New Web Site for Distance Learners

TAMPA, FLA. (Sept. 9, 2009) – Online enrollment is booming at the University of South Florida and USF ECampus has kicked off the 2009 academic year with the unveiling of a new Web site (www.ecampus.usf.edu) to accommodate the influx of students.

With a dramatic 26 percent increase in online enrollments over the past five years USF ECampus decided it was time to design a Web site specifically to meet online learners’ needs.

“Last year we had more than 84,000 enrollments in online courses at USF,” said Kathleen Moore, executive director of USF ECampus. “And that means we had 84,000 instances of a person registering for a course, even with some students registering for two or three courses.”

Currently, USF offers more than 34 bachelor’s and master’s degrees and 46 graduate certificates either fully or partially online.

“Our graduate certificates Web site has been a great resource for students interested in that area of study,” Moore said. “As enrollments in online programs continued to climb, we realized an all-encompassing Web site needed to be developed.”

The ECampus Web site serves one major goal: to provide information, assistance, and support for students in their distance learning endeavors, according to Sally Coovert, USF Distance Learning Initiatives director.

“The new Web site answers the major questions, without students having to find their way through a maze of different links and Web sites,” she said.

From the prospective student searching for an appropriate online program to the current distance learning student trying to navigate the registration process, the ECampus Web site was set up to answer those questions easily and quickly.

In addition to the support offered on the Web site, the ECampus staff provides a live online support chat at specified times throughout the week. Representatives can also be reached via email or phone.

“Our aim is to help online learners in every way possible,” Coovert said. “If you prefer to read the information offered on the Web pages or in our FAQs to find your answer, you can do that. If you simply want to talk to a real person, you can also do that. Whatever your preference, we are here to answer your questions and make your transition into online learning smooth.”

To find answers to online and distance learning questions, visit www.ecampus.usf.edu or call 1-888-USF4YOU (1-888-873-4968).

The University of South Florida System is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded $380.4 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2008/2009. The system offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. It has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 47,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

-USF-

Lara Wade
News Director
University Communication & Marketing
813-974-9060
lwade@admin.usf.edu