Ashworth College News & Events
Ashworth College supports National Distance Education Week with online infosession
NORCROSS, Georgia – November 9, 2008 – In recognition of National Distance Education Week, Ashworth College will host "Distance Education Talk Live", an online discussion to be held Thursday, November 13 at 3:00 pm EST in the Ashworth Student Forum. Prospective students and parents going to forum.ashworthcollege.edu will be able to get real-time answers about distance education from Ashworth faculty and staff.
With tuition increases looming and declining financial aid beginning to impact campuses across the country, Ashworth College recognizes that rather than forego higher education, many college students and their parents are seeking alternatives.
"While Distance Education is a respected, cost-effective alternative for many college students, it has not yet reached mainstream status," said Jon Bouffler, Ashworth Executive Vice President. "We created Distance Education Infosession so that students and parents can ask questions and get the immediate answers they need to make an informed decision."
According to a recent report from the American Council on Education (ACE), a coalition of more than 1,600 college and university presidents, the recent economic downturn is potentially setting the stage for some of the biggest tuition jumps in more than a decade. And the College Board has found that tuition for the 2008-2009 year has climbed 6.4 percent for in-state students at public four-year institutions and 5.9 percent for private colleges.
Bouffler 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.
"Many of our students come from diverse backgrounds and situations. In addition to recent high school graduates, a significant number of our students are already part of the workforce – often juggling work, family and finances to improve their lives through education," Bouffler added.
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.
About National Distance Learning Week and United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
Sponsored by the United States Distance Learning Association, National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) takes place annually, and seeks to promote and celebrate the tremendous growth and accomplishments occurring in distance learning programs currently offered by schools, businesses, and governmental departments.
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
