Liberal Arts Faculty and the New College Student
- by Mark Alexander, M.Ed., Dean of Axia College of
University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix enables working adults to complete a college degree
while balancing work and personal demands. In recent years, however University
of Phoenix has seen a change in student demographic, more and more students who
have no prior college experience are enrolling. These students have a greater
diversity of work experience, tend to be somewhat younger than traditional
University of Phoenix students, and do not yet have the confidence and skills
that are so important to successful completion of a college degree.
Axia College of University of Phoenix
was created to address the unique needs of these students, providing them with
an educational experience much different from that provided by University of
Phoenix.
To accommodate younger, less-experienced students, a different instructional
model and curriculum are used at Axia College of University of
Phoenix. Courses are nine weeks long and
taken two at a time. Because students have little prior college experience,
Axia College incorporates a broad liberal arts curriculum. Humanities, social
science, science and technology, and communication arts courses are now a major
portion of the Axia program.
As a result, Axia College of University of Phoenix hires a different type of faculty member.
Contrasted with University of Phoenix practitioner faculty, Axia faculty are
often full-time instructors who teach multiple classes at any given time. Many
are former teachers at traditional schools (high schools, community colleges,
and four-year colleges) who now teach online, full-time from their homes. These
new faculty provide more one-to-one contact with students and are available
during scheduled office hours for questions and additional help. Axia faculty
are more proactive in reaching out to students when they begin to struggle. This
higher level of support is crucial in order for new students to be successful.
Faculty not only help students learn the content, but also help them build the
skills and confidence necessary for success in higher education.
In order to provide the best educational experience for the increasingly
diverse student population seeking a college degree, both practitioner faculty
and liberal arts faculty have an important place in the future of University of
Phoenix and Axia College of University of Phoenix.
