By Kay C. Hendricks
This month, the Alamo Colleges District literally rolled out its new online college initiative, complete with a VIA bus on site, emblazoned with an ad promoting AlamoONLINE—College When and Where You Want It.
“In our efforts to make a college education accessible to as many residents of our region as possible, developing and promoting our online offerings plays a key role,” said Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores. “With AlamoONLINE, we are ramping up our efforts to be the first choice of students seeking an associate degree or certificate online by offering in-demand programs, the highest quality instruction and robust support services, all at the most affordable cost in our area. We will continue to expand the programs we offer completely online as part of our strategy to enable more individuals to improve their social and economic mobility and the well-being of themselves, their families and their community,” he added.
Joining Flores for the launch event were Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees Chair Marcelo Casillas, St. Philip’s College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston, together with Dr. George Railey, Jr., vice chancellor for academic success, and Dr. Luke Dowden, chief online learning officer and associate vice chancellor for AlamoONLINE.
Studies show that 75% of online college students live within 100 miles of their school’s campus. The Alamo Colleges District’s service area covers Bexar county and seven surrounding counties, so more online degree and certificate programs are important for students who may prefer to save time and money by completing their associate degree or certificate online rather than commuting.
AlamoONLINE will increase awareness of the district’s colleges’ online associate degree and certificate programs across the entire service area as well as the entire region.The Alamo Colleges are not new to online learning, as the district’s colleges served more than 7,000 students enrolled exclusively online during the Fall 2018 semester, and the number of totally online students is expected to continue to grow.
Through AlamoONLINE, the district’s online offerings are being highlighted with a marketing campaign that includes bus ads, billboards, and digital ads. AlamoONLINE represents the range of opportunities for students pursuing degrees, certificates, or awards delivered online from Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, and St. Philip’s College. More than 70 fully-online programs will be available beginning in Fall 2019. To help build the colleges’ online learning capacity, promote their programs to prospective students and assist students through the admissions process, we have hired a team of enrollment coaches. In addition, the Alamo Colleges District has lowered the out-of-district, fully-online tuition rate, effective Fall 2019, to ensure our Texas residents, who do not live in Bexar County, have an affordable educational option. Through AlamoOnline, the district hopes to attract a sizable portion of the 277,000 adults in the San Antonio area who have some college credits and no degree to an online offering at one of the five colleges.
The district and the colleges are committed to offer a top-quality digital learning experience for more exclusively online students. Most importantly, they will support the online learner by providing access to necessary support services online, so that students can achieve their dreams by earning a degree, certification, or credentials. AlamoONLINE is one more initiative that the Alamo Colleges District is investing in to advance the social mobility of the communities we serve. It is another way we are working to end poverty in our area through education.
At the Alamo Colleges District, high quality education and affordable costs provide exceptional value to students and alumni who are major contributors to the economy and culture of our community. For more information, go to alamo.edu.