Managing Online Program Growth and Retention at the Department Level

In 2011 Central Washington University began offering its information technology administrative management (ITAM) program in an online format, aimed at working adults who were both place- and time-bound. The program serves as a complement to two-year technical degrees and is the only university program in the state that accepts 100 percent of the credits earned in these degrees toward a bachelor of applied science degree. Knowing that online programs often have lower retention rates than on-campus programs, the department built in ways to ameliorate some of the factors that can negatively affect retention.