Aakers Business College Launches First Online Degree Program; Just Ninety Days after Partnering with Deltak, Aakers Introduces a Fully Online Accounting Degree Program

Business Wire, April 14, 2004

Business Editors/Education Writers

BISMARCK, N.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2004

Aakers Business College, a private two-year college with campuses in Bismarck and Fargo, N.D., today announced that through its partnership with Deltak edu, Inc. it has launched its first fully online degree program.

The program is a two-year, Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in accounting and is offered primarily to students in North Dakota and western Minnesota that require convenience and flexibility in order to attain a college degree. The program is the first of five unique degree programs that Aakers is launching in the next six months as part of its partnership with Deltak edu, Inc. Aakers will also be launching an AAS degree program in Business Management in July, and additional programs in Healthcare, Criminal Justice and Information Technology by the end of this year.

Kristi Waite, President of Rasmussen College and Aakers Business College, said: "Our relationship with Deltak allowed us to bring one of our most successful programs into an online environment in less than three months, something we didn't think could be done. Students today demand the flexibility that an online program provides, and we are thrilled to be one of the first providers of this type of degree program in our region. Already we have had a positive response from students enrolled in the online accounting program, and we are excited by the potential this new channel represents."

Deltak is providing online marketing expertise and systems to help Aakers generate new enrollments and revenue in the online degree programs. Additionally, Deltak will provide 24x7 customer care for students, and program development resources to work with Aakers faculty to develop the online offerings.

"We are very pleased that we are already providing results for Aakers," said Michael Locke, CEO of Deltak. "Going online with these programs will give Aakers tremendous visibility and reach in the market. Deltak's cadre of world class services not only will help Aakers continue to rapidly add more online degree programs in the coming months, but will also ensure the success of these programs by driving enrollments and providing support services to ensure student satisfaction."

Rasmussen College and Aakers Business College announced their relationship with Deltak in December 2003. In addition to providing online services to Rasmussen and Aakers, Deltak also made a significant equity investment in the schools.

About Deltak

Deltak's mission is to offer its students the highest quality online and blended educational programs with personalized customer service to prepare them for careers in business, healthcare, IT and education. Headquartered in Chicago, Ill., Deltak invests in career-oriented colleges and provides world-class online resources to enable the company's school investments, as well as its school partners, to rapidly build, support and go to market with online and blended educational programs. Visit us at www.deltakedu.com.

About Aakers Business College

Rasmussen College and Aakers Business College are institutions of higher learning dedicated to the growth and development of students, employees, and the communities they serve. Founded in 1900 and 1902, respectively, Rasmussen and Aakers are recognized as leaders in innovative curriculum design, instructional delivery, and technology application in education. Rasmussen operates four campuses located in Minnesota (Eagan, St. Cloud, Minnetonka and Mankato) while Aakers operates two campuses in North Dakota (Fargo, Bismarck). Together, the institutions serve approximately 2,000 students offering associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in business, allied health, criminal justice, child care, accounting and information technology. For more information, visit Aakers at www.aakers.edu or Rasmussen at www.rasmussen.edu.