phoenix, Barry Brooks PHD, says the online college campus also offers a tutoring room, where students can meet with professors.
"We have faculty coaches," Brooks said. "The coaches come in and help with things like structuring and the writing of papers. Some of the tougher courses like economics."
Online courses are also popular with military personnel and those not able to travel to campus, but still want a college education. Many who participate in online courses cited flexibility as the reason for going online.
The Sloan Consortium, which keeps online education statistics, reported 3.9 million students took at least one online course in 2007, which is more than 20 percent of all U.S. higher educations students.
As of February 2009 the University of Phoenix online branch campus has 1,300 students enrolled at its Spokane Valley location. (KXLY)