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Tyler Hansen

Tyler Hansen is a writer for Oregon State University Ecampus. He primarily writes feature stories on the Oregon State students and faculty who learn and teach online, news stories and articles that provide readers with the information they need to continue their educational journeys. Prior to starting at Oregon State in 2011, he worked as a sports writer, journalism teacher and arts and entertainment editor.
An orange graphic that says Top 10 for 10 straight years

Oregon State earns 10th straight top-10 national ranking for online education

3 minute read Oregon State University has been ranked one of the nation’s 10 best online education providers for the 10th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report — an accomplishment no other institution in the country can claim. The list ranks Oregon State No. 4 in the category of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.

A man sits smiling at a table inside a library while chatting with others.

On a mission to ‘make tomorrow better than today’ for younger generations

4 minute read Conversation was a core theme of Bobby Disler’s online Oregon State student experience. The commonalities he and his classmates discovered amongst one another helped to bridge the divide, both in terms of actual distance and within their own identities.

A person wearing headphones sits on a stool at a desk while playing guitar and looking at a computer screen.

Making music at a distance

4 minute read It’s nighttime in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Mykola Balakin is making a flute-like instrument called a sopilka in his home office. A software engineer by trade and a computer science student with Oregon State Ecampus, he’s new to making instruments, but after several hours of trial and error, he has a breakthrough.

A doctor talks with her patient while pointing out information on a clipboard.

6,000 Samaritan employees eligible for scholarships to learn online thanks to new Oregon State collaboration

2 minute read Oregon State University is expanding its relationship with Samaritan Health Services to provide thousands of the regional health system’s employees with more affordable access to academic programs and workforce education opportunities online.

A man sits at a table while working on a laptop computer.

Tips on when and how AI tools can support teaching and learning

2 minute read Oregon State Ecampus created a principles-based framework on how to incorporate AI tools responsibly and ethically into online courses, research and other projects. These open-source materials provide clarity for instructors and foster positive learning experiences for students.

An instructor in a video studio stands behind a clear glass drawing board and draws diagrams in white ink.

What makes a good online course?

4 minute read Pop quiz: How many weeks does Oregon State spend developing an online course? If you answered 26 weeks, that’s correct (and oddly impressive). For six months, OSU faculty and staff take an idea for a new online class and turn it into a learning experience that is built on quality and meaningful engagement.

Record-breaking Oregon State Ecampus graduating class features 1,861 students

4 minute read There’s an upcoming gap between live performances for Josh Misko and the musicians he performs with in the world-famous Nashville music scene. His career often pulls him in many directions, but the absence of live music on his calendar is due to him heading in one specific direction: the West Coast.

Persistence pays off as an online student, even when you don’t have a bird’s-eye view

3 minute read There was a time when the idea of “seeing the big picture” was more than Ravonne Byrd could manage. She was trying to find her footing professionally, but different career paths became unappealing the further she ventured down them. “There was a lot of uncertainty, and I did a lot of crying,” she said.

Hope Nelson, an Oregon State University alum, stands outside in commencement cap and gown with a blue sash that says veteran.

Oregon State Ecampus secures grant funding to help veterans who learn online with housing costs

3 minute read Thanks to a state grant, Oregon State Ecampus is offering assistance to some military veterans in Oregon who learn online but receive significantly less GI Bill housing support than students enrolled in on-campus instruction. The new funding will support military veteran students studying online at OSU in fields related to technology, health care or manufacturing. In Oregon, a full-time online student who receives Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits gets $1,015 less in monthly housing allowance than an on-campus student.

Scenic image of the black entrance sign to Oregon State University with trees in the background

Oregon State ranked top 10 nationally for best online degrees for 9th straight year

2 minute read Bolstered by the expertise of the faculty who develop and teach classes online, Oregon State has earned another top ranking from U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best providers of online education. OSU ranks No. 8 in the category of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for 2023, marking the university’s ninth consecutive year in the top 10. That’s a claim no other public institution in the country can make.