virtual university--higher education 'on-line', The

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Summer 1999 by DiPiro, Joseph T

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). FGCU (see http://www.fgcu.edu) is a newly founded university with a campus in southwest Florida that offers approximately 50 internet-based courses in distance learning programs for art and sciences, business, "professional studies," and health professions. A variety of electronic delivery methods are used including internet-based, interactive video, telecourses, and videotape. Although their primary mission is undergraduate education, graduate programs are also offered in selected areas, including masters degrees in business, public administration, and health science.

The New School. The New School was founded in 1919, maintains a campus in New York City with 40,000 students enrolled, and has developed a distance learning program referred to as 'DIAL' for distance instruction for adult learning (see http://www.dialnsa.edu). Undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees are offered as well as non-credit courses in a variety of disciples with an emphasis on liberal arts and sciences, education, business, and management. A major emphasis of the program is on adult learners who are currently employed. At present, over 120 courses are available through DIAL.

Simon Fraser University (SFU). SFU is a Canadian university located in British Colombia (see http:/www.sfu.ca) with over 17,000 students and over 100 degree programs in arts, sciences, business, and education. SFU offers distance education programs in a large variety of areas, but not health sciences.

For-Profit Entities Providing Higher Education OnLine(10)

Digital Springs. Digital Springs is an Austin, Texas-based "educational" publisher using "state-of-the-art" technology to provide professional education (see http://www.digitalsprings.com). The initial focus was on continuing education in accounting and now includes courses in business, finance, and personal development. At present, there are over 50 courses available for sale with a limited number of free courses offered. `on-line' textbooks for undergraduate and graduate education are also offered. Digital Springs has formed alliances with universities, including the University of Phoenix.

Gold Star Multimedia. Goldstar Multimedia (see http://www.gsm.com) is a Florida based company that provides medical education products. At present there are CD-ROM and `on-line' health science-related, non-credit programs in clinical pharmacology, immunology, anatomy, and ethics. Their promotional materials claim that they are attempting to develop a "comprehensive electronic medical curriculum" and that their programs are used in 90 medical schools. The company develops products authored by individuals at various educational institutions.

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Lippincott and Williams & Wilkins were traditional publishing companies that have merged and developed products for professional education with a substantial `on-line' presence (see http.//www.wwilkins.com). Their `on-line' programs include: (i) medically-related resources such as illustrations and images, as well as dictionaries; (ii) clinically-oriented training for various health professionals with continuing education credit available; (iii) staff training for JCAHO / OSHA; (iv) medical student and resident information resources, (v) a large variety of clinical simulation programs; and (vi) web pages devoted to advising prospective medical students and physicians. It appears from review of the `on-line' material that the company is positioning itself to become a major provider of continuing education to health professionals.