13 September 2006

Longwood now offering over 650
non-credit online certificates and courses

Longwood University has significantly expanded its online course offerings by adding more than 650 non-credit career track certificates and courses.

The courses, available on demand, provide instructor-led or self-directed opportunities in more than 45 categories. The courses are being offered in partnership with an external vendor, JER Online (JER Group Inc.), a national Atlanta-based provider of workforce and continuing education certificates and courses. Longwood is the first Virginia university to offer JER Online’s entire course catalog.

“These courses really provide a service for the people of Southside Virginia and the entire Commonwealth in workforce development and professional and personal enrichment,” said Dr. Sue McCullough, Longwood’s dean of graduate studies, the office that coordinates online instruction. “They expand considerably what Longwood provides the community, at a very reasonable cost for most of the courses.”

The online non-credit courses are taught by qualified instructors from around the country who have been carefully screened and selected by JER Online. Some are set up as workshops, consisting of three to six contact hours, and others are much longer. The cost varies depending on the length and nature of the course.

“Many of the courses will start whenever the student is ready, while others have a fixed start date,” Dr. McCullough said. “There’s a wide variety of courses for a wide range of people, including those who want to earn continuing education credits, or improve their career or personal skills, for large and small businesses, teachers, dental assistants and medical assistants, computer technologists, or those looking for personal growth and lifelong learning opportunities.”
 
Enrolling in the courses and certificates is simple. You go to www.longwood.edu/online, then click on either the logo on the bottom that reads “650+” or the link on the right that reads “Professional, Career Track & Personal Education 650+ Online Courses & Certificates.” After choosing the course you want (all are listed under “online course catalog”), you click on the “Enroll” button to complete the online registration form. When you’re confirmed, you pay online by credit card and begin your course.

“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to serve Longwood and look forward to training students who seek a higher level of career track training,” said the CEO of JER Online, Dr. John E. Reid Jr.

Longwood has offered online courses, for credit, taught by members of its faculty since the fall of 2004. Longwood has enrolled a total nearly 2,000 students in online courses, including more than 630 students this past summer in 46 sections of online classes. Some 19 online undergraduate and graduate credit courses are being taught this semester by Longwood faculty. Course schedules and registration information is at www.longwood.edu/online.