COLOs Lead Higher Education’s Digital Shift

In Illinois, James Stukel, then president of the University of Illinois system, tasked Sylvia Manning with expanding internet use across campuses in 1997. Burks Oakley assisted Manning in implementing the initiative, which created an Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning on the Springfield campus.

This office fostered online collaboration and credit classes for students both within and outside of Illinois. Online learning has steadily increased since then, rising from roughly 5 percent of American university enrollments in 1997 to nearly 55 percent last year.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this growth as institutions moved to remote learning. Now, colleges and universities face challenges including decreased funding, rising tuition, and declining international student numbers. However, online learning—especially self-paced and professional certificate programs—continues to grow.

Sue Ebbers cautions balancing the advantages of artificial intelligence with careful consideration. The author suggests that chief online learning officers, or COLOs, possess the necessary experience to guide higher education through this transition and utilize AI for personalized learning. The future of online learning remains dependent on continued innovation and adaptation.