{"id":1744,"date":"2024-12-19T16:24:37","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T16:24:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/?p=1744"},"modified":"2026-04-10T12:12:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:12:10","slug":"mtsu-online-sees-record-course-enrollment-growth-since-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/2024\/12\/19\/mtsu-online-sees-record-course-enrollment-growth-since-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"MTSU Online Sees Record Course, Enrollment Growth Since 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

-by Maddy Williams<\/a> –17 December 2024<\/a> –Top Stories<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. \u2014 Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s online program <\/strong>sees record growth this fall with 54%<\/strong> of students taking at least one MTSU Online<\/strong><\/a> course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of fully online programs offered more than tripled since 2016<\/strong> \u2014 starting at 20 in 2016 and 72 in 2024, with 43<\/strong> of those programs launched since 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of online students also began steadily increasing in 2020<\/strong>, due in part to students being introduced to online learning during the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Dr.
Dr. Trey Martindale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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The pandemic <\/strong>\u201cexposed many faculty to teaching online, so some people that may have been resistant to or inexperienced with teaching online gained some immediate experience,\u201d explained Trey Martindale<\/strong>, associate vice provost for online learning.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

However, Martindale noted that emergency remote teaching differs from intentional and carefully designed online courses, and that COVID was \u201cmore a catalyst than a reason\u201d for the growth of MTSU Online since university President Sidney A. McPhee<\/strong> recognized and prioritized online learning before the pandemic began.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr. Brian Hinote<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Now, in fall 2024, MTSU Online supports 28 <\/strong>full-time, temporary instructors in 18 <\/strong>academic departments who focus on providing high-quality online teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am so pleased to support MTSU Online and the dramatic expansion of online education at MTSU,\u201d said Brian Hinote<\/strong>, vice provost for faculty and strategic initiatives<\/a>. \u201cThis is a primary strategic initiative for our university, and one in which our faculty are leading the way with innovative approaches to instruction and supporting our students\u2019 success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons for growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MTSU Online continues to grow as the Nashville metropolitan area grows. This fall alone, 2,831 <\/strong>students werefully online, which comprises almost 14%<\/strong> of the total student headcount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martindale explained, \u201cThe vast majority of adult and online students, when they enroll in an online program, they are enrolling in an institution within 100 miles of their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMTSU has benefited from the population growth in our region, and MTSU has a positive reputation for teaching and for supporting students, and so we\u2019ve been able to extend that high-quality endeavor into the online domain.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The University College<\/strong><\/a>, which generally focuses on nontraditional students, has been a pioneer in promoting fully online degrees, along with the Jones College of Business<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most MTSU online courses are asynchronous (students do not have to meet at the same time), providing greater flexibility for working adults to incorporate pursuing a degree into their busy daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nontraditional and graduate students may be the majority of online students, but the 18- to 24 year-olds are also participating online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInterestingly, we have about two dozen full-time, undergraduate MTSU students living in the residence halls, taking fully online courses,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s unusual now but may become more common.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The graph above shows the upward growth of Middle Tennessee State University total online student credit hours by year from 2016-2024. The number has doubled since 2018 with robust annual growth for each of the last two years. This fall, 27% of all MTSU student credit hours came from online courses. (Graphic courtesy of MTSU Online)<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This fall, 545<\/strong> unique online courses were introduced, leading to 27%<\/strong> of all MTSU student credit hours this semester coming from online courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering more online courses provides a myriad of benefits to students, including a flexible schedule, the ability to work part-time or full-time and the ease of balancing school with raising a family or caregiving, Martindale elaborated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The future of online learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While 30<\/strong> online programs are in active development, Martindale aims to go beyond increased course offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow that we have this critical mass of fully online students, we want to make sure that they are as connected and as involved in the life of MTSU as they can possibly be,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re working on initiatives such as a virtual student union and virtual clubs \u2014 ways for students to connect and engage and feel like they belong at MTSU because they do belong at MTSU, and it\u2019s a significant population,\u201d Martindale continued.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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Martindale explained that 2025 will be the year of student services<\/strong> for online students, which \u201cmeans us making efforts to make sure students have access to all the things that students have on campus, like concerts, plays, club activities and special events.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs MTSU Online continues to expand, we remain focused on providing high-quality educational and instructional experiences for both students and faculty,\u201d Hinote said. \u201cStudent success is an important part of the MTSU mission, and our ongoing work in online education, from in-demand programs to top-notch student services, reflects this priority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, MTSU Online received awards<\/strong> for its graduate programs from Online Master\u2019s Degrees<\/a> and Online Master\u2019s Colleges<\/a> as well as being named one of the top online colleges by Newsweek<\/a> and for offering one of the best online nursing and allied health programs by EduMed<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have the programs and courses, and our online departments and faculty are winning awards. Now, let\u2019s win awards for excellent student support,\u201d Martindale said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martindale\u2019s recent online learning publication<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cPart of my role as the senior person for online learning is to make sure I know what\u2019s happening in the field, what\u2019s happening nationally and internationally and staying on top of research and practice in online learning,\u201d Martindale said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Trey
