[NMLN] Minnesota Governor Proposes an Extensive Online Learning Initiative

[Ormand, Brian]

Just an FYI....

11/20/2008

Minnesota Governor Proposes an Extensive Online Learning Initiative


Contact: Ryan Reyna<mailto:webmaster at nga.org?Subject=Contact--Ryan%20Reyna>
Education Division, NGA Best Practices Center

In an effort to expand access, increase technology skills, and maximize efficiency and use of resources, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has proposed a significant online learning initiative for K-12 and postsecondary education. In an announcement with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of trustees Chair, Governor Pawlenty set a goal to have 25 percent of all MnSCU credits earned through online courses by 2015.
In addition to this goal, Governor Pawlenty set forth a number of steps to make Minnesota a leader in online learning, including:

 *   Require every student beginning with the 2013 to take an online course, participate in an online experience or participate in online experiences incorporated into other graduation requirements;
 *   Improve student access and support for online learning in postsecondary by creating a single Internet portal for online course and program information;
 *   Award a $150 bonus to students who earn Minnesota's ACHIEVE scholarship if they also complete an online course while in high school;
 *   Increase the capacity in the state college and university system to deliver online non-credit education and training to adult learners and Minnesota businesses; and
 *   Explore establishing online tuition reciprocity agreements with other states to give students more choice and access to online college courses and programs.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities have worked to increase online enrollment since 2005, with the number of credits delivered online increasing 134 percent from 2005 to 2008. MnSCU offers the following entirely online: 82 different associate degrees, 15 bachelor's degrees, 13 master's degrees, 97 certificates and one applied doctorate. Future progress toward the goal of having 25 percent of all credits earned through online courses will be annually measured and reported in the state's higher education accountability report.



http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=60a984ba04bbd110VgnVCM1000005e00100aRCRD
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.checs.net/pipermail/nmln/attachments/20081208/90b503a8/attachment.html