Student perceptions of connectedness in online graduate business programs

Abstract

Researchers investigated students’ perceptions of connectedness in two online graduate-level business programs at a small college in the Midwest. One hundred and six participants completed the Online Student Connectedness Survey. Results indicate participants moderately agreed with items on the connectedness instrument. Participants, however, reported dissatisfaction with sense of community in their programs. Statistically significant differences were found with participants’ responses based on gender and number of successful credit hours completed. Participants reported specific learning activities instructors utilized in their respective programs, and they reported the desire for more interactive instructors who participated more in discussions and provided more timely responses to e-mail and phone calls.

Keywords:

• Business programs
• connectedness
• graduate education
• higher education
• online learning

Disclosure statement

No financial interest or benefit has arisen from the direct applications of the research.