Survey: live online or on-campus evening college courses

I think the college should choose live online classes.

I am taking a certificate course now. I work full time and I have two small kids, so it is very hard for me to come to the campus two evenings in a week. The bus take long time, and I must find somebody for take care of my kids. Many times I was late to the class.

With online classes I can study from home after my children sleep. And if I miss one class, I can watch the recording later. This is very useful for people like me, because we have many responsibility.

Some people say in-person class is better for asking question to the teacher. But in online class we can also ask question in the chat. I think it is enough.

Also online classes is more cheap for students because we don't pay for bus and parking.

For these reasons, online classes are better for working adults.

I would choose live online classes for the evening courses.

Most students in these programs are working adults, and many of us also have families. After a full day at work, travelling to campus in rush hour traffic is tiring and takes a lot of time. For me, the trip takes about an hour each way, so online classes would save me four hours every week.

Another advantage is the recordings. If I have to miss a class because of work or a sick child, I could watch the recording later and not fall behind. This would also be helpful for reviewing difficult topics before exams.

I understand that some students prefer to learn in a classroom and that the labs and library are useful. However, most of the course materials are already online, and instructors can still answer questions during the live classes or by email.

For these reasons, I think online classes would be the most practical choice for working adults.

I'd argue for keeping the courses on campus, even though I understand why online delivery is tempting.

I'm halfway through the bookkeeping certificate, and the most valuable parts of the program have happened in the room rather than on the slides. When I couldn't make sense of accrual adjustments, my instructor spent ten minutes after class working through an example with me on the whiteboard; that kind of help is far harder to ask for on a video call with thirty muted squares. The computer lab matters too, since several of us can't afford the accounting software the assignments require.

There's also a professional benefit. Two classmates already working in the industry have passed my name to their employers, and those connections grew out of coffee breaks and study sessions in the library, not chat windows.

I don't underestimate the commute, mine takes nearly an hour, but two evenings a week is a reasonable price for the learning and contacts that come with being there. Recordings could still be offered for anyone who misses a class.

For those reasons, Option B would serve students better.