Study Shows Most Adult Education Programs Offer Distance Learning

Black Issues in Higher Education, Dec 23, 1999

NEW YORK -- Nearly 69 percent of adult and continuing education programs offer distance learning courses, a new study shows.

The Survey of Adult and Continuing Education Programs in Higher Education also found that the most common credentials offered through distance learning courses are non-degree certificates.

Other findings show that:

* 39 percent of the adult and continuing education programs offer undergraduate degrees;

* 26 percent offer graduate degrees;

* 80 percent offer non-degree certificate programs;

* 52 percent of the programs participate in educational consortia, which enable students to take courses offered by other colleges and universities under the auspices of the programs;

* a mean of 24 percent of adult and continuing education program revenues is derived from arrangements with industry to provide specialized worker education or training;

* only 5 percent of the adult and continuing education courses are taught by full-time faculty members that teach primarily or exclusively in the adult and continuing education programs;

* most distance learning courses are taught by adjunct faculty members (39.7 percent) or by full-time faculty members that teach primarily in other divisions or programs (37 percent);

* distance learning programs directly employ a mean of 23 faculty members;

* 83 percent of the programs use the Internet to offer courses at a distance;

* 60 percent of programs use videoconferencing;

* 36 percent of programs use videotapes; and

* 50 percent of the programs grant credits for life experience or corporate training programs.

The study, which is based on a survey of 70 randomly selected adult and continuing education programs throughout the U.S., was conducted by the Primary Research Group. For more details visit <www.primaryresearch.com>.