KYVU, KCTCS announce on-line associate degree

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 15, 2000) -

Students will be able to earn an associate degree without leaving the comforts of home because of a cooperative venture between the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and the Kentucky Virtual University (KYVU).

The two institutions announced today the creation of Kentucky's first totally on-line associate degree. Students will be able to complete the Associate in Arts Degree, which focuses on a business curriculum, entirely over the Internet.

The degree consists of courses that are designed to transfer to bachelor's degree programs in business offered by Kentucky universities.

"We live in a 24-hour-a-day society, and our colleges must accommodate the busy lifestyles of today's students," said Dr. Michael B. McCall, KCTCS president. "This on-line degree will enable us to deliver a quality education whenever and wherever a student needs it."

"KCTCS is a leader in on-line learning, and this complete AA degree available anywhere, anytime marks one of the most advanced concepts for delivering full degree programs in a student-friendly fashion," added Dr. Mary Beth Susman, CEO of the virtual university.

KYVU officials and KCTCS faculty developed the on-line course formats for the degree, which will include classes delivered by all of the 13 community colleges in KCTCS. This fall, students may choose from 19 courses and two labs in the 61-hour program of study. In the future, the offerings will continue to expand.

Students may enroll at a home KCTCS campus, which will provide support services such as financial aid and advising. KCTCS students enrolled at any community or technical college may take the courses as long as they meet the usual admissions and degree program requirements.

Students also may enroll through the KYVU web site at www.kyvu.org or by calling KYVU toll-free at 1- 877-740-4357.

"Students can pick and choose what courses they take at any given time, and they don't have to take all of them over the Internet - they can take classes on-line or in person," McCall said. "And because students have many choices available through distance learning, we will ensure that all courses are both convenient and high-quality."

The AA degree comprises general education and business courses. The general education courses include Writing I, Writing II, Introduction to Literature, Basic Public Speaking, Introduction to Music, Introduction to Art, History of the United States through 1865, History of the United States since 1865, Introduction to Sociology, General Psychology, Principles of Economics, Introductory General Chemistry, Basic Ideas of Biology, Introduction to Physics, and College Algebra. The courses in the business core include Statistical Method, Introduction to Computers, Financial Accounting, and Managerial Uses of Accounting Information.

The on-line AA degree is only one aspect of distance education in Kentucky.

The Kentucky General Assembly created the KYVU in 1997 to coordinate the delivery of quality on-line courses offered by Kentucky's public and private colleges and universities. In its first year of operation, during the 1999-2000 academic year, the KYVU enrolled nearly 2,600 students from 116 of Kentucky's 120 counties, 18 states and seven foreign countries.

This fall, the KYVU will offer nearly 160 on-line courses that lead toward associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees and doctoral programs. The courses are taught by faculty at 22 of Kentucky's accredited colleges and universities.

KCTCS is offering 80 courses over the Internet this fall semester.

Last spring, KCTCS institutions enrolled 2,558 students in courses delivered via various modes of distance learning, including Internet-based courses; classes delivered through interactive television sites on college campuses; and courses telecast on Kentucky Educational Television.

KCTCS served about 15 percent of all students enrolled in spring 2000 through the KYVU.

Contact:
Sue Patrick, KYVU
(502) 573-1555
sue.patrick@kyvu.org

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