August 24, 1999 Contact: Rachel Snyder (312)996-3457, rsnyder@uic.edu

UIC JOINS ILLINOIS VIRTUAL CAMPUS

The University of Illinois at Chicago is offering more than 45 online courses in 5 programs through the Illinois Virtual Campus (IVC), a Web-based directory of distance education opportunities offered by Illinois colleges and universities. The "grand opening" of the IVC took place today at a meeting of the Illinois Board of Higher Education in Springfield. The IBHE is funding the initiative, which is being managed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

More than 35 two- and four-year institutions currently are offering online education through the Illinois Virtual Campus, and the IBHE expects that number to grow quickly. Distance learners can take advantage of hundreds of individual credit and noncredit courses as well as complete programs leading to professional certificates and undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Among the educational opportunities UIC is providing are: pharmacology, health and engineering.

"Toward the full realization of its enduring core values, the University of Illinois will lead nationally in creating, assessing, transferring and integrating advanced technologies in our research, teaching, outreach and operations," said University of Illinois President James Stukel.

In addition to its online directory of providers and course offerings, the Illinois Virtual Campus has established a series of Student Support Centers at community colleges throughout Illinois. Among the services distance learners may find there are academic advising, computer and library resources, technical assistance and exam proctoring. The Illinois Virtual Campus also offers a variety of resources for faculty that are developing online courses, including guidelines and evaluation tools and information about hardware and software.

For more information about IVC, visit the Web site at www.ivc.illinois.edu.

With 25,000 students, the University of Illinois at Chicago is the largest and most diverse university in the Chicago area. UIC is home to the largest medical school in the United States and is one of the 88 leading research universities in the country. Located just west of Chicago's Loop, UIC is a vital part of the educational, technological and cultural fabric of the area.

-UIC-