Distance education can provide students a means of pursuing higher education through alternative learning environments that meet the demands of today's busy student. When available, distance education is flexible, delivered through new and innovative technologies, and allows students to meet their educational goals outside of -- or in conjunction with -- a traditional classroom setting.

Distance education may offer the advantage of taking part or all of a course subject in an interactive technology based environment. While these courses may offer greater flexibility in today's tight schedules and changing environments, they generally require much more self-discipline and better computer skills than a traditional classroom environment.

Traditional courses may also be "web enhanced" or "technology assisted". These are simply traditional on-campus courses using technology in the classroom to increase the opportunity for success.  

Here are some important definitions to consider before proceeding.

• Distance Education - a formal educational process in which instruction occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous. Distance education may employ correspondence study, audio, video, or computer technologies.
• Traditional Courses - courses that require all coursework to be completed in a traditional face-to-face on-campus learning environment.
• Web Enhanced Courses - courses that use distance education technology(s) in traditional face-to-face learning environment.
• Hybrid (Blended) Courses - courses that make available a portion of their required instructional hours via distance education.
• Online Distance Education Courses - courses that make all their required instructional hours via distance education. Academic subjects are well suited to this system. However, lab skills must still be proven in a face-to-face environment.

In Region 4 there are no currently available distance education courses. A great majority of our credit programs and courses are lab intensive and require on campus interaction. However, efforts are being made to overcome the challenges of lab learning in a technology enabled environment.   

Contact your Academic Advisor or Host Campus to determine the status of courses offered.