15,000 Students Enrolled in Southern Regional Electronic Campus Courses

Business Wire, Nov 13, 1998

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1998--Students are enrolling in electronically delivered courses in large numbers, according to a survey by the Southern Regional Education Board. Officials announced Saturday that an estimated 15,000 students are enrolled in courses offered on the Southern Regional Electronic Campus (www.srec.sreb.org).

"There are 900 courses and 25 degree programs available on the Electronic Campus, and our survey shows a growing interest in distance learning," said Mark Musick, SREB president. "The Electronic Campus is well positioned to assist colleges and universities in reaching new markets of distance learners with quality courses and programs."

The Electronic Campus, in its first year of operation, is a "marketplace" of courses and degree programs. Before they are activated in the Electronic Campus, all courses and programs are reviewed by the colleges and universities and by the states according to the SREB's "Principles of Good Practice." This attention to quality is reassuring to students, who can compare information about Electronic Campus courses and programs at its Web site.

Bruce Chaloux, director of the Electronic Campus, said: "The success of the structure and processes we have established should provide greater opportunities, especially for adults not served by traditional campuses, as we expand the Electronic Campus. We believe both students and colleges and universities will benefit from this `marketplace' as we add more courses and programs and as we develop a variety of services for those taking Electronic Campus courses."

Chaloux added that more than 100 public colleges and universities in the 16-state SREB region have courses on the Electronic Campus this fall.

"As we expected, we are finding that it meets many needs of adult learners, workers and others seeking to advance their education," said Chaloux. "It is a great way for people all over the world to have access to the higher education opportunities made available by colleges and universities from the South."

All courses are delivered electronically; 75 percent are offered online via the Internet. The online classes, Chaloux said, are particularly helpful for people in the work force who need to upgrade their education and for those who never earned college degrees. Courses and programs via the Internet also are attractive to people who do not live within commuting distance of a college or university.

The colleges and universities benefit from participation in the Electronic Campus because more students can take their courses, Chaloux said.

The 16 states in the SREB region are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Anyone with access to the Internet can reach the Electronic Campus at the Web site (www.srec.sreb.org). Potential students are pleased that they can do "one-stop shopping" and can get basic information about the available courses, including subjects, requirements and costs. They then move by a "hot link" to the college or university offering the course or program, where they get more information about the courses and enrollment procedures.

Chaloux said he expects the number of students and colleges and universities participating in the Southern Regional Electronic Campus to continue to expand.

The colleges and universities participating in the Electronic Campus include: -0-

                College and University Participants
             in the Southern Regional Electronic Campus
                      1998-99 Academic Year


Alabama

Auburn University
Bevill State Community College
Gadsden State Community College
George Corley Wallace State Community College - Selma
Harry M. Ayers State Technical College
Jacksonville State University
Jefferson State Community College
John C. Calhoun State Community College
Lawson State Community College
Troy State University, Montgomery
University of Alabama
University of North Alabama


Arkansas

Southern Arkansas University Tech
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff


Florida

Brevard Community College
Central Florida Community College
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Community College
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida International University
Florida State University
Indian River Community College
North Florida Community College
Palm Beach Community College
St. Petersburg Junior College
University of Central Florida
University of Florida
University of North Florida
University of South Florida
University of West Florida


Georgia

Athens Area Technical Institute
Clayton College & State University
Darton College
East Georgia College
Gainesville College
Georgia College and State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Perimeter College
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southwestern State University
Southern Polytechnic State University
State University of West Georgia
University of Georgia
Valdosta State University


Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University
Lexington Community College
Morehead State University
Murray State University
Paducah Community College
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Western Kentucky University


Louisiana

Bossier Parish Community College
Grambling State University
Louisiana Tech University
Northeast Louisiana University
Northwestern State University
Southeastern Louisiana University


Maryland

Charles County Community College
Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville
Community College of Baltimore County, Essex
Frostburg State University
University of Baltimore
University of Maryland University College
Wor-Wic Community College


Mississippi

Delta State University
Mississippi State University
Mississippi University for Women
University of Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi


North Carolina

East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College
Guilford Technical Community College
North Carolina State University
Pitt Community College
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wake Technical Community College
Western Carolina University
Western Piedmont Community College
Wilkes Community College


Oklahoma

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M University
Oklahoma City Community College
Oklahoma State University
Rogers University
Rose State College
Tulsa Community College
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma


South Carolina

Florence-Darlington Technical College
Greenville Technical College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Midlands Technical College
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Piedmont Technical College
South Carolina State University
University of South Carolina, Spartanbur
York Technical College


Tennessee

Chattanooga State Technical Community College
Middle Tennessee State University
Motlow State Community College
Pellissippi State Technical Community College
Roane State Community College
Tennessee Technological University
University of Memphis
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Tennessee at Martin
Volunteer State Community College


Texas

Dallas County Community College
Grayson County College
University of Houston


Virginia

Blue Ridge Community College
Central Virginia Community College
Christopher Newport University
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
Southwest Virginia Community College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
West Virginia
Bluefield State College
Fairmont State College


Marshall University

West Virginia Northern Community College
West Virginia State College
West Virginia University


    This list reflects participants as of October 1998.  Because the
Electronic Campus is expected to grow rapidly, please visit the Web
site at www.srec.sreb.org for an up-to-date list of colleges and
universities and a complete list of programs and courses.