Growing Pains: Faculty Challenges and Triumphs in Moving a Communication Program Online

Abstract

This case study of one communication department, which moved into offering their undergraduate program online, illustrates the innovative methods that the faculty employed in order to meet student demand for their courses. The faculty faced challenges related to meeting the needs of both their online and face-to-face students, to being asked to teach in formats where both sets of students were served, to building in opportunities for faculty-student and student-student connections in those environments, and to exploring how to make transformational learning opportunities available to all of their students. The implications of this study are discussed for making such a change sustainable in departments.