In a push to bring more inclusive programming to the Syracuse University campus, administrators within the College of Law have actively made one of the most exclusionary decisions of the 2015-16 academic year.

The College of Law has announced it will partner with 2U to create a hybrid juris doctor program — an addition that is expected to be approved by the American Bar Association and New York state by next spring with a projected launch in 2018. The affiliation marks a total of six schools and colleges at SU that have collaborated with 2U to broaden the accessibility of higher education for those who are not able to enroll in residential curriculums.

But the failure of the institution does not stem from the expansion of online degrees. It lies in the poor handling of a decision that comes after staff, faculty and administrators have been in talks regarding the introduction of the online hybrid program into the College of Law for two years. The majority of the law school’s students have only known about the program for one week and have yet to be explicitly briefed on the basic details of the partnership and the ways it may transform the perception of their on-campus education in the eyes of prospective employers.

Though the online-based program will consist of pre-filmed lectures and live discussions with an SU residency component and an externship requirement, the lack of communication has law students rightfully concerned that the stigma associated with the rigor and quality of online education threatens the prestige of SU’s law school in a professional climate.

And while claims against the incorporation of online hybrid programs into traditional models are up for debate, leaving students who are stakeholders in an equation that has the capacity to risk the value of their SU law degree is not. This is particularly ironic considering those with the ability to participate in the discussions were practicing faculty whose JDs are secured and whose careers are established — leaving the interest of students who are affected most by the decision unrepresented entirely.

The decision by the College of Law embodies a trend that has been hinted at across campus grounds: the university is riddled with committees, workgroups and listening sessions to pride itself on inclusivity and communication. But when students are informed of a decision in which their personal lives or academic careers are thrown off center, the American Bar Association is already assessing a program request for approval.

In no way is the 2U program guaranteed to fail. Still, the integration of the hybrid component into the College of Law should have been a progressive conversation to bring an innovative opportunity that puts SU ahead of the curve in accessible education — not a surprise from behind closed doors that has the potential to send the caliber of a college backward.