Lentol proposes online alternative to higher ed

In an effort to assist students pursuing a career but hoping to do so at a lower cost, Assembly Member Joseph Lentol has proposed a bill that would create an online college within the CUNY.

According to City Hall News, Lentol's pending virtual college will allow students to pursue degrees that they would at a campus-based institution, but with the convenience of taking classes online.

"I think more people than ever will seek to go to school with this program," said Lentol.

The Legislative Gazette reported that the "college" would be part of CUNY but run as a separate school.

Although Lentol has considered plans to support the new initiative with allocated federal stimulus funds for education, he does not have full support from representatives of CUNY's academic legislature.

Barbara Bowen, president of the Professional Staff Congress union, stated that students who earned their degree online would be robbed of opportunities given to those who attended traditional colleges. Bowen elaborated by saying that students would be unable to interact with peers or receive the same level of mentorship from professors and that it might be difficult for students to communicate with their professors through the internet alone.

Deborah Glick, chair of the Assembly's Higher Education Committee, said "I'm not sure which gap Assembly Member Lentol thinks he's filling." Glick also questioned whether the legislature should be responsible for managing CUNY and SUNY and how much Lentol truly thought about the proposed bill.

However, Glick does endorse the aspect of the bill that offers greater availability of a college education.

Despite opposition, Lentol believes that the online alternative is the "new age of higher education," and will continue to get the legislation finalized. "This virtual age that we live in has created a whole new world," said Lentol. "This is going to happen with or without them, and I would prefer it happen with them, because they're good schools."

According to EarnMyDegree, an online higher education marketing company, the bill is currently under revision by the Bill Drafting Committee and is "expected to be introduced soon."