Ashworth College News & Events
Ashworth College students celebrate National Distance Education Week with essay contest
NORCROSS, Georgia – November 9, 2008 – In recognition of National Distance Education Week (NDLW), Ashworth College is sponsoring its second annual "My Ashworth" contest. Ashworth students will have the opportunity to write an essay about their experiences as a distance education learner and how continuing their education has made an impact on their lives. The winning essay will receive a gift certificate to the Ashworth Campus Store.
NDLW is sponsored by the United States Distance Learning Association and takes place November 10-14, 2008. The designation is intended to promote and celebrate the tremendous growth and accomplishments occurring in distance learning programs currently offered by schools, businesses, and governmental departments.
In one form or another, distance learning has been providing educational options since the 1700s. Today, institutions like Ashworth College (and its Career School and High School divisions) provide correspondence and online programs to students wanting to continue or advance their education while balancing family and career.
According to the Distance Education and Training Council, one of Ashworth's accrediting agencies, more than 5 million students in the United States are currently enrolled in distance education and 95% of students studying with a DETC accredited school achieved their educational goals.
"DETC accredited institutions recognize that time and tuition costs are major considerations to many families, making distance education a highly effective way to learn new job skills and trades efficiently, without leaving the base or the comfort of your own home, said DETC Executive Director Michael P. Lambert.
Not only can these programs be significantly less expensive than its brick and mortar counterpart, study is self-paced, without deadlines or schedules. Another benefit to distance learning is its flexibility. Students can study in the comfort of the student's home or take their studies with them – wherever their lives take them. Additionally, through Ashworth's online Forums, students communicate with fellow students and instructors via phone, email or chat whenever and wherever necessary.
"Many of our students come from diverse backgrounds and situations – often juggling work, family and finances to improve their lives through education," said Jon Bouffler, Ashworth Executive Vice President. Bouffler further detailed several reasons why Ashworth's accredited diploma and degree programs are an affordable option, to include minimizing overhead costs associated with brick and mortar school counterparts, fewer elective requirements, and textbook costs which are included in the tuition price.
About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987. 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.
About The Distance Education and Training Council
The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is a non-profit educational association located in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1926, the DETC Accrediting Commission defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence in distance education institutions. The Commission is dedicated to fostering quality assurance, protection of the rights of the students and institutional self-improvement through voluntary accreditation via peer evaluation. DETC accreditation aims to instill public confidence in DETC institutions' missions, goals, performances, and resources through rigorous application and peer-developed accreditation standards.
About Ashworth College
Ashworth College, a leader in distance education, offers students worldwide more than 100 career-focused High School, Career School online diploma programs; undergraduate and graduate online certificate programs; and Associate, Bachelor's and Master's online degree programs; that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.
Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a division of the US Department of Education. Ashworth High School is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA). For more information visit AshworthCollege.edu.
Press Contact:
Richard Orr
Ashworth College
publicity@ashworthcollege.edu
(770) 729-8400
