Student Satisfaction with the Online MLIS Program at the University of Pittsburgh

Through the past century, LIS distance education programs have progressed from correspondence to interactive television to online delivery. LIS educators and students embrace the technology and closely monitor the quality of instruction. This study measured students' satisfaction with the new online Master's Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) program at the University of Pittsburgh. Following a review of literature, focus group sessions were used as formative evaluation. Guidelines for the focus groups included identifying a clear purpose, using an experienced facilitator, and maintaining consistency across the groups. Student feedback is summarized in five themes: (1) general program issues, (2) course issues, (3) communication/interaction issues, (4) on-campus orientation issues, and (5) technology issues. Results of the focus groups reflected students' high satisfaction with the MLIS online program and valuable suggestions for program enhancement. Revisions made to the FastTrack program are discussed. Ten recommendations for planning and teaching future online courses are presented.