Another milestone has been reached by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, as its online program has been ranked one of the highest in the nation by the U.S. News & World Reports. 

The 2024 Best Online Bachelor’s Program ranks UL Lafayette’s online bachelor’s program at No. 57, followed by spectacular sub-rankings of online programs in business, nursing, those for veterans and the online master’s program in business administration.

Hope Aucoin, the assistant director of Communication and Marketing for Distance Learning, emphasized UL Lafayette’s online program’s history, growth and achievements.

“The Office of Distance Learning started in 2010 to facilitate online programs by supporting faculty teaching online and students learning online,” Aucoin said.

The online courses are specifically developed by the department to which they belong, and the Office of Distance Learning’s “function is really to support them in that effort.”

Aucoin continued, “We have an enrollment team focused on helping students enroll and then helping them once they are enrolled to succeed as an online student. And then we have our instructional support team that works with faculty to become certified to teach online courses, then help them design online courses.”

The office first began with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“The Master of Sciences and Nursing was one of the first programs offered online and then the RN to BSN program for registered nurses who have an associate’s degree, they can come into the program and earn their bachelor’s degree,” said Aucoin.

Since the beginning of the online program, the office has grown to include many more courses besides those in nursing. Aucoin explained that the university “has consistently added new online degrees over the years,” and the goal remains “to offer new online programs as the opportunities arise and as we see the need from a student perspective.”

Aucoin further shared on the nationally recognized online program, what it means for them and the university and other prominent achievements.

“These rankings and other rankings, they don’t much inform on what we do,” Aucoin said.

Though she added that they do serve to remind the university of what it’s accomplished so far.

“They give us an acknowledgment of what we’ve been doing over several years to ensure that we have all the things in place that students need to succeed in their online degree programs and afterwards,” Aucoin highlighted.

She added that this past December, the RN to BSN program had its 3000th graduate.

When asked about the benefits of an online education, Aucoin said that an online degree can help students “gain the credentials they need to advance their career or pursue a new one without leaving their current position, while being able to balance the other priorities they have.”

 “Online degree programs are the difference between being able to advance their education, being able to advance their careers, and not,” Aucoin concluded.

A few UL Lafayette students also took the time to share their experiences with online education.

Samantha Watson, an undergraduate junior and chemistry major, shared her experience with online learning.

“My biggest advantage would be going back and being able to review any material they have posted at my own pace,” Watson said.

However, Watson emphasized that, in general, an in-person education was more challenging.

“The level of education was different,” Watson said.

Ashton Andrepont, a senior studying computer science, provided thoughts from his online experiences, stating they were highly accessible, and you could sometimes pace yourself, but that something was missing from the experience.

“You don’t get to make any connections with your teachers,” shared Andrepont.

Onyeka Nwaezeapu, an undergraduate junior and biology major currently enrolled in some UL online courses, expressed what online programs have taught her.

“It’s given me a more sense of responsibility. It’s seriously a sense of, ‘hey, check your email once a week.’ You have to, that’s the only way they’re contacting you. It is a sense of responsibility and independence,” said Nwaezeapu.

Compared to long ago, students now have the choice to personalize their education to which best suits them. 

Whether students prefer an online or in-person education, both can teach and broaden their skills to prepare them for future careers.

UL Lafayette’s Office of Distance Learning has been helping students achieve such professional strides for over 10 years and continues to do so.