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Is Distance Education for You? by Laura M. Walter Information Specialist Distance Education and Training Council Millions of Americans are cur- motes a more productive learning rently enrolled in distance learning environment. Distance learning also institutions. The flexible study sched- allows a student to maintain his or her ules, independent learning, and self- career, family, and personal commit- paced courses are attracting more ments while taking courses. Students students than ever. If you are inter- who live in rural areas find that dis- ested in enrolling in a distance educa- tance education permits them to en- tion school, you probably have a lot of roll in programs that otherwise would questions. Choosing the right school not be available in to them. for you is an important decision, and Q: What types of students take the well-informed student is the most distance learning programs? likely to succeed. A: Distance learners are often Q: What are the benefits of independent, industrious students ea- distance education? ger to gain more knowledge in a A: Distance learning students ex- chosen field. Often, they are older perience the freedom of studying and more experienced than “tradi- when and where they choose. Stu- tional students.” These adult learners dents can accelerate through courses are highly motivated to gain valuable very quickly, or they can move at a job skills or earn a degree. slower pace. For many students, this Q: What types of distance learn- individual approach to education pro- ing courses are available? A: Students enjoy a wide variety communication. More students can of distance learning courses, includ- enroll, make tuition payments, submit ing high school diploma programs, assignments, and communicate with vocational courses, and college de- professors and other students via the gree programs. DETC schools cur- Internet. The survey also shows, how- rently offer more than 500 subjects ever, that many distance learning with an array of programs ranging schools are not prepared to com- from accounting to yacht design. pletely abandon print-based DETC accredits schools offering methods.Your preference of learn- courses at the Kindergarten through ing methods, be it correspondence, First Professional Degree levels. online, or a combination of both, is Q: What should I look for in a personal, and you should find the distance learning school? school that best suits your needs. A: Make sure the school’s courses Q: As a distance learning stu- are up-to-date, that it maintains com- dent, how much contact can I ex- petent staff and instructors, that it pect from my instructor or fellow adheres to ethical standards, that it is students? truthful in its advertising methods, A: This depends on the school, but and that it is financially responsible accredited institutions work hard to and can continue to meet its obliga- foster communication between fac- tions to students. Find out how long ulty, staff, and students. Instructors the school has been in operation, and usually mail assignments to the stu- whether the school is accredited by a dent, complete with detailed feed- recognized accrediting agency. back. Professors also communicate Q: What methods will I use to with students via the Internet. Live study at a distance? chats, threaded discussion boards, and A: DETC schools use almost ev- e-mail help the student develop a ery form of modern communications sense of community when taking a technology. Some schools are prima- distance learning course. With the rily “correspondence based,” which Internet, the student does not have to means you send and receive materi- feel like a completely solitary als through the mail. Other schools learner—a classmate or instructor is operate almost entirely online. Infor- only an e-mail message away. mation is provided on Web sites, online Q: I’m concerned that a dis- libraries, threaded discussions, and tance education school could re- live Internet chats. Currently, many ally be a “fly by night” operation. schools offer a combination of print How can I protect myself? and online. A recent DETC survey A: Make sure the school you’re shows many distance learning schools enrolling in is accredited by a legiti- are increasingly using the Internet for mate agency. This means the ac- 2 crediting agency is recognized by the can be earned in a very short period U.S. Department of Education and/ of time. or the Council for Higher Education Q: What exactly does accredi- Accreditation. Accreditation is a vol- tation mean? untary process and ensures that the A: Accreditation is a non-govern- school has submitted to a thorough mental, peer review process designed evaluation process, and that its aca- to determine whether a school meets demic, business, and ethical standards specific standards. The school volun- have been assessed. You can also tarily submits to a thorough evalua- check with the Better Business Bu- tion to prove it can meet and maintain reau in the institution’s city to learn the accrediting agency’s published about any complaints filed against the standards. Accreditation can benefit school. a school by encouraging improve- Q: How do I recognize a di- ment through self-evaluation process ploma mill? and by assuring the public that the A: It can be difficult to determine school has clearly defined objectives whether a school is actually a “di- and is working to improve and main- ploma mill”—an institution granting tain all aspects of its operations. The degrees for money with little or no U.S. Department of Education work required. Accreditation can (USDE) and the Council for Higher assure students that the school is not Education Accreditation (CHEA) are a diploma mill, but not all unaccredited the two third-party agencies that rec- schools are suspect. Remember, ac- ognize legitimate accrediting agen- creditation is voluntary on the part of cies in the United States. the school. You should be very cau- Q: Does it matter if I live in one tious, however, if an unaccredited state and my school operates out school exhibits any of the following of another state? What about for- warning signs: the school claims to be eign universities? accredited when it is not, or its ac- A: In general, a distance learning crediting agency is not recognized; student can enroll in an accredited degrees are granted solely or mostly distance learning program located in on life or work experience; the school any state, or even in another country. lacks state licensure to operate; the If your prospective school is located school charges either very high or outside of the United States, be sure very low fees for what it provides; it is accredited by a recognized U.S. degrees can be purchased from the accrediting agency, such as the school; the school fails to provide a DETC. Accreditation standards and list of faculty and their qualifications; practices vary from country to coun- the school does not provide a physical try, and degrees earned at a foreign address or business location; degrees university may not be equivalent to 3 those earned at a U.S. institution. school diploma programs; several of Q: Will the credits I earn from a these schools have been operating distance learning institution trans- for more than a century. Receiving a fer to a college in my area? diploma from a DETC-accredited A: That depends. If your school is high school is considered far more accredited by a recognized agency in rigorous than obtaining a G.E.D. Most the United States., your college level college registrars and employers accredits may be transferable, but no cept these nationally accredited di- one can guarantee acceptance in all plomas the same as those from cases. The decision to accept trans- “traditional” high schools, but you fer of credit always lies with the may wish to check ahead of time to receiving organization (college regis- be sure. Parents can choose to buy trar, employer, etc.). Since there are individual courses or enroll their stu- more than 4,000 colleges and univer- dents in the accredited programs. sities in the United States, the DETC Attending a distance learning school is unable to provide a list of schools is different from homeschooling. You that accept credits from specific should learn about your state’s DETC institutions. When you explain homeschooling regulations and con- that the institution is accredited by a tact your local homeschooling orga- national or regional accrediting nization for more information. agency, the decision is often favor- Q: What is the future of dis- able. tance education? Q: How do the expenses of dis- A: Millions of students study via tance learning schools compare to distance learning every year, and this traditional schools? method of learning is expected to A: Distance education institu- continue to increase. DETC institutions—DETC schools in particular— tions have a healthy enrollment his- tend to be less expensive than resident tory—over 140 million Americans schools. This is another encouraging have enrolled in DETC institutions factor for adult learners. The DETC since 1890. New technology devel- recently completed a study compar- opments continue to support and as- ing costs of college programs and sist distance learning students. found that students often pay one- Currently, distance learning institu- half to two-thirds less at a DETC tions are enjoying record enrollment school. rates around the world. Q: I am interested in home- (Published March 2004 by DETC, 1601 schooling my child. Can you help 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009; me with this? www.detc.org.) A: DETC accredits distance learning high schools that offer full high 4