UMassOnline and UMass Lowell Announce Innovative Model

Posted on July 3, 2007 by Barbara Macaulay

In case you missed the news this week involving a joint announcement from UMassOnline and UMass Lowell, this link takes you to our important announcement as it appeared at Forbes.com. The headline:

UMassOnline and UMass Lowell Launch Innovative New Blended Education Model for Graduate Program in Health Management and Policy

This is very important news for all of us. Why? The statement from Jacqueline Moloney, Interim Associate Chancellor at UMass Lowell, best positions what this learning innovation means to online students interested in the Graduate Program in Health Management and Policy:

“This is a really unique program that fits well with the demands of healthcare professionals… Our online programs are extremely popular, but a lot of students still like the traditional face-to-face classroom experience. So this new blended format gives students a delivery model that combines the traditional face-to-face classroom setting with the convenience of online sessions.”

While applauding this specific initiative on the part of UMass Lowell, UMassOnline CEO David Gray acknowledged that other disciplines might benefit as well by the blended educational model currently being pioneered for the Graduate Program in Health Management and Policy:

“Offering blended learning programs enables UMassOnline to offer even more flexibility, integrated with real-world experience which is ideal for health management and other disciplines requiring face-to-face learning,” he said.

In the coming months as this blended model program evolves, students participating in this new approach are invited to share their thoughts here.