The University of Maryland University College, which is primarily online, has a black student population of over 28,000, which represents about 32 percent of its student body. That’s an amazing and commendable accomplishment. And while many colleges have black graduation rates that lag their share of the student body, I recently read where UMUC black students receive 30 percent of degrees from the university. This accomplishment was recently cited at the annual meeting of the American Council on Education. It was specifically mentioned as an example of how online education can improve access for minority or low-income populations.
The more I have become entrenched in the world on online and distance learning, the more I have come to realize that online education can be a powerful tool to reach and educate different populations.