CHLOE 3: Behind the Numbers

The Changing Landscape of Online Education, 2019

In its third year, the Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE) Survey — a survey of Chief Online Officers (COOs) — experienced significant growth, with 280 U.S. colleges and universities responding, including public, private and for-profit institutions. That represents a 54% increase from CHLOE 2.

The results — now available in the report CHLOE 3: Behind the Numbers — reflect the strategic and operational evolution of online learning and provide important insight into online learning trends and developments, including the emergence of five institutional models of online learning.

Key findings include:

  • Online Growth. In an otherwise weak enrollment environment, online keeps growing. Median online enrollment growth among CHLOE 3 respondents was 10% between Spring 2017 and 2018.
  • Councils and Committees. The emergence of online-focused committees and councils in all sectors of online learning.
  • Neglect of Blended. Despite evidence of student demand for blended options, CHLOE 3 respondents reported that blended course enrollment growth is less prevalent than for fully online courses, and median growth rates are lower.

This report is available to the online learning community through the partnership of QM and Eduventures Research and the support of sponsors iDesign, ExtensionEngine, and Instructional Connections.

The CHLOE 4 Survey, which will focus on issues such as governance of online programs, blended learning and the influence of subject matter on the design and delivery of online programs, will be administered soon. If you are a Chief Online Officer and wish to participate in the next CHLOE Survey, or if you wish to nominate the COO at your institution, please contact Eduventures Research Senior Quantitative Analyst Mughees Khan.

Download CHLOE 3: Behind the Numbers