For Immediate Release
Partnership focuses on the flexibility of each company’s course structure and provides new choices for their students
Alexandria, VA – StraighterLine (www.straighterline.com) announced today that the Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University (www.truopen.ca), a leading provider of quality online and distance education, has joined StraighterLine’s expanding partner college network as their first Canadian partner university. StraighterLine partner colleges are all regionally accredited institutions that award post-secondary credit upon transfer for successfully completed online college courses from StraighterLine. Through this partnership, students who successfully complete StraighterLine courses may now transfer these courses for full credit when they enroll with Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL). Students can then use these transfer credits towards the completion of their post-secondary degrees through TRU-OL. Students can take freshman and introductory-level classes from StraighterLine and save thousands of dollars on a four-year college degree. With StraighterLine, students pay only US$99 per month plus US$39 per course started and can move as quickly or slowly through the material as they like. StraighterLine courses have been evaluated and recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE)’s Credit Recommendation Service and have met or exceeded the Distance Education and Training Council’s standards for online course quality. “TRU - OL will readily accept any StraighterLine courses that are listed in the ACE National Guide, to the extent that the courses meet the requirements of the student's TRU - OL program," said Christine Wihak, Director, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition, TRU-OL. Currently, StraighterLine offers nine entry-level college courses online, including College Algebra, Precalculus, English Comp I, English Comp II, Accounting I, Accounting II, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Business Statistics and two developmental courses, with more to be offered soon. StraighterLine partner colleges and universities include the following institutions:
- American InterContinental University (AIU) (www.aiuonline.edu)
- Capella University (www.capella.edu)
- Charter Oak State College (www.charteroak.edu)
- Excelsior College (www.excelsior.edu)
- Fort Hays State University (www.fhsu.edu)
- Jefferson Community and Technical College (www.jefferson.kctcs.edu)
- Kaplan University (www.kaplanuniversity.edu)
- Lake City Community College (www.lakecitycc.edu)
- Potomac College (www.potomac.edu)
- Thompson Rivers University (www.truopen.ca)
- Western Governors University (www.wgu.edu)
“By partnering with the Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University, any student in North America can save thousands on the beginning of a college degree,” Burck Smith, StraighterLine’s CEO and Founder, said. “Because Thompson Rivers University’s credits are recognized throughout Canada, a student may choose whether he or she would like an American or a Canadian degree.” “We are pleased to be the first Canadian University to partner with StraighterLine,” said Judith Murray, Vice-President, Open Learning. “As a public university with a mandate to provide open access to quality higher education, TRU-OL supports StraighterLine’s innovative model for reducing the financial barriers to higher education to the benefit of learners.”
Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL) is the division of Thompson Rivers University (TRU) that specializes in providing learners with flexible learning options, open access to education and a wide variety of course and program choices. TRU meets the needs of its own students and helps other institutions and organizations meet the open and online learning needs of their communities. TRU-OL is situated in the BC Centre for Open Learning located on TRU's Kamloops campus, located in the Interior region of British Columbia, Canada. TRU is a public institution and a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). The Open Learning Division collaborates with BCcampus, other educational institutions, professional bodies, industries and businesses, and is a founding member of the Canadian Virtual University (CVU). Mandated by government to provide the province with open learning programming and an open learning educational credit bank, TRU-OL opens the doors to accessible, recognized and quality post-secondary education, providing learning opportunities in a print, web, online or blended format, with programs tailored to each student's personal needs. Supported by approximately 165 highly respected Tutors who telecommute from all over BC, over 16,000 students enroll in some of the over 250 TRU-OL online and distance courses and another 200 plus courses, delivered through consortium institutions, as well as a further 34 language courses that can be challenged. Most universities, community colleges, provincial institutes, businesses, industries and professional associations recognize the credits earned in programs and courses offered through TRU-OL. Credentials awarded through TRU-OL include adult secondary school completion, certificates and diplomas (including advanced and post-baccalaureate), associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. Students completing certificate, diploma or degree programs by online and distance learning through TRU-OL are awarded a Thompson Rivers University credential.
StraighterLine
StraighterLine provides students with a new online option for getting started on a college degree – freshman-level college courses for only US$99 a month, plus a one-time US$39 per course started fee. The program includes up to 10 hours of one-on-one instructional support. StraighterLine is a great way to tackle the escalating cost of four-year college tuition and avoid a mountain of student debt. Costs for students that move through courses at the same pace as courses offered through a traditional semester schedule, are ultimately less than US$43 per credit hour. Many students move through the material even faster which allows for greater savings. Students who successfully complete StraighterLine online college courses receive credit when they enroll with any school in our rapidly expanding network of regionally accredited partner colleges and universities. In addition, the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT - www.acenet.edu/acecredit/) has also evaluated and recommended college credit for StraighterLine courses. ACE CREDIT helps students gain access to academic credit at colleges and universities for formal courses and examinations taken in settings outside traditional higher education. For information, visit www.straighterline.com or call 1-877-str8erline (1-877-787-8375). Contacts: Widmeyer Communications Charles Martin 202 667-0901 [email protected]