Introduction

Online classes are becoming a vital aspect of top universities, with schools placing more of an emphasis on expanding the breadth of subjects that online courses offer. Online courses allow students the opportunity to learn course material at a different pace than in-person lectures and provide students with a different platform to learn. In comparison to the traditional classroom environment, online courses offer flexibility that appeals to non-traditional and traditional students alike. Students who have a wide variety of commitments, including family and work, or students impacted by varying disabilities, are afforded the ability to continue their education while balancing their personal obligations and circumstances (3).
We studied the student and faculty perceptions of online classes at Stony Brook University in order to gain a better understanding of national trends in online education among similar, competitive AAU-member institutions. To supplement our investigative work on similar universities, partnerships with several members of the Stony Brook faculty and administration who focus on online course development were instrumental in guiding our research objectives and project design.