http://www.iddl.vt.edu

Distance Learning Program
The Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning provides leadership, coordination, and support to the growing distance and distributed learning activities of Virginia Tech. The Institute takes a holistic approach to distance learning where all aspects of a student's educational experience are considered. Through distance and distributed learning, Virginia Tech extends its campus to communities throughout the commonwealth and provides an open campus environment that allows individuals to engage in learning anytime, anywhere. In addition, Virginia Tech shares the practical application of the University's knowledge and expertise in support of economic development, increases the University's access to the world and the world's access to the University, and researches new teaching and learning environments through the application of technology. More than 7,300 enrollments were accounted for in more than 200 different courses and fourteen master's degrees and six certificate programs. Virginia Tech actively participates in the Electronic Campus of Virginia and the Southern Region Electronic Campus and collaboratively delivers courses and degree programs at a distance with other Virginia colleges and universities through the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program and the Virginia Consortium of Engineering and Science Universities.

Faculty members utilize multiple methods of instructional delivery and student interaction to provide an engaging, high-quality learning environment. Virginia Tech delivers distance learning courses via the Internet, videoconferencing, satellite, archived video, and desktop computer audio-graphics. Net.Work.Virginia is a statewide, high-speed, broadband ATM network that uses cutting-edge technology. The network is used to support different types of teaching and learning activities and allows faculty members to customize their courses to meet the needs of their students. Through Net.Work.Virginia, Virginia Tech provides electronically delivered two-way interactive video courses to its four extended campuses (Northern Virginia Center, Roanoke Graduate Center, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Hampton Roads Graduate Center, and Richmond Center) and numerous other higher education, government, business, and industry sites located in Virginia and several other states. The University uses the Internet to provide a variety of learning opportunities through online assignments, chat rooms, threaded discussions, e-mail, and audio and computer conferencing.

Virginia Tech distance learners have the ability to register on line and to access student information and services. The Virginia Tech Online Writing Lab (VT OWL) offers an electronic tutoring environment. Online tutoring sessions are individually scheduled between tutor and client, so there are no fixed hours. The OWL also includes a self-help area and a grammar hotline. The self-help area contains handouts and exercises to provide any person with 24-hour access to writing assistance. The grammar hotline (gram@vt.edu) is an e-mail-based service available to students and nonstudents alike; its main purpose is to provide assistance to students with writing questions that can be answered immediately.

Virginia Tech also provides extensive access to library services. Addison, the online library catalog, is available as a Web or telnet interface. Electronic reference assistance is easily accessed through the library's AskUs request form. Students may also contact the University's distance education librarian. Distance learners have access to Virginia Tech's full-text electronic resources and databases plus document delivery services.

The faculty is the foundation of Virginia Tech's distance learning programs and assures its academic excellence. Virginia Tech has 1,425 full-time instructional faculty members, more than 160 of whom teach distance courses.

Programs of Study
Virginia Tech provides working professionals with the opportunity to obtain a master's degree in fourteen different programs through distance and distributed learning. These programs include a Master of Business Administration; Master of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Instructional Technology, Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Physical Education, and Systems Engineering; a Master of Arts in Political Science; and a career and technical education master's degree. Virginia Tech also offers certificate programs in administration of community-based services for older adults, career and technical education licensure, computer engineering, networking, software development, and information policy and society studies.

A wide variety of credit and noncredit courses is also offered through distance learning in the areas of accounting, architecture, art, biology, black studies, building construction, communications, computer science, economics, education, engineering, English, entomology, finance, geography, hotel management, information science, landscape architecture, management, marketing, math, philosophy, physics, psychology, science and technology, sociology, Spanish, statistics, and women's studies.

Distance learners can transfer credits earned at other accredited postsecondary institutions to Virginia Tech following the established University policies. Students admitted to the University who have been certified by the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College as completing the transfer module will be deemed to have completed the University core curriculum components and will receive 35 total credits for the module.

Applying for Distance Education
To become undergraduate or graduate degree candidates at Virginia Tech, students must apply formally for admission. Students' records at Virginia Tech and all other colleges and universities attended are reviewed within the context of current admission policies.

As a member of the Electronic Campus of Virginia, Virginia Tech allows qualified students at other Virginia universities and colleges to enroll in its courses as transient students. For more information on undergraduate admissions, students should refer to the Admissions Web site at http://www.admiss.vt.edu; those interested in graduate programs should see Graduate Admission's Web site at http://www.rgs.vt.edu.

Students applying for undergraduate admission can access current information at http://www.admiss.vt.edu. Students applying for graduate admission can access current information at http://www.rgs.vt.edu. Students can register for Internet-based courses at http://www.vto.vt.edu. There is a nonrefundable $25 processing fee for non-Virginia Tech, non-program bound undergraduate students.

Costs
Tuition for undergraduate courses for in-state residents is $429.50 for one 3-credit-hour course; it is $1852 for one 3-credit-hour course for out-of-state residents. Tuition for graduate courses for in-state residents is $894.50 for one 3-credit-hour course; it is $1619.50 for one 3-credit-hour course for out-of-state residents. Tuition for noncredit courses varies.

Financial Aid
Virginia Tech is a direct lending institution and awards financial aid from federally funded and state-funded programs as well as privately funded sources. Financial aid sources include the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, Virginia Guaranteed Assistance program, Commonwealth Award, and the College Scholarship Assistance Program.

For Additional Information Contact

Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0445
Telephone: 540-231-9584

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