News Brief - 4/23/08
USDLA Recognizes Western Governors University with Two Major Distance Learning Awards
SALT LAKE CITY -- The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) has presented
2008 International Distance Learning Awards in two categories to Western Governors
University (www.wgu.edu) and its executive director of the WGU Teachers College,
Dr. Janet Schnitz. The awards were presented April 22nd in conjunction with the
2008 National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 1987, USDLA has been the
world's premier distance learning association. The USDLA International Awards program
honored outstanding individuals and organizations for excellence in the field distance
learning, education and training.
Western Governors University received the 21st Century Award for Best Practices in
Distance Learning, in recognition for WGU's achievements as the nation's first competency-based
online university and its success in expanding access to higher education for adults
seeking bachelor's and master's degrees. Founded in 1996 by 19 U.S. governors, WGU
now offers more than 40 programs to more than 10,000 students nationwide.
Dr. Janet Schnitz, executive director of the WGU Teachers College, received the award
for Outstanding Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning. Since
2004, Dr. Schnitz has led the rapid growth and development of the WGU Teachers College,
which currently enrolls more than 5,500 students in 22 programs. The college currently
enrolls 5,000 students in programs that lead to initial teacher licensure, helping
develop highly qualified K-12 teachers in such high-needs areas as mathematics,
science, and special education. In 2006, the WGU Teachers College became the first
and only online teacher education program to receive accreditation by the National
Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
"As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring
Western Governors University and Dr. Janet Schnitz as leaders in the industry,"
said Dr. John G. Flores, CEO of USDLA. "Western Governors University has raised
the bar of excellence and we are truly honored by WGU's contributions to the distance
learning industry."
"We are very honored to have received these two awards from the USDLA," said WGU
President Dr. Robert Mendenhall. "WGU has been committed to our mission to provide
access to higher education through distance learning and our competency-based learning
model. We've succeeded in large part because of the dedication of individuals such
as Dr. Schnitz. Her unparalleled leadership has guided our Teachers College to many
'firsts,' such as our NCATE accreditation, and it has become one of the premier
teachers colleges in the nation."
These prestigious international awards are presented annually to organizations and
individuals engaged in the development and delivery of distance learning programs.
The USDLA awards were created to acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning
and to highlight those distance learning instructors, programs, and professionals
who have achieved and demonstrated extraordinary results through the use of online,
videoconferencing, satellite and blended learning delivery technologies. In addition,
winners will be recognized in an edition of USDLA's Distance Learning Today quarterly
supplement, which appears in USA TODAY's top-tier markets for distance learning
and is read by 3.5 million professionals. The section will also be featured on the
USDLA Web site, which averages 2.6 million hits per month.
Reggie Smith III, USDLA board member and chair of the awards committee, noted that,
"We look forward to seeing how WGU will inspire the 2009 award entries as they are
recognized in Distance Learning Today and via their participation in National Distance
Learning Week (http://www.ndlw.org ), November
10-14, 2008."
About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association
formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. USDLA promotes the development
and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs
of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking,
and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include preK-12
education, higher and continuing education, and home schooling as well as business,
corporate, military, government and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo
is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance
learning industry. http://www.usdla.org
