Over the past two decades, distance learning has opened the door for unprecedented access to education, especially among adult students for whom regular attendance in traditional, campus-based programs presents multiple challenges. Students who are raising families, holding down full-time jobs (many of which require shift work), struggling to overcome physical disabilities, or living in remote locations, turn ever more frequently to distance education.

With the touch of a button, we can now connect a student in Okinawa, Japan, with a professor in Adelphi, Maryland, or transport a wheelchair-bound Vietnam War veteran into the virtual classroom from the comfort of his living room. We can offer a wide range of state-of-the-art technologies—from facsimile to computer generation, e-mail to video teleconferencing. And we can bring real-world, professional leaders, in any given field, on board to conduct a seminar or mentor a graduate student. Moreover, with the advent of auxiliary online student services and vast "Webliographies," students may never again have to wait in line to register for classes and pay tuition bills, or stay up all night doing research in the far corners of a musty college library.

At UMUC, "anytime, anyplace" learning has added yet another leading-edge dimension to our reputation as an outstanding and far-reaching global university. So much so, in fact, that, over the past several years, the university has received numerous industry awards for excellence and innovation in online education. Today, UMUC has one of the largest and most diverse virtual education programs in the world, with over 40,000 online enrollments each semester in more than 1,200 courses. We also offer 15 bachelor’s degree and 10 master’s degree programs that can be completed entirely online. Given a conservative 20 percent growth rate, we expect to serve more than 1 million students through our virtual campus during the next decade. As you can see, the distance learning movement is growing at a phenomenal rate.

For many of you, this issue, devoted to UMUC’s virtual revolution, will serve as a walk down memory lane. You have been our trailblazers, and, over the years, your experiences and feedback have proven both inspirational and informative. For others, this issue will serve as an introduction to the university’s virtual campus. But we rely on all of you to lend your continued support as we expand our horizons and our technologies—paving the way and setting the standard for even greater academic opportunities in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Patricia Toregas ’84 & ’91
President
UMUC Alumni Association