Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE-The 2003-2004 academic year marked the 25th anniversary of distance education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. As more than 75 people prepare to graduate from programs offered at a distance this year, it's rewarding to look back at the steady progress made in distance education over the last quarter century.

When the print-based business administration degree program began back in 1978, only a handful of Wisconsin students enrolled in the pioneering courses. Today, over 500 people are enrolled in this independent study program. In 1999, distance education initiatives went global when UWP began offering online graduate degrees in project management, criminal justice and engineering. This year, more than 1,000 registrations were processed for online students, with participants in 48 states and 12 countries.

As part of the year-long celebration, a special retrospective of the last quarter century of alternative education is being featured at the distance learning website at http://www.uwplatt.edu/disted/. Visitors to the site can view photos from the early days of the program, meet students and faculty who pioneered distance education, and access an at-a-glance timeline of significant program landmarks. A commemorative CD highlighting past and current faculty photos will soon be added to the site.

Press releases about the program and about UWP distance graduates have been released and may be viewed at the anniversary website. A recent article in the UW Extension program's newsletter 'News and Ideas' focuses on the anniversary and profiles Joan Senn, one of the business administration program's early distance education graduates. A special media kit has been mailed to members of the trade press, highlighting the evolution of the program from a regional concern to an international provider of highly respected, accredited degrees at a distance.

Distance Learning Center faculty and staff were recognized for their pioneering contributions to alternative education sytems at UWP at a special dinner held on March 31. Program speakers included Chancellor David Markee, Provost Carol Sue Butts, and Dawn Drake, executive director of Alternative Delivery Systems. Photos taken during the event are included on the 25th anniversary website.

As UWP remembers its past, the Distance Learning Center looks forward to pioneering new innovations in distance education. Future initiatives include launching an online orientation site, creating a virtual open house and hosting a Webinar series. Other projects in the works are the development of a new course designed for the Department of Justice, the introduction of a project management test preparation course, and the creation of an alternative licensure program for Wisconsin educators.

"While we don't know what format distance education will take in the next 25 years, there is no doubt that the need for alternative forms of education will continue to grow," remarks Drake. "I am thrilled to be part of an organization that understands and provides for the needs of non-traditional learners."