Sean Corp, Communications Lead

The number of students engaged with fully online for-credit degree programs at U-M has grown dramatically, from just a handful a decade ago to more than 1,200 in programs offered by UM-Ann Arbor today. If you include learners enrolled in the university’s non-credit and certificate courses, that number explodes to more than 11.5 million.

Many faculty members instrumental to the recent expansion of online offerings were celebrated at the Center for Academic Innovation’s Online Learning Showcase in November. The showcase recognized their contributions, shared insights into the online learning landscape, and helped other interested faculty explore how online education is redefining teaching and learning. 

“The Online Learning Showcase is a celebration of the innovative ways we support faculty and learners to push the boundaries of traditional education,” said Sarah Dysart, chief learning officer. “We’re showcasing how we design programs that are learner-centered, research-driven, and scalable to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving global educational landscape.”

Meeting the Needs of the Modern Learner

Today’s students have diverse needs as they explore educational opportunities. Online and hybrid degree programs developed by U-M schools and colleges, often with support from the Center for Academic Innovation, provide the needed mix of rigor, trust, accessibility, flexibility, and affordability. 

The largest programs have several hundred students enrolled at any time, with the largest being the Master of Applied Data Science offered by the School of Information, the online MBA offered by the Ross School of Business, and the Master of Social Work offered by the School of Social Work.  

Some of those learners live nearby but enroll in online courses because of the flexibility they offer as they balance educational responsibilities with existing needs at home and work. Others live across the country or worldwide, and online courses represent a high-quality, accessible option when an in-person experience is not possible because of location or cost. 

Helping Schools and Colleges Reach Their Goals

Online learning benefits students and helps schools and colleges achieve their goals, such as diversifying their student body, improving learner engagement, and maintaining market competitiveness.

The School of Social Work used online programs to expand access and inclusivity. These efforts enticed students from underrepresented demographics, including older students and working professionals, broadening the school’s reach while maintaining its No. 1 ranking in U.S. social work programs, according to U.S. News and World Report.

“By removing geographical barriers and offering flexibility in learning, we’re able to reach talented individuals who might otherwise not have access to a top-tier social work education,” said Barb Hiltz, director of MSW programs and clinical associate professor of social work. “This includes working professionals, caregivers, and students from diverse backgrounds across the country. The program’s success demonstrates that we can expand access while maintaining the rigorous academic standards and clinical training that define Michigan Social Work.”

Similarly, the Master of Applied Data Science (MADS) program addresses global skill gaps by offering a generalist curriculum that spans foundational to advanced topics. This approach equips learners with comprehensive knowledge for high-demand careers. The program’s unique curriculum allows U-M alumni to continuously develop new skills while fostering lifelong educational connections with the university.

“By offering an inclusive, flexible learning experience for people internationally while reflecting the school’s values, the MADS program is playing a key role in advancing the School of Information’s mission to create and share knowledge to help shape a better world,” said Kevyn Collins-Thompson, faculty director of the MADS program and associate professor of information. “It has helped us create an incredible international network of students and alumni who are using their high-demand data science skills to make a positive difference not only in their own careers but in their global communities.”

Building Flexible Educational Pathways 

For years, the center has also worked with faculty to develop accessible pathways to for-credit opportunities. 

“Our mission is to ensure learners have access to opportunities that meet them where they’re at in their lives, and feel empowered to explore these paths without unnecessary barriers,” Dysart said. “Whether they’re earning credentials for their career growth, preparing for a degree, or seeking to upskill, we are building bridges that make education truly inclusive.”

That extends to the non-credit space where U-M not only remains one of higher education’s leaders in providing open online learning opportunities but also pioneered non-credit certificates that qualify students for advanced standing upon admission to specific U-M degree programs. These non-credit learning experiences have expanded access to a U-M education to more than 11.5 million unique learners in 195 countries.

Innovative Collaborations

The showcase also spotlighted unique collaborations, such as “Saturdays in the D,” which brought U-M online courses and faculty engagement to hundreds of Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck residents. Similarly, partnerships with organizations such as Siemens Digital Industries helped create open online learning opportunities focused on training the future workforce in areas such as emerging manufacturing technologies and the evolution of mobility. 

Other collaborations showcased included cohort learning for workforce development and a partnership with the U-M Alumni Association, which worked with the center to create an engaged online learning opportunity on finding purpose and meaning in life exclusively for the U-M alumni network.  

There was also a focus on innovative technology, with the launch of 10 courses that utilized extended reality in online education and more than 30 courses focused on foundational understanding and practical application of artificial intelligence in the workplace. 

This continued growth is fueled by the university’s commitment to innovation in education and the U-M faculty eager to empower learners everywhere by transforming the educational experience. As the university community looks to the goals of Vision 2034, online education and flexible learning pathways are essential tools in extending the reach of the university and delivering life-changing education to learners and students on campus and all around the world.