Online education began as a heralding of convenience, to offer those who could not commute to a university, or attend classes at set hours, a chance to pursue an education.

But researchers and professors have witnessed a trend that alarms them: more and more spots in online courses are being filled by students who do not ' need' them.

It is now feared that ' lazy' students who don't feel like attending class will shut out off-campus students who truly need the convenience of online courses.

What do you think? Should it be first come, first served, or should priority be given to students who can prove a scheduling conflict?

From The Herald:

Still, the trend poses something of a dilemma for universities.

They are reluctant to fill slots intended for distance students with on-campus ones who are just too lazy to get up for class. On the other hand, if they insist the online courses are just as good, it's hard to tell students they can't take them. And with the student population rising and pressing many colleges for space, they may have little choice.

In practice, the policy is often shaded. Florida State University tightened on-campus access to online courses several years ago when it discovered some on-campus students Hacking into the system to register for them. Now it requires students to get an adviser's permission to take an online class.

Many schools, like Washington State and Arizona State, let individual departments and academic units decide who can take an online course. They say students with legitimate academic needs - a conflict with another class, a course they need to graduate that is full - often get permission, though they still must take some key classes in person.