UNT’s online enrollment has increased by almost 17 percent
Online spring enrollment at UNT has increased by almost 17 percent since spring 2017, according to the university. The university’s total spring enrollment is holding steady overall, a UNT spokesperson said.
Courses are being taught online and transitioned into hybrid classes — a mixture of in-person and online classes — at UNT due to recent trends, UNT spokesperson Kelley Reese said.
“UNT is offering more courses online because demand is increasing,” Reese said. “More students want more options to choose from to help them get their higher education in a way that is convenient to them.”
As of February 2018, 16,013 students are enrolled in online classes at UNT, a 16.6 percent increase from spring 2017 when only 13,738 students were enrolled in online classes. Not only has the amount of students increased but the number of online courses has as well.
In spring 2017, there were a total of 377 online courses provided through the university. In spring 2018, there are 411 online courses.
With courses being partly or fully online, students have the opportunity to do class work like quizzes, discussion posts and exams at their own pace. One of the generally recognized benefits of online classes is they may provide commuters more time to focus on class work rather than finding a parking space or worrying about traffic when traveling to UNT.
History junior Carson Paroline has taken several online courses during his time at UNT.
“They allow students to have more flexibility in the work schedule and they’re more convenient,” Paroline said.
Other students like new media art junior Katelyn Hudson prefer taking online courses for the expediency and leniency. She said she feels there is “less stress” when compared to in-person classes because she can complete assignments on her schedule, not the professor’s.
“It’s no surprise that more students are taking online classes because, in my experience, they are easier,” Hudson said. “I have more time to complete assignments, and I can use my notes while I take quizzes and tests.”
Though the number of online courses and students enrolled in online courses is increasing, UNT’s spring enrollment has stayed “essentially flat from spring to spring” semesters, Reese said. Students normally enroll or transfer to the university at the beginning of the fall semester, Reese added.
“[It] is typical as many students do not start their college experience in the spring, but the university graduates a large number of students in December at the end of the fall semester,” Reese said. “Which is also why spring enrollment is less than fall enrollment.”
UNT’s spring 2018 enrollment is nearly equal to fall 2017. As of the official spring head count (12th day of class), 35,465 students are currently enrolled, whereas 35,494 students were enrolled in fall 2017.
Spring enrollment increased by 455 people from spring 2016 to 2017 and increased almost 1,000 students from 2015 to 2016, according to the UNT Factbook.
Psychology senior Bridgette Small will take her first online class in summer 2018.
“I have never taken an online class before,“ Small said. “I’m trying online classes so that I don’t have to commute and I assume that is why many others are taking online classes as well.”
Featured Image: Infographic by Tate A. Owen
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