Part of a government report on "Efficiency in Higher Education," this study dealt with the cost of existing or proposed external degree or non-traditional programs in adult higher education, an area which is lacking in substantive cost data. Twenty-seven institutions were contacted because they were believed to have non-traditional programs; high…

This guide to institutions that offer academic degrees through nontraditional means has four parts. Part 1 addresses issues in nontraditional education, such as degree requirements and transcripts, whether a degree is worth the effort, how to evaluate a school, accreditation, and financial aid. Part 2 specifically addresses alternative methods of…

Adults often prefer self-directed learning over teacher-directed, classroom-oriented learning. They feel that their life experiences and self-initiated projects teach them more than they can learn in a formal classroom situation. Persons usually do not pursue such self-directed learning, however, because of conflicting role requirements, a lack of…

This Commission for Higher Education document concerns the approval of the Policy for Delivering Degree Programs Through Distance Education Technology. It opens with the staff recommendation that the Commission approve the Policy, considering the recent technological developments altering distance education environments. The background information…

This report of a conference on distance learning/adult education programs contains the following papers: "Adult Learners, Distance Education, and Technology: It's the Future, but Can We Get There from Here?" (Gulliver, Wright); "Minority Student Response to External Adult Degree Program Education" (Gillett, Sutphin); "Methods in Project…

An examination of the degrees of diversity in off-campus education in California is presented. An off-campus inventory, detailed questions, and questionnaires were sent to the public segments and central offices of the University and State University on a variety of topics including: curriculum; administrative mechanisms; procedures for hiring…

At Metropolitan State University, the Individualized Educational Planning Course was a response to adult students' unique curriculum needs. Students learn university expectations of quality; plan solid, individualized degrees; examine what it means to be an educated person; pursue knowledge actively and successfully through informed choices; and…

Evaluation of prior learning for college credit towards a general studies degree is discussed in this handbook for faculty evaluators. It is suggested that the major responsibility of the evaluator is to determine if prior learning is college level and how many credits should be awarded. Credit toward the general studies degree is awarded only for…

This is the introduction and summary of a series of six papers discussing major issues about student assessment for the University of Wisconsin Extended Degree Program, a program designed to give academic credit for college level learning derived from experiences outside the scope of formal classes. A distinction is made between prior learning,…

This guide provides information about the available opportunities in New York State for youths to earn credit toward both high school diplomas and college degrees for competencies gained in the Comprehensive Educational Training Act (CETA) training and work experience programs as provided by the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act…

Nontraditional methods of qualifying for a college degree are described in this student guide to off-campus study and examination. The three external degree institutions in the United States that offer these programs are discussed. They include: Regents External Degree Program of the University of the State of New York; Thomas A. Edison College of…