Virtual U. Puts Campus In Home

Idaho and Utah are taking the first baby steps toward the educational system of the future.

“Virtual universities” would offer college courses - and eventually degrees - through the Internet. People wouldn’t have to leave their homes to attend classes, just belly up to a computer.

On Friday, Idaho Gov. Phil Batt and Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt jointly announced their interest in pursuing the virtual university concept.

The idea is not to replace the traditional campus system, said Leavitt, but to “provide a rapidly growing population the opportunity for high-quality, low-cost higher education.”

A virtual university, he added, would give people experience with the Internet, a necessary skill for the “information wave of the future.”

Batt agreed, saying it’s time to hook into the Internet.

“The train is already gone from the station. We can either get on or get left behind,” he said.

Boise State University already is on board, said Larry Berg, director of university relations.

The college has a master’s degree program offered via the ‘Net. Berg said 100 people have signed up for the program, and half have graduated electronically.

“It’s certainly something we want to be part of…We have had some experience already,” said Berg.

North Idaho College president Bob Bennett was more hesitant. The college doesn’t have the technology to start on this project, he said.

“It’s still in many ways to me future-talk, but I’m certainly not opposed to the idea,” said Bennett.

The absent-teacher issue worried Bennett. One of the professors at his college, he said, was taking a course via the Internet. The class erupted into a “virtual explosion” over whether the teacher could accommodate students the way she could in a traditional classroom.

“We want to reach out to people who can’t come to campus, but we don’t want to destroy the college experience of people in class with a teacher,” said Bennett.

Another worry for Bennett is the budget. “I don’t know if, in a period of tight budget, you can experiment with things like this,” he said.

Batt said he had asked for a small budget increase. Leavitt agreed, saying Utah had only appropriated $400,000 for the program.

, DataTimes