The experience of UWW at Morgan State College in Maryland with contracts, including costs of the program.

This paper describes the individualized structuring of postgraduate courses adopted by the Atlantic Institute of Education. A key feature of the Open Access Study Plan is that students in consultation with faculty choose the objectives for their course and then select appropriate learning experiences. (Author)

The external degree program should be developed as another alternative for widening range of interests and backgrounds of those pursuing a college degree. Examples of such programs are cited in this article. (JD)

This article discusses a recently developed educational alternative in the United States. This is the "university without walls," characterized by independent study combined with vocational training. (Text is in German.) (Author/AM)

A history of the Open University of Great Britain, its role as a leader in nontraditional education, and its influence on programs in the United States and elsewhere. (LS)

The case for public library support for open university programs. Description of some existing public library projects and discussion of ways in which libraries can participate in adult degree programs. (LS)

An annotated bibliography covering the open university in the United States and Great Britain as well as the role of the library in such programs. (LS)

An analysis of the underlying concepts and unique contributions of learning contracts to higher education.

Observing that distance teaching so far conducted at Britain's Open University is based on an authoritarian model with teacher-developed multimedia programed courses, the author proposes a new approach to such correspondence-type courses in which a framework is provided for students to organize their own learning using their own methods. (JT)

The contributions distance teaching (education delivered to learners who study anywhere and in their own time) can make to work-oriented, family and community, professional and paraprofessional, and general basic education in developing rural areas are discussed briefly. Its use in professional education is illustrated with description of the Free…

This paper outlines the method and theoretical basis for establishing and implementing an independent study music curriculum. The curriculum combines practical and theoretical paradigms and leads to an external degree. The computer, in direct interaction with the student, is the primary instructional tool, and the teacher is involved in indirect…

The options in" include external degree programs, community junior colleges, and individualized curriculum planning; the options to" are listed in a quote from a recent HEW report on Expanded Noncollege Opportunities." (SP)

An overview of nontraditional higher education in the United States, with emphasis on the part played by both academic and public libraries in such programs. (LS)

A description of the kinds of services libraries may provide to students in nontraditional programs and an examination of the kinds of training needed by librarians who perform such services. (LS)