President-elect Barack Obama claims to support distance learning degree programs, citing technological advances as one means of assisting students to enter 21st century classrooms and benefit from increased access to learning technologies. However, he vocally criticizes for-profit educational institutions, such as online degree universities, explaining that they are responsible for draining public education funds.

His approach to distance degree programs seem ambivalent at best. Further, he strongly advocates expanding the services of colleges traditionally serviced by the United Negro College Fund. I wonder whether he has taken a moment to review the educational research that clearly shows that African American and Latino students are enrolling in online degree university programs at a much higher rate than they are choosing traditional university degree programs?

Indeed, the rate at which these students are opting to attend top online schools is unprecedented, and has been increasing every year. According to education researchers, the rate at which minority students are leaving traditional campus degree programs and attending online degree programs has increased by as much as 500 percent in the last five years. Graduation rates among these students are also higher in distance degree programs than in traditional campus based alternatives.

One thing is certain: if Mr. Obama fails to take note of this important trend, he will limit the very students he is attempting to assist. Failing to account for the needs of students who want to earn a degree online could seriously decrease his ability to achieve his goals for education reform. Let’s hope he takes a moment to listen to and understand the needs and desires of all the American people instead of just assuming that he knows what’s best!

In his last term of office, President Bush “blessed” our country with educational legislation designed to help American students keep pace with foreign degree students. But will “No Child Left Behind” actually help - or hurt future university degree program students?

One of the key goals of this legislation is to help offer students gain more access to educational programs. How? By advancing the right of any student to enroll in any degree course and to “learn” from that course. What this basically does, though, is to allow any student at any high school to decide that they want to enroll in any course - and be granted the right to take that class.

For example, even if Sally is one of the poorest math students in her high school, she can decide that she wants to take calculus, and enroll in that class. The teacher must teach the class so that Sally has a chance of succeeding in this class - no matter how much more every other student in the classroom understands about math.

The problem with “No Child Left Behind” is that it leaves every  student in every classroom in the United States at risk of being left behind. Because students like Sally can enroll in calculus, the professor has less opportunity to teach the other students, which means that they will learn less and do more poorly on entrance exams for college degree programs. Because American students do poorly on entrance exams, students from other countries have a greater opportunity to enroll in American degree programs.

Sure, other students from other countries have every right to enroll in American colleges and universities. Unfortunately, greater numbers of foreign students enrolling in top undergraduate and graduate degree programs throughout the country mean that fewer numbers of American students will benefit from the the nation’s best schools. This offers fewer educational and employment opportunities to American college graduates.

Congress wants to leave no child behind - instead every American student will be left behind. As the United States continues to lose ground in comparison to other countries with respect to education, perhaps one day government officials will wake up and take notice. This attempt to help more students get college degrees will actually help fewer students to succeed in the best traditional colleges, and possibly even the top online schools in the country.

Recent research has shown that women are more likely than men to enroll in distance degree education programs. This is especially true for mature women going back to school, as well as minority women and those with low incomes. The convenience and flexibility of these online degree programs has offered this group of people a chance to complete a college degree program and succeed in their careers.

Distance learning is becoming ever more popular. in 2006, the number of people who were enrolled in a distance education degree program was approximately 3.5 million. This represented an increase of almost 20 percent from 2002 figures. Furthermore, studies indicate that this number continues to grow significantly each year.

More women than men are enrolled in online degree universities. This may be because women often tend to need the increased schedule flexibility offered by these degree programs. Taking online degree courses rather than enrolling in a traditional college degree program can often mean significant savings in terms of time, commute expenses, and childcare costs, all of which are important to single parents and low income families.

Distance learning offers a wide variety of career opportunities to students, and allows individuals to choose among certificate programs, associate degrees. Students can even earn a bachelor degree online, or finish master degree programs. Don’t let the opportunity to finish your degree get away - learn more about online university degree programs today! 

If you are wondering whether Oscar Mayer has suddenly taken an interest in postsecondary education, don’t be alarmed. The Bologna Process has nothing to do with sandwiches, and everything to do with universities degree programs in foreign countries. Although this concept is primarily associated with European countries, many other nations have expressed interest or accord.

The Bologna Process is an attempt to standardize Bachelor Degree Programs and Master Degree Programs among European nations. If this becomes reality, this could open the door for other leading countries, including the United States, to follow suit. Evaluation of foreign degrees would become a very simple process, because everyone would have the same amount of education to get their degrees.

Currently, many European students attend high school for 13 years, instead of 12 years as American students do. They, however, are eligible to receive a Bachelor Degree after attending a postsecondary institution for only three years. Degrees from certain countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, are recognized by the USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) as equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor Degree.

Other countries, however, have 3-year university degree programs that are not always recognized by the U.S. as equal. Countries in this category include India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Even though students who attend universities in these countries do not automatically have the equivalency of a U.S. Bachelor Degree, they may be awarded the U.S. equivalency of their degree in some cases.

Foreign degree programs are complex and often confusing. Finding a foreign credential evaluation agency that can give a good professional evaluation of your degree can be difficult. Do your research, and choose an agency that offers free pre-evaluations, and be sure to shop around for the lowest price. Make sure the agency is experienced, as well. Hint: If they have never heard of the Bologna Process, move on quickly to the next agency!

for more information about foreign credential evaluations and the bologna project, see www.thedegreepeople.com