News Releases

June 30, 2000
For immediate release

Arizona Virtual University Launched

(Flagstaff) -- University courses are now just a click away as Arizona's public universities officially launched Phase I of the Arizona Regents University (ARU) on the internet today.

The virtual university, which serves as a portal to hundreds of technology-delivered courses, is a collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU), the University of Arizona (UA), the Arizona Board of Regents and Oracle Corporation.

Students worldwide can visit and register for courses at the site, located at www.azdistancelearning.org/. The courses, which can be applied to 17 unique academic degree or certification programs, will begin as early as this fall. Courses offered on the site are delivered to the student through the internet, two-way interactive television, satellite links, cable television, CD-ROM, video, and correspondence.

"This is a great day for higher education in Arizona," said Board President Hank Amos, "The citizens across Arizona now have increased access to public university courses. ARU will enrich the lives of many across Arizona who have needed access to courses in remote rural areas or have needed a more flexible course schedule to complete their studies."

Students enrolling in courses available on the website will need to apply for admission to the university offering the course. Students will be allowed to simultaneously enroll in more than one of the state's universities.
The website has been developed over the last year as the first phase of the long term implementation of ARU to serve a growing demand for distance learning. All three universities have seen a steady increase in their enrollment in technology-delivered courses. In Fall 1999, there were 8,365 student registrations in courses that were provided electronically, an increase of 14 percent over 1998 and a 24 percent increase over 1997.

"The presidents of Arizona's public universities deserve enormous credit for their leadership in developing this web portal," said Regent Chris Herstam, "Our challenge now is to build upon this success as we move forward with the Arizona Regents University."

Over the next year, the universities will evaluate the demand for more course offerings and establish online student services such as advising.

During Phase II, over the next three years, the universities will develop additional tri-university degree programs in high-demand professional areas. The portal also will seek to add lower division courses from Arizona's Community Colleges, develop methods for the evaluation of new programs, and evaluate the trends and needs defined by the first two years of use.

Long term plans for the virtual university, or Phase III, include drawing on data from the first three years of offerings to choose or refine the most appropriate model to continue serving the needs of Arizonans. A review of data may reveal the need for an independently accredited Arizona Regents University, a "virtual branch campus" that can grant degrees.

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