Ten students.

That’s how few are currently taking classes online through the University of Illinois’ new Global Campus, a multimillion-dollar program launched earlier this year with high expectations.

Despite the underwhelming number of enrollees, administrators are confident that the $3 million spent on the program this year will begin paying off soon.

Administrators said they expect more than 100 students to be enrolled by September, when several new online courses will be added. Within three years, they expect Global Campus to reach a financial break-even point with more than 700 students.

Chet Gardner, special assistant to University President B. Joseph White on Global Campus, said it’s too soon to assess the 3-month-old program’s success.

“I’ve said all along that (the) first real test of marketing and recruiting will be in September,” he told The (Champaign) News-Gazette. He added that he remains “very optimistic.”

School trustees received an update on the Global Campus last week, and some advised administrators to be flexible in how they market and run the program.

“You can’t be rigid,” said the board’s chairman, Lawrence Eppley.

The virtual campus was meant to help expand the school’s reach, making courses available to nontraditional students, like working adults, and generating a new source of revenue.

Expectations were raised by high initial interest.

Around 3,000 people, for instance, had inquired about signing up for the online nursing courses. But only three ended up enrolling – at least partly, said Gardner, due to prerequisites, including that participants already be registered nurses.

“We have high standards,” Gardner said. “It is a demanding program.”

Trustees approved the creation of Global Campus in March 2007 with an unanimous vote.

It has an academic council that includes deans and faculty. Faculty from the three university campuses – Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield – design the academic programs and set credentials for their teachers, as well as teach when they have the time.

In May, Global Campus will offer three additional programs, including two certificates in patient safety. In September, it plans to offer a bachelor’s degree program in business administration, a master’s of science degree in recreation, sport and tourism and a master’s degree in patient safety.