UCSD has created a task force to oversee online education. The UCSD Division of the Academic Senate Representative Assembly is in charge of the task force called the Senate-Administration Task Force on Online and Technology Enhanced Education.
The Senate-Administration Task Force was created in December to discuss how to progress online education at UCSD in coming years. Executive Vice Chancellor Suresh Subramani announced the initiative, which is led by Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education Barbara Sawrey and Dean of Graduate Studies Kim Barrett, at the end of November. Its purpose is to overlook education at UCSD, specifically with the use of technology in the classroom.
“UC San Diego doesn’t currently offer any undergraduate classes that are completely online, though there are many ‘hybrid’ courses that include technology enhancements and online components,” Sawrey said.
Although the University of California has a systemwide online education program, UCSD currently does not offer any online courses; Subramani said during the meeting that he hopes to see more courses in the future.
The Guardian reported on Jan. 22 about the UC Board of Regents’ decision to expand online education across the UC system. UC administrators’ plan over the next few years is to have over 150 new online courses and for each undergraduate student to take 10 percent of his or her classes online.
Gov. Jerry Brown said that increased online courses could be beneficial for community college students to receive credit so they can transfer to a UC campus. UC President Mark G. Yudof also supported the initiative to move ahead with online education outside of the traditional classroom setting.
However, some faculty and student leaders have expressed some uncertainty in implementing an online-only curriculum, such as Bob Samuels, president of University Council – American Federation of Teachers and UCSD senior Raquel Morales, president of the nine-campus UC Student Association. Their concerns include whether online education will accommodate students financially and whether or not students will support the change.