This article discusses a variety of women's studies courses available in Australia at the pretertiary, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. The article specifically describes the Interuniversity Exchange program (offering an undergraduate degree based on external courses at three universities) and postgraduate external degree programs at…

This guide to institutions that offer academic degrees through nontraditional means has four parts. Part 1 addresses issues in nontraditional education, such as degree requirements and transcripts, whether a degree is worth the effort, how to evaluate a school, accreditation, and financial aid. Part 2 specifically addresses alternative methods of…

The Off-Campus Degree Program at Linfield College (Oregon) provides quality coursework to a group of part-time adult students who would not otherwise have access to a four-year degree program. In 1980, Linfield joined six other institutions to form the National University Consortium (NUC), the first national organization of colleges and…

This study examined students' experiences of external study at Gippsland Institute through the method of student self-report study diaries. Questions which were addressed include: (1) Why are external students taking courses at Gippsland? (2) What do they hope to gain? (3) How do they handle particular study guides and assignment materials? (4)…

A study was conducted to examine the relationships of four areas of textual design factors that are relevant to external students' learning as they use their course study guides: the micro and macro textual features, the linguistics, and the instructional design elements. Twelve external students from two units at the Gippsland Institute were…

A description of the kinds of services libraries may provide to students in nontraditional programs and an examination of the kinds of training needed by librarians who perform such services. (LS)

A Quality Assurance Program (QAP) developed at the College of St. Francis is presented that is based on an open systems approach. The model allows an institution to continually monitor, evaluate, and, when necessary, modify its academic programs, graduates or undergraduate, traditionally or non-traditionally delivered, to assure quality. Part I…

During the past three years, Santa Fe Community College (Florida) has designed and implemented an experimental competency-based program in human services training with a specialization in substance abuse counseling that meets the needs of atypical adult students and also the accountability demands of the academic community. Both a residential…

The proposed system for implementing new uses of telecommunication satellite technology is user-driven, addressing the needs of employed health personnel who would not otherwise have access to university resources, especially women, members of minority and disadvantaged groups, handicapped persons, and persons in rural areas. The plan, which…

Off-campus and external degree programs in Georgia were surveyed in 1978-79 to examine the quality of education of off-campus offerings and standards in teacher education, certification, and staff development. Information was obtained from public school superintendents regarding off-campus credit courses and from colleges located within and…

How does the college faculty member involved in off-campus teaching plan for intensively scheduled classes comprised of forty hours of instruction in three weekends? Two main areas of concern are (1) the differences between these students and those found on the main campus and (2) methods of providing variety in instruction to maintain a…

The Centre for International Cooperation and Services (CICS), part of the Open University of the United Kingdom, is described. Distance learning is defined and related to the Open University. Information is provided on the establishment, work, services, and resources of the CICS. A wallet folder at the back of the booklet contains details of the…

The primary objective of this study is to aid policy makers - state and federal officials, accreditation officials, and university administrators - in making decisions concerning the regulation of postsecondary external degree programs. The purpose of this project is to identify the legal and regulatory issues that the operation of these programs…

A framework is needed to follow in implementing external degree programs. External degree programs meet the needs of individuals who cannot meet the time and space commitments of regular on-campus college classes. They differ from correspondence courses in the delivery system, student support services, and credibility of the learning experience.…

This document presents a plan for a new district-wide college, the New Dimensions College, which would incorporate a wide range of external, nontraditional programs, moving such concepts out of the realm of experimentation and into the realm of active application. The total approach presented here would have the entire Los Angeles Community…