A question of educational quality arises when adults, in growing numbers, indicate the need for nontraditional learning programs using off-campus delivery systems. (MM)

The administrator's role in insuring off-campus program quality is considered. An essential difference between administrators and leaders is noted: administrators are status quo oriented, crisis oriented, reactive, and less flexible; leaders are change oriented, planning oriented, proactive, and less flexible. When such factors as new technology…

"Correlates of quality," those parts of students' programs thought to influence the quality of students' work, were examined in a study of Minnesota's UWW program. Graduate dossiers were rated according the graduates' fulfillment of seven graduation criteria and correlated with barriers of students at admission, major area of study,…

Author believes that if the Open University continues to be successful, it can hardly fail to exert a powerful influence on the future development of higher education in Great Britain. (Author/HB)

The dynamics of today's society are causing substantial changes in traditional education norms and forms. The total learning opportunities, regardless of where they occur, should be promoted by the accrediting institutions. We must make sure that our requirements for quality performance, and our accreditation and other standard measures, encompass…

Few educators understand the exact nature and scope of alternative graduate programs or the variety of issues that confront their development and viability. Alternative graduate education is defined and the issues and critical concepts of nontraditional graduate study are identified. (Author/MLW)

This is a publication of a 3-year Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications project, "Balancing Quality and Access: Reducing State Policy Barriers to Electronically Delivered Higher Education Programs," designed to foster an interstate environment that encourages the interstate electronic delivery of quality higher education…

A Quality Assurance Program (QAP) developed at the College of St. Francis is presented that is based on an open systems approach. The model allows an institution to continually monitor, evaluate, and, when necessary, modify its academic programs, graduates or undergraduate, traditionally or non-traditionally delivered, to assure quality. Part I…

Off-campus and external degree programs in Georgia were surveyed in 1978-79 to examine the quality of education of off-campus offerings and standards in teacher education, certification, and staff development. Information was obtained from public school superintendents regarding off-campus credit courses and from colleges located within and…

In 1977, the National Institute of Education commissioned a study to address consumer protection concerns regarding external degree programs. Important findings are summarized and include the conclusion that the opportunity to have credits accepted for prior college work is a major attraction to external degree seekers. (JMD)

This publication is one of a series designed as a companion to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)'s fact book, "Policy Indicators for Higher Education: WICHE States." The title article maintains that the growth of distance learning programs has heightened existing concerns about their quality. Institutions can…

A president, reflecting the initial evaluations that led to the accreditation of many nontraditional institutions, finds the accreditation experience has greatly affected these colleges and their programs. It has also had a positive impact on the accrediting agencies and higher education generally. (Author/LBH)

This pamphlet is intended to assist the consumer in making informed decisions when choosing between distance learning programs. Distance education and distance learners are defined. Included is advice on beginning a program search; choosing a school; accreditation; evaluating quality of electronically offered programs; evaluate non-accredited…

The focus and purpose of this study are two-fold: (1) to assess, by means of an evaluation questionnaire, the academic quality of and satisfaction with correspondence study programs--causes, instructions, and administrative staff--as perceived by the students who enroll in and complete courses offered by them; and (2) to examine the population…

This project was designed to increase student access by addressing Western states' regulations on higher education programs delivered electronically across state lines, and to develop and get region-wide agreement on basic quality standards for distance education programs. The project achieved agreement on a set of "Principles of Good…