As another school year approaches, more students will be opting in favor of online learning away from brick-and-mortar campuses. In that shifting environment, how will colleges and universities compete?

Since 2010, online college course enrollment has increased by 29 percent according to the Community College Research Center, which also noted that 6.7 million students — roughly one-third of all college students — are enrolled in online courses.

As university leaders struggle to maintain and grow enrollment with declining state support, online learning might seem an inexpensive way to handle more students.

On that point, we’d urge extra caution. We don’t want to see online programs devolve into diploma mills, which is why stringent accrediting procedures are so critical. The goal for online learning should be expanding opportunity, not expedience.

— The Advocate, Baton Rouge (La.)