The political economy of growing a rural university in the USA using online education: an examination of incentives for educational imperialism and academic capitalism

Abstract

Rural colleges and universities in the USA struggle to recruit new students, as their geographic region is depopulating and costs to attend classes on campus are increasing. Online education using the Internet is rapidly expanding as an effective growth strategy to reach new groups of students. In this paper, we take the position that online education is a form of cultural imperialism and academic capitalism where curriculum developers and professors are motivated to enroll new students in order to maintain the credibility and strength of their programmes and host institutions. We argue that it is not our intent to be educational imperialists or capitalists. Rather these are unintended consequences of our actions. This argument is supported by political economy theory in that we are marketing a technical rational form of online education without awareness of its long-term cultural, economic or political ramifications. Even though we pride ourselves on developing a high-quality programme that in our eyes meet the needs of our students, understanding the political economy of online education is essential if our programme that has access to the global market is to go beyond the individual needs of students and address social, cultural and political needs. We conclude that one way out of this malaise is to understand our role as instructors and course designers as a first step towards understanding the intended and unintended consequences of online education.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeff Zacharakis

Jeff Zacharakis is an associate professor of adult education in the Department of Educational Leadership at Kansas State University. His research interests include theory and history of adult education, adult literacy and community, organizational and leadership development.

Mary Tolar

Mary Tolar is director of the School of Leadership Studies and assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Kansas State University. Her research interests include civic leadership development, women's pathways to leadership in the public sector and service learning.

Royce Ann Collins

Royce Ann Collins is an associate professor of adult education in the Department of Educational Leadership. Her research interests include teaching adult learners, cognitive development of adult learners and assessment of learning.