There has been considerable growth as well in the number of onsite students who are taking distance education courses.  This total increased from 19,000 to over 42,000 in the same three-year period, with almost every participant at least doubling the number of students taking a mix of distance education and onsite courses.  It is evident that distance education provides flexibility for all types of students, not just those that are unable to come to campus to pursue their education.  It is also becoming increasingly clear that it will not be possible to continue to make distinctions among students and academic programs based on mode of course delivery.

            There were fluctuations, as well, in the number of students who take only onsite courses.  The majority of participants reported increases in the number of these students, although the magnitude of the increases varied considerably.  Two participants, the North Dakota University System and University of Maryland University College (UMUC), reported decreases in this population. The fact that the North Dakota University System reported increases in the number of students enrolled in distance education programs and in those taking a mix of distance education and onsite courses is an indication that the System’s use of distance education has truly enhanced access for students for whom on-campus study is not the best option.  In the case of UMUC, which serves primarily adult students, the decrease in enrollments in its onsite programs is evidence of students shifting from onsite to distance education course options, either voluntarily, or because onsite courses are not available.

In addition to Western Governors University, which offers no courses, four participants in the original group and three in the new group exceed or are close to exceeding the 50% rules -- Southern Christian University, the United States Sports Academy, Charter Oak State College (part of the Connecticut Consortium), UMUC, Capella University, Eastern Oregon University, and Walden University.  The first two institutions have very small onsite programs and are in niche markets.  They serve widely dispersed populations that are most easily reached through distance education. Charter Oak State College is a virtual institution that offers degree completion programs and offers students a variety of ways of earning credits. Capella and Walden Universities have both offered independent study graduate programs for many years and are now shifting to online, cohort-based distance education programs.  They are launching new programs, developing large numbers of online courses, and experiencing steady growth in enrollments in these programs. Eastern Oregon University has a large population of students enrolled in correspondence courses, and UMUC is experiencing very large increases in enrollments in online courses.  During the course of the demonstration program it is possible that one or two other institutions may exceed the 50% rules.