Thursday, September 02, 2004
Community colleges, ODU celebrate 10 years of distance learning
The program nurtures Virginia Western and New River community college students on their way to Old Dominion.
Officials at Virginia Western and New River community colleges celebrated the 10th anniversary of a distance-learning program with Old Dominion University this week and signed agreements aimed at helping students transfer to the Norfolk-based institution.
The agreements, which were signed during ceremonies Tuesday and Wednesday, specify the courses students must complete at the community colleges before transferring to a bachelor's degree or graduate program at ODU.
Robert Sandel, president of Virginia Western in Roanoke, said the agreement replaces the schools' previous memorandum of understanding and provides a "seamless transfer" for students hoping to obtain a higher degree from ODU.
"I think education has to be met in a variety of ways," Sandel said. "It is a clear indication that by working together ... the higher education community can and will provide opportunity and access for its various citizens."
ODU President Roseann Runte traveled to Roanoke and Dublin to sign the agreements and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the distance-learning program, known as Teletechnet, that ODU has operated with the community colleges.
Launched in 1994 at 13 sites statewide, ODU's Teletechnet is the largest distance-learning network of its kind in the nation, with 50 sites in Virginia as well as in Arizona; Washington; Illinois; Georgia; Washington, D.C.; and the Bahamas. Teletechnet is available at all of Virginia's community colleges.
Students enrolled in distance-learning courses participate in live, interactive classes via satellite broadcast and Internet video streaming connecting them to classes held on ODU's Norfolk campus.
Students and instructors also communicate using other means including two-way audio, online posting through Blackboard and e-mail.
More than 150 students have received bachelor's and master's degrees through the distance-learning program at Virginia Western, and another 139 have completed degrees at New River.
Teletechnet offers an array of undergraduate degree programs, such as business administration, computer science, criminal justice, health sciences and nursing. Master's and doctoral degrees are also offered.
Runte, who taught a distance-learning course in her years as a college professor, said the expansion of the distance-learning program is a way to forge a community of scholars who can learn and work together.
"It's an incredible system, and it really works," she said.
Christy Savage, ODU's site director at New River Community College, said the program is making a difference in the local community.
"Most of the students will tell you that were it not for ODU's distance-learning program, they would not have been able to earn their degrees," Savage said.
Former students also spoke at both programs.
Weekend weathercaster and feature reporter Brent Watts of WDBJ (Channel 7) graduated from Virginia Western in 1997 with an associate's degree but later returned to get his bachelor's degree in professional communication through the distance-learning program.
"The Old Dominion University Teletechnet program fit absolutely perfect with my needs," he said. "I certainly credit this program with my success."
Teri Moore, who completed a post-master's certificate in nursing at New River last month and is director of New River's nursing program, said the nursing classes are ideal for students who have deep roots in their local community and do not want to leave the area to pursue a degree.
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