Skidmore blames economy as its online degree program falters

24.02.2009
Despite reports that the sagging economy may lead more students to because they are cheaper and offer flexibility, Skidmore College's decades-old distance learning program may soon shutter its doors.

Skidmore's University Without Walls distance and online learning program first began in 1971 as an independent study and distance learning program. It has been losing more than US$100,000 a year since 2003, .

University Without Walls costs full-time students about $6,300 per semester, compared to the $25,000 that regular residential students pay. The accredited , including computer science, chemistry, biology, business and art. Last year, the program had about 130 enrolled students, .

School administrators mentioned that the program might be shut down last March, and students protested. They criticized administrators for not marketing the program well, .

"It's the wave of the future, so why quit before the miracle?" student Marc Gouran, 49, told The Times Union. "This is the direction education is going."

Skidmore's Dean of Special Programs, Jeff Seagraves chalked it up to the economic downfall.