Distance Learning - This Next Year
by Jack Johnson, Chair WASFAA Task Force on Distance Learning

(This article is designed to provide WASFAA membership with a working knowledge of Distance Learning)

At the WASFAA Conference in San Diego, the Executive Council met on two separate occasions to discuss key issues including distance learning, which continues to be a subject having serious implications for the financial aid profession. With this in mind, the WASFAA Task Force on Distance Learning will continue it's focus and bring to the membership issues and information surrounding the delivery of education from a distance.

The Task Force for the next year is now in place. Dan Davenport, the Director of Financial Aid and Admissions at the University of Idaho returns to the Task Force, as does Wayne Sparks, the Director of Financial Aid at Washington State University. I have again agreed to chair the Task Force. Joining us also next year is Mary Gill. Mary currently is with the California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office, and she has a great interest in distance learning. In addition, we believe representation from a private institution would be appropriate. Consequently, we also welcome Karen Blum from the University of Phoenix who also has a strong commitment to distance learning.

In addition to the WASFAA news articles, we will continue the WASFAA Forum on Financial Aid for Distance Learning. Last year, we presented this forum at each of the State Conferences, except Idaho. These forums provided basic information regarding distance learning issues and were very well received. This next year, we will modify the forum so that changes generated by the reauthorization act, and on-going technological advances are included.

Of course many new and exciting developments are beginning to surface. The closing date for submission of applications to participate in the new demonstration projects for federal financial aid was April 1, 1999. The Department of Education has stated they have received 40+ applications from institutions across the nation. Readers started reviewing these applications of Monday, April 26, 1999. An announcement of the 15 institutions that have been selected to participate is anticipated around mid-June.

In addition, on March 5, 1999, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accredited the first in the world virtual university. Jones International University (JUI), founded in 1993 is located in Englewood Colorado. On April 19, I met with President Pamela Pease of JIU at their headquarters. Under her leadership, JIU's approach to serving students around the world is both unique and refreshing. We wish them success with their "virtual" endeavors.