REGENTS REPORT

South Dakota Higher Education: Good Investment. Great Future. NO. 63, 01/31/97

Distance Education

Serving Higher Education Needs of ALL South Dakotans

One of the Unified System of Higher Education's fundamental charges is to provide access to quality programs for South Dakotans, many of whom are place-bound at remote sites across the state. The public universities deliver courses to people all over the state through distance education technology and on-site instruction. The Off-Campus Academic Program Delivery Council is a new system-wide council that will coordinate university efforts in the delivery of educational services to locations beyond the campus walls. The Off-Campus Delivery Council will complement distance education efforts by maximizing limited programming resources across the system. The Off-Campus Network brings the institutions together in alliance to provide the best educational service to citizens across the state.

WHAT IS DISTANCE EDUCATION?

Distance education refers to courses and programs delivered at locations other than the traditional campus. In South Dakota, distance education is delivered in the following methods:

• On-site instruction
• RDTN (interactive and satellite)
• Internet/World Wide Web
• Public Broadcasting
• Cable television
• Videotape
• Correspondence

Both the RDTN and the Internet are relatively new methods to offer distance education via technology. In just the last couple of years, the university system began to explore and develop the many opportunities available for distance education utilizing the Internet and World Wide Web. This new means of delivery offers flexibility for students and is accessible virtually everywhere where there is a phone and a computer.

ENROLLMENT IN DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES

In Fall 1996 there were 565 distance education course sections offered to people at 30 sites across the state and region. Over 400 of these sections were delivered at five locations: Eagle Butte, Ellsworth AFB, Pierre, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls. Distance education is an important component of lifelong learning for employees and those seeking to advance their careers and better serve their employers. As the 20^th century closes, education and training play an increasingly important role in maintaining competitiveness in the economy. The state's public universities realize that employers want education for the workforce to be continuous, located near the workplace, delivered through live instruction or interactive technology, delivered at flexible times and locations, and structured as self-paced and for individuals or group learning.

WHERE IS DISTANCE EDUCATION?

Distance education serves people in all corners of the state. Below is a map showing the locations at which distance education courses were delivered in Fall 1996.

Distance Education Provided by South Dakota Public Universities: Fall 1996

SOURCE: Board of Regents

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

This report focuses on adult learners and the non-traditional students that benefit from public university distance education offerings. It is important to note that high school students also benefit from distance education. In Fall 1996 there were over 140 high school students who were enrolled in university courses via distance education technology. These courses help students jump-start their university academic careers and allows them to receive dual credit.

CONCLUSION

Distance education plays an important role in providing accessible educational services to people located in all parts of the state. The public university system realizes the importance of South Dakota through distance education and has initiated the Off-Campus Academic Program Delivery Council to coordinate resources and develop collaborative system-wide efforts that can bring increased and improved opportunities for education and training to South Dakota's communities.