"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.electroniccampus.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: (see list)

 For release on November 15, 1998
For more information, contact Bracey Campbell at (404) 875-9211, Ext 244.