Walden University Receives North Central Association Approval to Offer Online Master's and Ph.D. Programs in Public Health

Business Wire, May 6, 2003

Through its Commissions it accredits, and thereby grants membership to educational institutions in the 19-state North Central region.

The Higher Learning Commission is recognized by the Secretary of Education and the Committee on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA, now continued under the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, or CHEA).

About Sylvan Learning Systems

Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SLVN) is focused exclusively on providing a superior university experience to more than 76,000 students through a leading global network of accredited campus-based and online universities.

Addressing the rapidly growing global demand for higher education, Sylvan offers a broad range of career-oriented undergraduate and graduate programs through six universities located in Europe and Latin America.

Through accredited online universities, Sylvan offers the growing population of working adult learners the convenience and flexibility of distance learning to pursue undergraduate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in major career fields including engineering, education, management, psychology, and health and human services.

The Company's K-12 businesses, including Sylvan Learning Center, Sylvan Education Solutions, Schulerhilfe, eSylvan and Connections Academy, will be sold as part of a previously announced transaction, and will operate under their existing brand names as part of a private entity at the close of the transaction.

Forward Looking Statements

This release includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such forward-looking statements may involve risk and uncertainties.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements:

The following factors might cause such a difference:

-- The proposed transactions described in this release are

subject to customary conditions and there can be no assurance

that the transactions will be consummated. Among the

conditions to consummation of the transactions are regulatory

approvals and consents of third parties that are outside the

control of the parties.

-- The Company's operations can be materially affected by

competition in its target markets and by overall market

conditions, among other factors.

-- The Company's foreign operations, in particular, are subject

to political, economic, legal, regulatory and currency-related

risks.

Additional information regarding these risk factors and uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q, available for viewing on our website. (To access this information on our website, please click on "Investor Relations," "SEC Filings").