NETnet honored for its work in distance learning

Published or Revised April 29, 2009

The Northeast Texas Consortium of Colleges and Universities (NETnet) has received a major award from the Texas Distance Learning Association. Chosen as the 2009 Outstanding Institution for Commitment to Excellence and Innovation in Distance Education, the consortium provides curriculum and technology support to fifteen public colleges and universities in northeast Texas, including Paris Junior College. PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin was recently installed as chair of the Northeast Texas Consortium's Board of Directors. With a mission to increase access to educational programs "for the people of Northeast Texas through collaboration and state-of-the-art technology," NETnet facilitates more than 20,000 student enrollments a semester through Internet and interactive video teaching. "NETnet has been instrumental in providing the infrastructure we've needed to expand distance learning opportunities for our students," said PJC Associate Dean of Distance Learning Ken Haley. Distance learning is offered by PJC through hybrid courses (in a classroom and through a computer), online (through the computer only) and interactive television (where students in several locations can watch an instructor at another location). Student numbers in distance learning continue to grow at PJC. Hybrid enrollment was at 822 students this semester, up 9 percent from a year ago. Online enrollment is at 1,451 students, up 27 percent in one year, and ITV enrollment is at 497, up 64 percent in one year. "The growth in these areas shows how popular distance learning is for our service area," Dr. Anglin said. "PJC continues to advance technology in the service of our students." The Consortium provides management services to both SUPERnet, a regional K-12 consortium serving 64,000 students, and to the East Texas Interactive Health Network, a partnership of area health providers. The award was presented at TxDLA's annual conference in Corpus Christi, was accepted for the consortium by Darlene Flournoy, conference coordinator for the Northeast Texas Consortium. Haley, PJC Computer Services Manager Mary Holbrook and PJC Campus Programmer Keith Coco serve on the consortium's advisory committees. Haley also has been active in a number of the consortium's grant projects, including the recent production of a series of training modules for distance faculty throughout Texas.