But academics is not all about books, professors, and writing papers anymore. This year, for the first time, the Distance Learning Center is offering a student message board. The new board was conceived, implemented, and is maintained by distance learning students. The message board is the place you can go to meet students whom you would normally not get a chance to meet.

The conversations on the student message board range from students asking questions about the programs, giving tips on how to use the web page, finding really helpful links, to discussing how the Green Bay Packers are doing this year.

The student message board is a great place for first year students to "pick the brains" of experienced students and ask questions, as well as for professionals to talk shop concerning, for example, project management issues, from managing risk, creating fabulous Gantt charts to managing people. Have a question, comment, or hot tip? Then jump onto the board and let the rest of us hear it!

This semester, we are testing the message board with students in the project management program. We will be evaluating how this experience was received, making appropriate and necessary changes, and then developing a message board for each of the other distance learning programs. We are currently looking for a student to moderate the message board for the other distance learning programs (i.e., Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Engineering). If you are interested in moderating or if you have questions about the time and expertise needed to moderate the board, contact me.

Remember, gaining an undergraduate or graduate degree "virtually" is challenging--to say the least. The message board is just another way UW-Platteville is enhancing the experience for all its students. Please take a minute and check out the message board, look around, ask a few questions, or search for answers. I hope to be talking with you on our new UWP message board really soon.

VISIT THE STUDENT MESSAGE BOARD!