In today's educational arena there are various ways to engage students. The types of commitments will vary depending on the type of school and how it provides education. For the purposes of this article I will cover two different types of institutions: a larger online education system and a smaller 2-year professional program. The online school serves thousands of students worldwide and the 2-year institution caters to a few hundred. I have been involved in both schools both as a student and currently as a faculty member. Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences (FHCHS) is an online school that serves thousands of students each year. Each class will have approximately 25-30 students. One of the requirements for each lesson is a "live" online chat session. It is a way for teachers to engage students as they progress through their education. Their website states: Simulating the best of classroom learning, distance education is a blend of the best practices in synchronous and asynchronous learning. All distance learning courses require regular, real-time small group interaction that ensures strong student engagement, tracking learning accountability, fostering collaboration and community building, and enhancing instructor presence. (FHCHS.edu, 2012). The instructor will ask a general question that anyone can answer or a question more directed at a specific student. These questions engage the student on the current resources covered that week. This type of engagement is effective for both the student and the instructor. It pushes the student to prepare for class and allows the instructor to see if students are actually doing their homework. I am currently a faculty member involved in a 2 year course...... middle of paper ..... . over a 3-5 year period it will show (1) whether you are strong or weak in an area, (2) whether you are keeping up, improving or worsening, and (3) whether you need to adjust resources. . Reporting these findings to an advisory board or state will keep the school accountable in managing its programs. Whether the nontraditional student is enrolled in an online program or the traditional classroom, there are several ways to engage them. It is important for the instructor to realize that different students require different engagement styles. It is equally important that the instructor acts on their implementation.Reference:Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. (2012). Distance learning. Retrieved from http://fhchs.edu/academicbulletin20092010/graduateacademicbulletin/academicinformation/graduateeducationalphilosophy1