Option B
Option B Advantages:
Option B is best for institutions who are not as comfortable with distance learning as they would like but they know they have to get involved or get left behind. Multi-campus schools can especially realize a reduction in institutional expenses. Some of the more obvious benefits of the Q-room are listed below.
- Administrative travel for meetings and training can be dramatically reduced
- The classroom can benefit by injecting more live guest speakers and potential employers
- A live conferencing area for graduates within the placement department can improve services and stats
- Improved training opportunities for all departments can be realized by bringing training in, instead of going out to get it.
- Telework becomes a real option for many workers immediately
Shown below is a comparsion of activities and costs related to starting an accredited distance learning course. Ultimately, what Quopax is showing is there is not a need to reinvent the wheel, Quopax has systems in place to quickly and efficiently get an an institution up and going. The Quopax staff has been involved in career college distance learning since 1999 and understands how and why the accrediting rules were written and how to create an application that is guaranteed to past muster.
Actions necessary to apply and start a distance learning mode of education in a career college for institutional and course approval |
In-House Costs |
Time Required |
Quopax Costs |
Time Required |
Hire a distance learning consultant to assit in evaluating what the DL market for live web-conferencing integrated with a college appropriate content management system (CMS) |
$3000-$6000 |
30-60 days |
Inclusive |
0 days |
Meetings to decide; both the synchronous and asynchronous products and services, demonstrations and potential training |
$1000-$2000 |
Unknown |
Inclusive |
0 days |
Make application to the accrediting body for institutional and course approval |
$1500-$3000 |
15-30 days |
Inclusive |
0 days |
Conduct appropriate staff training to comply with application requirements |
$3500 for 5 |
30-60 days |
$3000 for 5 |
12 days |
Gain initial approval |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Inclusive |
Guaranteed |
Acquire equipment and services indentified in the application process. Web-collaborative tools and the content mangement system(CMS) |
$6000 |
15-30 days |
Inclusive |
0 days |
Hire an online curriculum developer to rewrite a current course or purchase a pre-designed course applicable to the live online format |
$1500 + |
10-15 days |
Inclusive |
0 days |
Teach the course (60 hours 3 semester credits) |
Unknown |
3-10 weeks |
$300 per student or $4500 per course |
3-6 weeks |
A visit, (each accrediting body is a little different) |
see accred. |
Unknown |
see accred |
Unknown |
Final approval: Each accrediting body is a little different COE and ACICS are similar ACCSCT is longer (see below) |
NA |
Comm. Meetings |
NA |
Comm. Meetings |
Quopax all inclusive service fee |
NA |
NA |
$5500 |
NA |
Sub Total Time Required: for intial approval to start classes. (Not including ACCSCT) |
__ |
105-200 days |
__ |
45-60 days |
Sub Total Costs |
Approx $19,00-$25,000 |
__ |
Appox $13,000 |
__ |
Totals |
$19,000-$25,000 |
105-200 days |
$13,000 |
45-60 days |
Note, Gain Approval : Guarantee is exactly what it means. Quopax expects to be paid in two installments. The first half of the total sum of the agreement is due on the signing of the agreement. The second half is due upon the intital approval letter from the accrediting body. If the accrediting body denies the distance learning application without recourse or ability to resolve concerns then Quopax will refund 100% of the first installment and will not expect any further payments.
Other more subtle reasons why Option B is an excellent choice.
Option B allows an institution to become institutionally eligible to offer distance learning but the institution can only offer a few courses, probably listed as electives. There is no risk that a few courses can hurt either placement or retention. Quite the oppose, there is only an upside to being approved for distance learning through individual courses only.
A few distance learning courses can be used as safety valves for the Director or the Director of Education. If students find themselves in a temporary crisis that relates to transportation or childcare and they need a month or so to resolve their problems they can opt to take that month's elective course live online and not have to come to campus. They can continue their education uninterrupted and not have to resort to taking a leave while the institution wathces them get closer to their 60% completion mark of that payment period.
The school can promote itself as being "Green" with an elective course created exactly for this purpose the "Advanced web-conferencing and content management administration" Offering this course introduces all the students to how your distance learning tools work while teaching them new sellable skills. This course of study is inclusive for those institutions choosing the B Option.
Offering the state-the-art in distance learning is always something a local paper would like to hear about, especially with gas prices at $4.00 a gallon and above.
This chart illustrates the multiple threats of $4.oo gallon gas and how the Q-room can alleviate most of the concerns.