Comments on: Interview: Dr. Gary A. Massey, Associate Dean, Columbia College

By: Crystal

Crystal — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:35:09 +0000

I am a student at Columbia College and have always been pleased with my instructors. What I haven’t been pleased about is the online office staff in just about all departments. Having paid $205 a credit hour and working just as hard as a traditional student, I thought I would receive the same courtesy and respect, but that just isn’t true at Columbia College. The amount of time it takes to receive responses to questions or any type of communication request from registration and financial aid is terrible. It takes 4 months to receive a course evaluation! 4 months! Some how, I highly doubt a traditional student on an actual campus would be made to wait so long. I imagine they’d get assistance on the same day they asked and wouldn’t be turned away for a week at a time. There is major room for improvement here, but somehow, I doubt much will occur. I think that online students are given the butt end of the stick because they aren’t physically standing in front of the school asking for help. It’s definitely a lot easier to be less courteous and careless with a student’s fate when only email connects you!

By: William Key

William Key — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:10:31 +0000

I am currently attending Columbia College Online Campus and I can honestly say that I am challenged more than I ever was taking traditional courses. I am glad that Dr. Massey conveyed how rigorous online courses are because many people think that distance education is a farse. As a student who has experience both traditional and online, I can honestly say that I learn more online. I recall that during many of my traditional courses, If we covered half of the material in the required textbook that was good. I hated buying textbooks that professors never actually required us to use. Online professors tend to cover all or most of the material in the text. I recommend Columbia College to everyone and as an active duty member of the United States Navy, I also would like to say that Columbia College is also a most military friend institution or higher learning. Go Cougars!

By: Sandy Brawand

Sandy Brawand — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:49:49 +0000

Ah, Dr. Massey … never at a loss for words!! Good job mentioning the MSCJ program at the beginning and at the end … but what about the middle?

By: Ron Curry

Ron Curry — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:20:37 +0000

Dr. Massey hit the nail on the head when he mentioned his advice to the students. I think I will add that clip to my syllabi.

By: Wendy Nickerson

Wendy Nickerson — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:10:08 +0000

Gary,
Good interview! What a nice way to educate people about online learning and Columbia College. Maybe Columbia College can have its own radio show, inadvertently educating people further on online learning (and interesting topics related to each course) and ultimately marketing Columbia College.

By: Bill Cassels

Bill Cassels — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:56:50 +0000

Great job, Gary.
Interesting about the comparing the Major Field Test results of online and oncampus students nearing their degrees.
You didn’t mention, in answer to the last question, how rewarding it was do deal with people like Sandy and me!

By: Marie Gould

Marie Gould — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:36:31 +0000

Very nice interview Gary!!

Marie