Online learning catching on

SCC’s new building dedicated to Alton Blakley Sr.

The Right Mix

The Daily News
September 6, 2003

Online learning catching on

Web-based college courses are growing in popularity across the state, but are unlikely to fully replace classroom settings anytime soon.

Western Kentucky University’s enrollment in online courses grew from about 650 during the summer of 2002 to nearly 1,600 this summer, and the trend was apparent throughout the state, where enrollment in the Kentucky Virtual University has grown from fewer than 300 students when the program began in 1999 to more than 14,000 this fall.

A recent report from the Sloan Center for Online Education, based in Needham, Mass., notes the growing popularity in online learning nationally.

After surveying universities, the center determined that more than 1.6 million students nationally took at least one online course during the fall of 2002. Of those students, nearly one-third took all of their classes online. The number of online students is expected to increase 19.8 percent this fall, Sloan said.

But many students still prefer more traditional styles of instruction, said Beth Laves, assistant director for distributed learning programs at Western.

“A lot of the people who enroll in the online courses are people who are nontraditional students and who have full-time jobs, so they can’t make it to classes because of their schedule,” Laves said. “Some of the students who live on campus do take courses online if there’s a particular course that they can’t fit into their schedule for some reason, but they typically prefer the classroom-based courses.”

Gene Ranvier, chief student services officer for the virtual university, said the median age for students in online courses across the state is in the late 20s.

“What we’re finding is that it’s a very popular way for nontraditional students to continue their education,” Ranvier said. “Part of the reason is probably the novelty of taking courses online, because it’s still relatively new, but a large part of it is certainly the added convenience.”

Western charges a slightly higher tuition rate, about $20 more per credit hour, for courses taught online rather than in a traditional classroom, but full-time students at the university can enroll in Web-based courses just the same as regular coursework, Laves said.

However, the amount of time students have to devote to online courses is often greater than would be necessary in a traditional course, she said.

“A lot of people think you can kind of work at your own pace or whatever, but it’s not that easy,” Laves said. “Professors in the courses make weekly assignments to their students, and the students are also expected to be online on a regular basis to keep up with the class and to participate in discussions.”

Virtual university students take courses at one of the state universities included in the program and are accountable under the rules of the university in which they enroll, Ranvier said.

“We provide the links for them to get involved in these programs, but they’re counted as students at whatever college they are taking coursework through,” he said. “And the colleges have their individual policies as far as fees and so on.”

While Western does not make additional charges for on-campus students who enroll in online courses, some schools, like Murray State University, do.

Murray charges students in its online courses $180.50 per credit hour tuition for their courses in addition to any other tuition for the university.

Last year, about 270 students living on campus at Western took online courses in addition to their regular loads, usually because they needed a course that would not fit with the other courses in which they were enrolled, Laves said.

“I can’t speak for every student about why they chose the online courses, but I think that’s a main reason,” she said. “I think it’s also that a lot of people still like to be face-to-face with their professors for the course.”

But Laves and Ranvier expect Web-based courses to continue to grow in popularity.

“We’ve seen a rise in enrollment every year since we started the virtual university,” Ranvier said. “I don’t see any sign that that’s likely to change in the future.”

Somerset Commonwealth Journal
September 4, 2003

SCC’s new building dedicated to Alton Blakley Sr.

A newly-constructed building on Somerset Community College’s north campus was dedicated to the late Somerset businessman Alton Blakley Sr. in a ceremony on Thursday.

“SCC is proud to honor the memory of Alton Blakley Sr.,” Dr. Jo Marshall, SCC president, told the crowd in the foyer of the now officially-named Alton E. Blakley Sr. Academic and Technical Building.

The 54, 254 square-foot building cost $10.3 million dollars and houses classrooms, office space and cutting-edge information technology equipment.

The new building facilitates much of SCC’s allied health associate degree programs. These include a Clinical Laboratory Assistant Program, a Practical Nursing Program, and a Registered Nursing Program.

In addition, the new facility will house modern equipment for programs such as the Computer Numerical Controls Program, the Computer-Aided Drafting Program, the Machine Tool Technology Program, the Electronics/Electricity Program and the Hydraulics and Pneumatics Program.

