Task force examines online learning at Georgiaâ

A newly created task force will look at how to improve online education at the University System of Georgia’s 35 colleges and universities.

One of the task force’s main goals is to increase the number of Georgians who complete college. It’s part of an initiative recently announced by Governor Deal aimed at improving the state’s college graduation rate from its current 42 percent to 60 percent by 2020. Southern Polytechnic State University President Lisa Rossbacher heads the task force.

 “The more we can provide students flexibility in how they put their schedules together and work around their other commitments and keep them progressing toward graduation that is certain to be an important factor in increasing the number of college graduates that we have in Georgia.”

Rossbacher also hopes the task forces work will help with the university system’s effort to consolidate eight colleges.

“In some cases the institutions involved in those consolidations they aren’t in exactly in the same place and distance education may help the institutions bridge those distances.”