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Connections December 2008
Consortium Provides Online Opportunities for Jesuit Universities

Tom Kennedy, Executive Director and President

New Ventures of Regis University

Several Jesuit universities are currently taking advantage of online course opportunities that supplement and complement their existing distance learning programs. The Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU), managed by New Ventures of Regis University, enables member schools to offer online courses to students who need academic offerings that are unavailable, or not conveniently scheduled at their home institution.

Based on a traditional academic consortium model, the OCICU opens virtual classroom space in 8-week courses provided by Regis University and six other course provider universities.  Academic credit is awarded by the student’s home institution and not considered transfer credit.

For example, if a student at Loyola University in New Orleans needs one course in order to graduate, but the course is not offered by Loyola until the following year, the student’s options may be to take an independent study or take the course from Regis with other students in the online format.  Most schools consider the latter option as more academically sound and meaningful.

Member schools use the Consortium for -

• an alternative to summer school where students go home during the summer, take courses at a community college, and then transfer them to their home institution
• undersubscribed courses that have fewer than the required registrations
• students who are unable, because of job travel or other responsibilities, to  attend land-based classes
• enrichment courses such as Irish Studies, Holocaust Studies, or Native American  Studies, etc., or for
• transfer students who need general education courses in order to complete their degree.

Presently, the following Jesuit institutions are members of OCICU: Regis University, Loyola New Orleans, Spring Hill College, Fordham University, Boston College, and Ateneo de Manila University

The financial arrangements are straightforward and uncomplicated. 

• Initial membership is $3,500 and thereafter an annual fee of $1,000 
• The member school charges its own tuition rate for each undergraduate course, usually between $1,200 and $1,800 and then forwards a flat fee of $650 per enrollment, to the Consortium manager   
• The majority of the $650 is then sent to the provider university 
• The member school keeps the difference between the flat fee and its own tuition charged to the student.
• Related course expenses - learning management platform, help desk, faculty salary, and library – are the responsibility of the provider school
• Graduate level and nursing course fees are slightly higher, at $725 for enrollment. 

Since its inception in 2005, OCICU annual enrollments have increased significantly, with 1,800 this past year.  It is anticipated that enrollments will reach 2,500 this current year.  Total university membership in OCICU is expected to reach 80 members within the next six months.

For more information, contact Tom Kennedy, Executive Director and President of New Ventures of Regis University, at tkennedy@regis.eduor call 303.458.4987.  Information is also available at www.ocicu.org.