Flexible, Affordable, Accessible: Bringing an Adelphi Education to Online Students

Adelphi is moving ahead into the era of online education, offering more than 30 fully online, career-oriented programs for working adults and graduate students. More are on the way.

"After the pandemic, it became apparent that the movement towards online formats was not going to go away," said Elizabeth Ciabocchi, EdD, vice provost for academic affairs at Adelphi. "In fact, students were demanding that flexibility so they could balance education with their other responsibilities, whether that's family, children or a career."

Since then, Adelphi has quickened the pace of adding new programs to its list of online offerings for working adults and graduate students. Students now have the choice of more than 30 fully online programs, all delivering the same quality education and personalized experience as traditional on-campus courses.

Adelphi's online programs continue to show strong enrollment growth. They are also attracting national attention for their excellence.

Adelphi's MS in Healthcare Informatics, for example, was just named one of the Best Online Health Informatics Master's Programs of 2024 by Forbes magazine. In April, it became the first master's degree program in New York state to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and is now one of only 28 master's degree programs nationwide to receive that distinction.

"The growth of online programs reflects our mission to provide an Adelphi education to students of all means," Dr. Ciabocchi said. "It also lines up with our Momentum 2 strategic plan, which is to grow new programs in areas of high student demand and strong career opportunities."

Online programs in a variety of fields

Adelphi's online programs are distinctive for their personalized approach and seasoned faculty who are not just experts in their fields but also trained for online teaching through the University's Faculty Center for Professional Excellence.

"All of our online programs have courses that are taught by the same faculty that teach our on-campus course," Dr. Ciabocchi said. "So, academically, there is no difference between the programs. The only difference is the mode through which they're delivered."

For example, after enrollment spiked for Adelphi's MS in Computer Science program, the University launched an online version.

"The goal was to reach a different population of students who wanted to study in that format-working professionals who can't come to campus on a regular basis," Dr. Ciabocchi said. "So it's complementary to the on-campus program. There is plenty of room for both."

Adelphi also ensures that online students are supported with the same resources as on-campus students, "whether that's through the library, the bookstore, registrar or financial services," Dr. Ciabocchi added.

For nurse practitioners, Adelphi's new Online MS in Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program attracted so many applicants that enrollment had to be capped. "We're seeing explosive growth in that program; it's really amazing," Dr. Ciabocchi said. "We're now planning to accommodate that growth to reach more students."

Adelphi is also testing a new low-residency format for the revised Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, which launches in Fall 2024. For this program, most courses will be offered online, but students will also be required to attend select seminars and activities on campus.

"There's stiff competition in the online world, but we believe that we're offering a unique, local opportunity," Dr. Ciabocchi said. "A lot of online students like to study locally, or at least within a 100-mile radius of where they live. They like to have that connection to the institution. We provide that."

Meeting the need for healthcare professionals with strong technology skills

Telemedicine and digital health platforms have boomed since the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a newfound need for healthcare professionals skilled in data and technology. That's where the Online MS in Healthcare Informatics program shines, providing students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to build careers in this ever-changing field.

"New tools, systems and methodologies are introduced to the healthcare sector every day, and professionals must constantly update their skills," said Associate Professor A. Hasan Sapci, MD, director of the program. "Online learning ensures that educational opportunities in healthcare are not limited by geographical location, socioeconomic status or the availability of local academic institutions."

The program provides students with a blend of technical and healthcare knowledge, incorporating training through practicums and project-based learning. It also includes a healthy focus on the future of healthcare technology, the role students will play in developing it, and the positive impact it will have on the nation's health.

As Dr. Sapci said, "Health informatics graduates are uniquely positioned to lead technology-based projects and initiatives, contributing to public health surveillance, data analysis for decision-making, and implementing innovative clinical informatics solutions for remote healthcare delivery."

Forward-thinking programs for the future of education

Adelphi will continue to expand and evolve its online offerings to help students access high-quality education and prepare for careers in a changing workforce. The Healthcare Informatics program, for example, will launch a Digital Health Leader Certificate to provide students with the latest technological competencies required in the field.

"We believe the Digital Health Leader Certificate program will set a new standard for excellence in healthcare informatics education," Dr. Sapci said. "Our objective is to provide new skills to leaders who pioneer digital health innovations so they can navigate the complexities of the digital healthcare landscape with expertise and ethical consideration."

In Fall 2024, Adelphi will also offer a new online MS in Nutrition and Dietetics program, complete with a cutting-edge curriculum and an option to become certified as a registered dietician.

"We're interested in forward-thinking programs," Dr. Ciabocchi said. "We want to make sure that we are offering students options in terms of how they study with Adelphi, whether they're on campus or online. We want to offer quality, flexibility and affordability."