Distance education in its many forms had been around for decades, but the Western Governors University (WGU) was arguably the first "virtual university" (VU) in the United States, or at least the first VU that gained widespread attention from the press and public. After the governors in the Western Governors Association announced they would create…

This article traces the development of the OpenCourseWare movement, including the origin of the concept at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the implementation of the MIT OpenCourseWare project, and the idea's spread into the global educational community, ultimately resulting in the formation of the OpenCourseWare Consortium. The…

A collaborative team of faculty from The University of Akron (UA) in Akron, Ohio, and Kent State University (KSU) in Kent, Ohio, were awarded a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a specialty area in the graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) programs of UA and KSU that would train a total of 32 SLP students (trainees)…

The Idaho Consortium was established by the state board of education to remedy perceived needs involving insufficient certificated teachers, excessive teacher mobility, shortage of teacher candidates, inadequate inservice training, a low level of administrative leadership, and a lack of programs in special education, early childhood education,…

This document covers all activities since the inception of the Black Colleges and Community Development Program (BCCDP). The BCCDP was established to develop clear lines of communication between TACTICS' programs; organize Black Colleges Technical Assistance Executive Committee; design, organize, and execute the Black College Consortium; and…

Current issues are complex and funding is difficult to obtain as adult education providers try to meet the needs of the community, business, and industry; therefore, collaboration can be very advantageous. Information, ideas, and resources can be pooled, and duplication and harmful competition can be avoided. Four factors that are important for…

Describes a project designed to explore, define and assess the capability of four-year colleges to work cooperatively with the community colleges in the planning and development of allied health programs. (DC)

A learning consortium is a group of companies that come together to learn from each other to develop new capabilities, build the skills of their employees, and increase the productive capacities of their enterprises. Most undertake both work force and workplace development efforts. Although the key feature is cooperative learning, most learning…

This issue focuses on support and cooperation among various components of the educational community, specifically as this has been achieved by the Willamette Valley (Oregon) Education Consortium, a research-based organization of school districts, educational agencies, and an institute of higher education. The first article describes how schools…

To fill an anticipated 25 percent increase in jobs in the machine trades field in the near future, a consortia was formed, with the participants including the El-Tip-Wa Area Vocational School, Indiana Vocational Technical College Region 05, Logansport High School, and the business-community, to produce a local plan for performance-based vocational…

Describes a study documenting the planning and implementation processes of 17 Tech Prep consortia in a Midwest state. Discusses the processes used by local consortia in initiating Tech Prep, the roles and responsibilities of Tech Prep leaders, and their perceptions about specific strategies that contributed to the establishment of successful…

At the request of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 17 agencies in the Pittsburgh area began a planning process to form a single administrative body for all adult basic education and literacy programs. This project supported the hiring of a planning consultant, the convening of planning meetings and a retreat, and thorough documentation of…

The consortium-based teacher education program concept was formulated to provide a more effective means of linking continuing education activity to research and development in education. The program's primary objectives include the development and maintenance of a systematic certification training program for prospective teachers, development and…

This literature review focuses on the potential for creating a formal multi-state cooperative extension among New England land-grant universities and makes recommendations concerning the structure and operational characteristics of such a consortium. The review examines the following areas: interorganizational cooperation/collaboration;…

The problems and objectives of contemporary consortial endeavors are the subject of this report. After introducing material outlining the 1980-1985 goals for consortial development established by the National Training System (NTS), the report provides examples of consortial activities among institutions of higher education and illustrates ventures…