After Three Years Study Over Internet 500 Students and 80 Faculty Meet Each Other for the First Time At Commencement.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 1999--

Each of the bachelors and masters degree candidates receiving their degrees at the Masonic Auditorium at 2:00 PM on June 12th are well acquainted with their faculty and fellow students.

They just wouldn't know them to see them -- until today. Although they've studied together every day for several years, the 80 faculty and 500 students, from throughout the U. S. and 20 other countries have never met face to face.

About 3,000 graduates, faculty, family and friends are expected for the University of Phoenix Online Campus largest commencement to date.

The fastest growing campus of the nation's largest private university, the University of Phoenix (UOPhx) Online campus has over 9, 100 students. The growing popularity of the Internet in recent years is evidenced by the UOPhx's Online Campus having more than doubled its enrollment from under 4,000 less than two years ago.

One reason for UOPhx's Online popularity is that it has a 9 to 1 student to faculty ratio. According to Brian Mueller, the university's regional vice president who directs the program, UOPhx's Online program is "asynchronous" offering 24 hour a day Internet collaboration between faculty, working adult students and student learning groups.

Each subject session lasts from Thursday to Thursday with assignments due by Monday allowing faculty-review and return by Wednesday. As with the on-campus UOPhx programs, students take one, 5-6 week class at a time, with the class divided into weekly sessions. Students are expected to log on and participate a minimum of 5 out of every 7 days.

Mueller said that the Online program places heavy emphasis on writing. "Students literally write their way through a program," he said, stressing that the university strives to be at the leading edge of education rather than the leading edge of technology.

"There are new developments in technology every day and it's easy to get caught up in the race to always have the newest and most exciting visuals, etc," said Mueller.

"Our students average almost 40 years of age and are quite serious about learning. They don't have a lot of patience for the visual noise and niceties. Thus, we purposely chose to focus on education, not the endless technological ways to deliver it."

"We are more concerned with immediate response and exchange of information and managing the quality of the program. To that end, we even archive each course for later review and evaluation," Mueller added.

The University of Phoenix Online campus has recently introduced its first doctorate program, a Doctor of Management degree, which is also delivered via the Internet!

Editor FYI: There will be a dinner reception for the graduates on Friday June 11th at 7:30 PM in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.