Trey Martindale, Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s associate vice provost for online learning, holds up his recently published book, \u201cHandbook of Research in Online Learning,\u201d where he was the lead editor and co-writer in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Martindale and his team in MTSU Online saw record enrollment for online courses this fall. (Photo submitted)<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He was the lead editor and co-writer of the recently published book (2024), \u201cHandbook of Research in Online Learning,\u201d <\/strong>which \u201cdelves into the nuanced landscape of online learning,\u201d according to Brill Publishers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The handbook has been very well received in terms of positive press. Martindale and co-authors are considering two other books.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne will be about how to administer online programs \u2014 in other words, how to essentially do my job,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd then potentially a book about how to advise senior leadership in higher education about online, so this would be a book for presidents and provosts about what they need to know about online learning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martindale has also been a professor for the last 20 years in the instructional design and technology field with expertise in online learning environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore I came to MTSU, I was a professor teaching online courses,\u201d he said. \u201cOften I was teaching online courses about how to develop online courses and programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Middle
Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s Trey Martindale, far right, associate vice provost for online learning, stands with some of the collaborators for his recently published book, \u201cHandbook of Research in Online Learning.\u201d Pictured with him, from left, are co-editors Tonya Amankwatia from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Tony Pina from Illinois State University, and John Bennett from Brill Publishers, who was the publishing company for their book. The four hold the Brill Publishers flag and Martindale holds a photo of the book\u2019s cover. (Photo submitted)<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Collaborative effort<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Martindale stressed his gratitude for the support of the deans, department chairs and faculty of each college. He also noted the outstanding support from Hinote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMTSU Online is not a separate institution from MTSU, and all our programs are the programs of MTSU\u2019s departments, and all our faculty that are teaching are not separate online faculty,\u201d Martindale said. \u201cThey are the regular faculty of MTSU. That\u2019s a strategic decision on the part of our leadership \u2014 our president and provost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOur goal is not for the online programs to be as good as the face-to-face programs \u2014 our goal is for them to be better,\u201d he noted. \u201cMTSU Online is a facilitator, so we really rely on their cooperation, and MTSU has been a great environment for collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Martindale explained the importance of teamwork among the MTSU Online staff saying, \u201cAny positive news like this about major progress for online learning at MTSU is directly attributable to our dedicated staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis small team makes this big online engine run,\u201d he said. \u201cOur team is David Babb<\/strong>, RaeAnne Pardue<\/strong>, Carol Hayes<\/strong>, Tonya Dowd<\/strong>, Hangmin Zhang<\/strong>, Tim O\u2019Neal<\/strong>, Tara Perrin<\/strong> and Karen Hein<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martindale continued, \u201cThese people work hard and are customer-focused and innovative. They do outstanding work in their service to students and faculty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The graph above shows the upward growth of Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s fully online majors and concentrations by year and student level from 2016-2024, with the most growth beginning in 2020. (Graphic courtesy of MTSU Online)<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He credits the four MTSU Online instructional designers for coaching faculty who teach fully online programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had this huge run up of the number of online programs, and we\u2019re very focused on quality, so we want to make sure that we have high quality programs that we\u2019re offering,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have four instructional designers, and these IDs serve in the roles of coaches and helpers for the MTSU faculty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MTSU Online offers key student services<\/a> for online students such as counseling services, 24\/7 live subject tutoring, library services and writing center tutors as well as many faculty services<\/a> including faculty development and training workshops<\/a> and peer mentoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about MTSU Online and its programs, visit https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Maddy Williams (Maddy.Williams@mtsu.edu<\/em><\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

-by Maddy Williams –17 December 2024 –Top Stories MURFREESBORO, Tenn. \u2014 Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s online program sees record growth this fall with 54% of students taking at least one MTSU Online course. The number of fully online programs offered more than tripled since 2016 \u2014 starting at 20 in 2016 and 72 in 2024, with 43 of those programs launched since 2020. The number of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mtsu-online-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1744"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4371,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1744\/revisions\/4371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}