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Regents
Online
Degree Programs
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1415 Murfreesboro Road, Suite
350
Nashville, TN 37217
Phone (615) 366-4400 Fax (615) 366-4464
Press Release
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT:
Mary Morgan 615.366.4414
Board of Regents to Launch 'Regents
On-Line Degree'
Five On-Line Degree Options Will Be Available Fall 2001
Nashville, Tennessee, October 26, 2000-Chancellor Charles Manning of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) today announced that beginning next fall, all of the state's Board of Regents colleges and universities will join together in a program allowing students to earn college degrees entirely on-line. Students may choose the college or university that will award their degrees, register on-line and receive their degrees without ever once having physically visited a campus. "This is a giant step forward for Tennesseans who previously have had to 'stop out' of college because of job and family commitments," says Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sidney McPhee. "Now, those who desire and need further education to succeed in careers and to live fuller lives can get that education at any time and any place convenient to them. All they will need is access to a computer with an Internet connection."
Initially, the on-line program will offer five degrees-three at the associate's (two-year) level and two at the bachelor's (four-year) level. Some of the courses will be self-paced, and others will be "live" and interactive. Advising, student support and other forms of student assistance will be available on-line; students and faculty will have technical support 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
The on-line degree program builds on the TBR institutions' substantial experience and success with web-based course delivery. During the fall of 1999, about 3,700 students enrolled in over 250 sections of on-line courses, and the University of Memphis has offered an on-line Master of Science degree in Journalism since 1995. In addition, Nashville State Technical Institute offers web-based certificate programs.
Designed especially for adults who already have had some college experience, the on-line degree program is also appropriate for students just beginning work on their associate's degrees. To assist students who cannot afford computers, the Board of Regents is exploring partnerships with financial institutions and a computer company to subsidize the purchase of desktop or laptop computers.
All 13 of the TBR two-year colleges will deliver and award the associate's degrees, while all six of the TBR universities will deliver and award bachelor's degrees. Courses earned toward the degrees will be completely transferable among all the participating institutions. Plans for the first phase of the Regents' on-line degree program include the following degrees:
Two-Year Degrees: Associate of Arts and Associate of Science (both will transfer as credits for the bachelor's degree), plus Associate of Applied Science (a more technical and specialized career degree) Four-Year Degrees: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in General Studies or a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Studies with two concentrations (one in Management Information Systems and the second to be determined)
The Tennessee Board of Regents is the nation's sixth largest higher education system, governing 45 post-secondary educational institutions. The TBR system includes six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26 technology centers, providing programs to over 180,000 students in 90 of Tennessee's 95 counties.
