• The Electronic Campus, which allows students to enroll in and take courses over the Internet and by other technologies, will grow to more than 1,000 courses this fall. The number of courses offered has increased tenfold since the creation of the Electronic Campus was announced last year.
• More than 25 degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels will be available this fall. Full degree programs were not previously available.
• Independent colleges and universities in the 15 Southern states that are members of the SREB will be able to participate in the Electronic Campus.

"The implementation phase of the Electronic Campus has been a success," Patton, chairman of the SREB, said at the organization’s 50^th anniversary meeting. "Participation of the state postsecondary education agencies and our colleges and universities has been every bit as good as we had hoped. Our surveys show that the Electronic Campus is easy for students to visit and use.

"We also know that the Electronic Campus in one way will be very like a bricks-and-mortar campus in that it may never be totally finished. There will always be something to improve, add on or rebuild, but in the case of the Electronic Campus, there won’t be any bricks or mortar or stucco or 2-by-4s involved."

Patton called the Electronic Campus an "electronic marketplace" based on the Principles of Good Practice adopted by the Southern Regional Education Board. Unlike some other distance learning programs, the Electronic Campus applies the quality standards to each course and degree program.

Patton said the impressive range of courses and degree programs would meet the needs of thousands of students, particularly working adults.

The governor said the SREB’s goal was to bring independent colleges and universities into the program on a planned basis, with the independent institutions in as many as five states involved by January 1999.

"We surveyed the independent colleges and universities this year and identified many of the institutions that have the capacity to participate in distance learning. … By including those independent colleges and universities that have distance learning courses and degree programs we will be increasing opportunities for students," said Patton.

He said much of the enthusiasm for the Electronic Campus relates to its potential for economic development.

"We as governors particularly share that interest. As we identify areas and programs that are needed for economic development or for specific needs in business and industry, the colleges and universities involved in the Electronic Campus will respond," he said.

Students can reach the Electronic Campus at the Web site, http://www.srec.sreb.org. Students can get basic information about the available courses, including subjects, levels, requirements and costs, and then move by a "hot link" to the college or university offering the course or program. There they will get further information about the courses and enrollment procedures.

For release on June 30, 1998
For more information, contact Bracey Campbell at (404) 875-9211, Ext 244