Online University Consortium Reaches Major Milestone
of 220 Online Degree Programs, Adds Seven Top Name Schools to University
Network
-- Now the largest consortium of its kind, Online UC positioned to become
the go-to destination for those seeking quality online degree programs --
July 15, 2003, Orlando, FL - At the Society for Human Resource
Management (SHRM) conference, the Online University Consortium (Online UC)
announced that another seven of the country’s top online degree-granting schools
have joined forces with existing participants in the rapidly expanding university
network. This new growth in membership comes at a time when universities are
reeling from budget cuts, which further indicates the importance of online
education to traditional university systems.
"It's a perfect fit," says Greg Eisenbarth, Executive Director of Online UC. "Universities
don't want to miss the market opportunity online education presents and adult
learners at company sites increasingly need qualified online degree programs
that are delivered by quality universities."
The University of Illinois will add 49 programs to the Online UC. “The University
of Illinois is extremely pleased to become a member of the Online UC. We believe
its goals are well aligned with ours and feel that our participation will enable
us to serve more students at a distance,” says Burks Oakley II, Director of
the University of Illinois Online. Other widely recognized schools that have
recently become Consortium members include: University of Florida, University
of Massachusetts, University of Oregon, University of Denver, Upper Iowa University,
Thomas Edison State College and New Jersey Institute of Technology. These schools
join existing university participants such as University of Southern California,
Arizona State University and the University of Michigan (see http://www.onlineuc.net/topuniv.html
for a complete list of universities). All told Online UC now offers over 220
fully accredited online degree programs that are backed by top name universities.
The addition of these latest member-universities makes Online UC the largest
consortium of its kind. The consortium now has enough critical mass, choice
and selection to become the go-to destination actively searched by both corporations
and their employees for online degree programs.
"While Online UC has the numbers needed to generate interest and activity," says
Eisenbarth, "quality prevails and will be a key decision factor in driving
student enrollments." According to the Online UC, that's because studies have
proven the name of the institution backing online degree programs is critical
to acceptance and future success. Online degree programs offered by top name
schools such as the University of Florida or the University of Illinois have
a built-in trust factor that virtual schools have not earned.
Value to the student customer is preserved by the Online UC’s member qualification
process, which ensures quality of providers and programs. Online UC determines
levels of accreditation and education value of online programs before learning
ever begins.
This means only the most qualified universities will meet the criteria required
for membership. And while Online UC accepts programs and member institutions,
it also restricts entrance and membership. For example, while seven new universities
have recently joined Online UC, another six schools who requested membership
during this period were denied.
To access Consortium members and evaluate degree programs, visit www.onlineuc.net or
call 435.649.2190.
*** About the Online University Consortium ***
The Online UC was founded by leading universities to help companies and employees
secure quality online education, high return on investment and relevant degree
programs from trusted institutions of higher learning.
Contact:
Greg Eisenbarth, Executive Director Online University Consortium
435-649-2190
geisenbarth@onlineuc.net
www.onlineuc.net
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