On paper, Back to Carolina — a distance education initiative soon to be developed by USC — looks like an inspiring idea. The financial and personal struggles of university life often leave students unable to complete their degrees in the “traditional” time period. USC should be prepared for these students and offer them a way to incorporate their continued pursuit toward a degree into a life made busy by jobs, families and other concerns.
The demon, however, is always in the details. We have already expressed concerns over the value of online degrees in comparison to the more traditional degree, hoping that these courses will challenge students as much as on-campus ones.
Our bigger worry is the funding. Back to Carolina is currently being supported by $200,000 of internal funds from the provost’s office, with no guarantee of funding from the state. If the $5 million allocation for Palmetto College is OK’d by the Senate, the money will be recouped. We’ve been assured it will be, but we can’t help but be skeptical of a government that’s seemingly tightened its coffers every year.
That said, we’re supportive of the initiative. Getting this program off the ground will be a great asset to the university and the state. The economic uncertainties we are currently facing have left the typical four-year track toward a diploma one of several possibilities, rather than the established norm. And more should always be done to advance the education of South Carolina residents, whether they be first-time students or those students looking for a second chance.
