Supporting Online Students: A Practical Guide to Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Services

Supporting Online Students shows how effective and efficiently delivered support services improve academic success and course retention for online learners. Drawing on a decade′s worth of research, Anita Crawley describes the scope of services from admissions and registration to advising and student engagement. The book includes guidelines and standards, planning and implementation, innovative practices, and describes specialized services needed by particular online student groups.

"Effective student support is the single most important factor in sustaining high–quality online learning programs. Anita Crawley presents the most effective guide to achieving that success. Her book is a blueprint for building thriving online programs through comprehensive student support." Ray Schroeder, director, Center for Online Learning, Research and Service, University of Illinois Springfield

"As distance learning continues to grow, this book addresses the often neglected other side of the coin: online student services. This book provides a great introduction and overview of the research, literature, and innovative practices for planning, implementing, and evaluating support services for online learners." George Steele, director, eStudent Services, OhioLearns

"Anita Crawley has crafted a splendid volume on a topic of increasing importance in contemporary higher education. Her book promises to be the foundational piece for those who work with students in an online environment. Her thinking and analysis are superb and undoubtedly will provide the basis upon which to develop online programs and services in the future." John H. Schuh, Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Emeritus, Iowa State University

"Bringing together extensive examples of innovative practices, summaries of current research, and a wealth of experience in student services, Anita Crawley′s comprehensive guide to supporting online students is a rich resource for institutions with existing, growing, or new online programs. Diane J. Goldsmith, former executive director, Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium

Preface xv

About the Author xxiii

1 Setting the Stage: The Transformation 1

2 Profile of Online Students 13

3 Supporting Online Students with Disabilities 38

4 Putting Services Online 63

5 Administrative Suite 83

6 Academic Services Suite 102

7 Personal Services Suite 129

8 Communications Suite 153

9 Planning and Implementation 178

10 Evaluation 199

Final Thoughts 228

References 230

Index 245

Anita Crawley, an online instructor and course developer for UCLA Extension and the Illinois Online Network, previously held counseling and faculty and administrative positions in student affairs and distance learning programs. She is recognized for her pioneering work in the field of supporting online students.