Peterson's Teams with UMassOnline to Increase Student Access to Distance Learning Opportunities

Business Wire, August 19, 2002

Business Editors/Education Writers

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 2002

UmassOnline's degree programs will be promoted and marketed to

Peterson's Web-based student audience

To better meet the increasing student demand for more flexible educational opportunities, Peterson's, a leading provider of educational and career guidance and part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE:TOC, TSX:TOC), today announced that it has entered into an agreement with UMassOnline, the University of Massachusetts' Web-based learning division, to create, host, and promote a Microsite Content Center that provides information on the University's online degree program offerings.

The Content Center will reside on Peterson's main Web site, www.petersons.com, and provide prospective students with access to information about the online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs offered by the University of Massachusetts' Boston, Amherst, Dartmouth, and Lowell campuses.

A key component of the agreement is Peterson's Instant InquirySM, which enables interested students to submit e-mail requests for more information directly to university admissions officials. This system allows UMassOnline to accurately monitor and track qualified student leads generated from the Content Center. Additional promotion of the Content Center will appear on the homepage of Petersons.com as well as on various Peterson's Web properties throughout the terms of the agreement.

"An increased presence on Petersons.com puts the University of Massachusetts' high quality online educational programs in front of a targeted national audience," said Jack M. Wilson, CEO of UMassOnline.

According to a report by International Data Corporation, a leading market research company based in Massachusetts, student enrollment in higher education distance learning programs is expected to increase by 33% between 1999 and 2004.

"More and more students, particularly older learners no longer familiar or comfortable with a traditional classroom-based school environment, are choosing the convenience and flexibility of a distance learning education," said Mary Gatsch, President of Peterson's. "As an organization with a successful history of reaching out to both the distance learning community and students looking for alternative educational opportunities, we are extremely pleased that UMassOnline has chosen Peterson's to help promote its online course offerings."

Peterson's Distance Learning Channel on www.petersons.com features a searchable database of more than 1,000 distance learning programs and courses as well as informative articles and resources on financial planning, accreditation, and other important issues. In addition, Peterson's publishes an annual Guide to Distance Learning Programs, a comprehensive resource of more than 3,000 accredited distance learning programs in the U.S. and Canada, now in its seventh year.

About The Thomson Corporation and Peterson's

The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2001 revenues of $7.2 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software applications and tools to more than 20 million users in the fields of corporate and professional training, assessment and testing, higher education, reference information, law, tax, accounting, financial services, and scientific research and healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE:TOC; TSX:TOC). Its learning businesses and brands serve the needs of individuals, learning institutions, corporations, and government

agencies with products and services for both traditional and distributed learning. As part of The Thomson Corporation, Peterson's is one of the nation's most respected providers of lifelong learning books and online resources focusing on the educational search, financial aid, and test preparation markets. Peterson's leading book imprints include ARCO. Peterson's serves 110 million education consumers annually.

About UMassOnline

UMassOnline, the gateway to the University of Massachusetts' online education programs, provides access to high quality and affordable online courses, certificates, degree programs, and corporate and professional education opportunities. To learn more about UMassOnline, visit www.UMassOnline.net.