“He gave of himself liberally,” said long-time SCC advocate Richard Cooper of his friend, Alton Blakley Sr. “Everything he touched, he made better.”

Cooper was a key player in the Partners in Progress Fundraising Campaign which worked to help make the new building a reality.

Alton Blakley Jr., also a key leader in the campaign’s efforts, praised the campaign partners and area citizens. “The people of Pulaski and surrounding areas have really stepped up to the plate,” he said.

“The leadership and financial commitment of the Blakley family and First and Farmers Bank in the Partners in Progress Campaign is truly deserving of honor,” said Marshall. “We are so proud of this building.”

Marshall said the new building has been a Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) “show piece” - an example to other campuses.

The building has won a first-place award for innovative design from the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers

(ASHRAE). “The building contains an innovative and efficient heating and cooling system which uses geo-thermal energy,” said David Cazalet, a college spokesman.

Alton Blakley Sr. was a well-known and successful businessman who is perhaps best known for the Alton Blakley automobile dealerships.

He was also successful in the cable television business, at one time owning over 100 cable systems including the Cumberland Valley Cable T.V. Company.

Blakley was also chairman of the board for First and Farmers Bank and was one of three partners who helped revive the bank.

Blakley was known for being very active in the civil arena as well. He had served as the chairman of the United Way of South Central Kentucky, a member of the board of directors of the Blakley Family YMCA, president of the Somerset/Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and president of the Somerset Rotary Club.

Blakley also received important recognitions, including some of the Ford Motor Company’s highest honors, the Distinguished Community Service Award, and being named the Kentucky Cable Television Leader of the Year.

As part of the ceremony, Allie and Trey Blakley, grandchildren of Alton Blakley Sr., unveiled a portrait of their grandfather which is now hanging near the main entrance of the building.

Other dignitaries who spoke in memory of Alton Blakley Sr. included Judge-Executive Darrell BeShears, Mayor JP Wiles and Tim Burcham, vice president of Institutional Advancement for KCTCS.

Blakley family members in attendance included Myrtle Blakley-Lewis and her husband, Tom Lewis, Alton Blakley Jr., his wife, Lisa, and their children, Allie and Trey, Chip and Cynthia Blakley Hickerson, Cathy Blakley Bosson and her son, Cameron.

According to David Cazalet, other dignitaries in attendance included Norma and Charlie Adams, Ruby Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Luttrull, Charlene Harris, Conley Manning, John Perkins, Clay Parker, Paula Little, Joelyn Prather, Pam Turner, David Samokar and Ronika Vaughn.

When Blakley Jr. addressed the audience, he spoke proudly of his father’s accomplishments.

He also spoke of Blakley Sr.’s strong feelings about the area, quoting his father as having said: “This is the greatest place on Earth - and I owe everything to the people of Pulaski County.”

Herald-Leader
September 10, 2003

The Right Mix

Last month, culinary students at Bowling Green Technical College took on a project befitting the namesake of the town's annual festival.

The Duncan Hines Festival honors the man whose name is recognized by 99 percent of grocery shoppers, according to Procter and Gamble research.

Hines, who was born in Bowling Green in 1880, moved away but returned several years later to operate his "hobby-turned-business" of writing hospitality books and recommending good places to eat and sleep while traveling. The highest compliment a restaurant or motel could receive would be "recommended by Duncan Hines."

In 1949, Hines met Roy Park, who worked as a public relations representative for a Midwestern food co-op. They became friends and formed an association that led to Hines-Park Foods. Before long, some 200 food products and 50 kitchen items were being marketed nationwide with the Duncan Hines brand name.

Store shelves were lined with Duncan Hines cake and pancake mixes, jelly, pickles, mushrooms, ice cream toppings, fruit sherbet, steak sauce, ketchup, chili sauce and bread. Aurora Foods now owns the brand name.

For the festival, culinary students created a cake train to honor Hines, and they prepared a fund-raising dinner served in Bowling Green's restored antique dining car.

"The students work hard to pull it off. and they get really good, practical experience for a good cause," said Michael Riggs, executive chef/assistant professor of culinary arts at the college. The project is part of the Duncan Hines scholarship program.