The Virtual University & Educational Opportunity. Issues of Equity and Access for the Next Generation. Policy Perspectives.

Overview & Synopsis

This report addresses issues concerned with educational programs provided through the Internet, the "virtual university" and their possible impacts on traditional higher education. It concludes that the new technologies may have the effect of deepening the divide between educational haves and have-nots and that public policy must intervene to narrow this "digital divide." Individual sections discuss the rapid development of technological capacity and recent federal initiatives testing the quality and viability of distance education using various techniques; trends in virtual education at the university and corporate levels; issues of standards and regulation; cost factors; those who will benefit from distance education developments; new barriers for the traditionally underrepresented in higher education; and the public policy challenge. Recommendations are offered to those designing virtual campuses and programs, the communications industry, and public policymakers. Appendices include descriptions of seven leading distance education programs and a listing of Web sites providing courseware or information on distance learning. (Contains 25 references.) (DB)