Grensboro College is a private four-year college in North Carolina. According to their website, the school was established in 1890 and is “dedicated to the promotion of artistic, literary, and educational opportunities for African Americans.”
Although the school is relatively young, it has a long history of excellence. William Monroe Trotter was a member of the original faculty, and the college has been recognized by the New York Times as one of the best small colleges in the United States. It also has the unusual distinction of being the only college in the United States to offer a black-owned business degree program (the Bren School of Business).
Grensboro College is relatively small and intimate in terms of student population. The school currently has an enrollment of about 2,000 students. There are approximately 400 full-time students and 1,600 part-time students. The student body is 46% male and 54% female.
Given its small size, it’s not surprising that Grensboro College relies heavily on online tutoring. According to the school’s website, nearly 80% of incoming students use online tutoring, while 45% use a cellphone to study and 53% use a tablet or computer. Interestingly, despite the growing prevalence of online tutoring, only 16% of students at Grensboro College reported using online tutoring for academic purposes in the last year. Perhaps less surprisingly, 7% of students reported using online tutoring for general study habits, while 5% used online tutoring for leisure.
Why Study Abroad?
If you’re considering studying abroad, then there are a number of compelling reasons why Grensboro College might be a desirable study destination. First, the college fully promotes academic and cultural diversity, and honors degrees conferred by the school typically encourage students to seek employment and further study abroad.
In addition, the school has partnered with a number of international institutions, making it possible for students to study and live in another country. For example, students can study at the Institut d’Estudis Catalans in Barcelona, the Institut del Mare de Mallorca, the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, or the Ecole des Langues Françaises in Paris. Through these partnerships, students have the opportunity to study and interact with native English speakers from around the world, increasing both their cultural and academic exposure.
Online Tutoring At Grensboro College
Now, let’s take a closer look at online tutoring at Grensboro College. According to the data, the school currently offers a variety of academic and non-academic programs through their website. These include English, math, science, and business, as well as specialized degree programs in education, public relations, and computer science.
For academic purposes, the school offers a variety of courses, including English, writing, literature, linguistics, math, and science. Students can further specialize in areas such as business, education, or computer science through the school’s technical college, Bren School of Business.
As noted, only 16% of students at Grensboro College reported using online tutoring for academic purposes in the last year, suggesting that the option is mostly used for general study habits (consulting a textbook, for example) or as a helping hand with homework. This is interesting because many higher education institutions shy away from online tutoring for academic purposes, due to the fear of cheating. At Grensboro College, this may not be much of a concern, since most of the students are from homes where English is already spoken, and the school promotes a positive attitude toward academic success. In other words, students at Grensboro College are unlikely to be seeking extra help for academic purposes, anyway.
Who’s Helping Students Study Abroad?
When we think about helping students study abroad, we usually think about the institutions that will facilitate their educational and professional opportunities upon graduation. However, at Grensboro College, it’s the adjunct professors who play a significant role in helping their students achieve academic success. As stated on the school’s website, the faculty and staff at Grensboro College are committed to providing “a first-class education for our students.”
Based on the data, it would appear that this commitment is well-deserved. According to the Adjunct Professorship Database, an adjunct professorship is a “tenure-less, contractual role.” Essentially, adjunct professors are university faculty members who have been granted permission to teach a certain number of lower-division courses each year. They are usually employed on a year-to-year basis and are not eligible for full retirement benefits.”
At Grensboro College, adjunct professors are typically assigned to one-off classes or sections, so that they can individually supervise and monitor the students’ progress. In some cases, they may also give extra lectures or tutorials for high-performing students. It’s clear that beyond their role as teachers, the faculty and staff at Grensboro College value their interactions with the students, since nearly 90% of them reported interacting with their teaching staff on a regular basis.
What Kind Of Feedback Do Students Receiving Online?
One of the most significant issues facing online tutors is providing appropriate and effective feedback to students. Although most online educators are doing their best, it’s not always easy for them to give appropriate and effective feedback, especially when they themselves are learning as they go along. This is something that gets easier with experience, but in the meantime, students need to be equipped with the right tools. Fortunately, at Grensboro College, students seem to be benefiting from the use of rating systems and other tools.
On successful completion of a course, most students at Grensboro College receive a certificate of completion and are allowed to download a copy of the syllabus. In addition, the school fully subscribes to the Open Letter Standard, a program that was initiated in the UK in 2010. This standard requires that all universities and colleges publish a set of open objectives and evaluation criteria for all of their degrees and awards.
In order to make the most out of their education, students can utilize a wide range of technological tools, such as online tutoring, to stay abreast of the material. According to the college’s website, 96% of students agreed that having access to high-quality tutors was “very important” in helping them to achieve their educational goals. In other words, the students seem to be getting the most out of their online tutoring, because it’s allowing them to access a highly qualified tutor when needed.
Final Takeaway
It’s clear that as the world becomes more digital, distance learning and online tutoring are only going to get more popular. At Grensboro College, it’s the adjunct professors who play a significant role in their students’ education, and it’s evident that they’re committed to providing a first-class education. This commitment is manifested in a variety of ways, including the use of a rating system for all courses, the Open Letter Standard, and the use of online tutoring to further specialization or to help with homework. As we’ve established, these are all tools that would be of great value to any student who’s considering studying abroad.