In an effort to expand the scope of its online learning programs, Wichita State University has established the Office of Online Learning with Mark Porcaro as interim director.

The initiative of the Office of Online Learning (http://wichita.edu/online) will be to deliver a cadre of fully online programs that address workforce needs.

The first programs to receive support will be those already offering significant portions of their degree programs online (the College of Health Professions degree completion programs in nursing and dental hygiene; and the aging studies master program), the College of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (criminal justice master program), and the College of Education (curriculum and instruction master program).

The Office of Online Learning will be administratively located in the Division of Academic Affairs reporting to Associate Vice President Richard Muma.

The Office of Online learning also will work with various departments across colleges to provide opportunities for students to complete the general education requirements for the first two years of their education in a timely fashion online.

Once these targeted programs and courses have been established, the Office of Online Learning will work to assess and prioritize other programs for online adoption.

As its primary function, the Office of Online Learning will work closely with faculty and student service units across campus to ensure that online education moves forward in a strategic fashion and deliver the same high level of education and support that students have come to expect from the faculty and staff at WSU.

It is the hope of those involved in online education that online learning will continue to grow and support the strategic goals and mission of the university by increasing students’ access to the highest quality learning that WSU offers.

“This is a great step towards the innovation of our education programs and better serving our returning adult students," said Vice President for Academic Affairs Tony Vizzini.

Find out more about the new Office of Online Learning.