WebCampus Receives “ 21st Century Award” for 2008

HOBOKEN, N.J. — For the second time in three years, Stevens Institute of Technology’s WebCampus Division won the “21st Century Best Practices Award for Distance Learning” from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).   The organization’s highest award recognizes pioneering organizations that have changed distance learning and have developed new and innovative solutions for distance learning instruction.  WebCampus also won this award in 2005, as well as the USDLA Bronze Award for online instruction in 2006.

The USDLA International Awards are closely followed by the distance learning industry. "As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we enjoy honoring some of the leaders in the industry," said Dr. John G. Flores, CEO of USDLA. "Each year these winners raise the bar and exceed best practice expectations for the industry as a whole and we are truly honored by their contributions to the distance learning industry."

The USDLA awards committee evaluated distance learning organizations against seven major categories.  “Among other things, our entry stressed the growth of our operations, the variety of graduate programs we offer, the work that our faculty has done regarding the integration of web conferences in their classes, and the lengths that we go in assessing and improving our classes,” said WebCampus Director Robert Zotti.  The USDLA also looks for evidence of a strong business plan demonstrating strong fiscal management, effective marketing, promotion of products and services, an expanding base of clients, and a management team with a long-term vision for future growth and leadership in the field of distance learning. “By the time we were finished with our award entry, it was 27 pages long,” said Zotti. “We’re on a great winning streak and are already putting together material for next year’s award nominations.”

About USDLA

The USDLA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to promote the development and application of distance learning for education and training. USDLA represents 4,500 members from preK-12, higher education, continuing education, corporate, military and government, home schooling and telemedicine. USDLA is the leading source of information on distance learning that focuses on public policy which impacts distance learning and its varied constituencies. With offices in Boston , MA , the association continues to establish chapters in all fifty states. For more information about USDLA, visit the organization’s website at www.usdla.org.

About WebCampus

Since its inception in 2000, WebCampus has enrolled more than 6,000 graduate students from 40 US states and 40 countries. The same faculty teach both online and on campus. WebCampus’ more than 160 courses (twelve fully online MS degrees and 36 certificates that can be applied to graduate degrees) have the same content as face-to-face classes as well as the same tuition and student support services. The worldwide online enrollment for the 2007-2008 academic year was 4,500.  As with all Stevens graduate courses, those delivered through WebCampus are fully accredited by the Middle States Commission.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management. The university has a total enrollment of 2,088 undergraduate and 4,342 graduate students.  Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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