Contact: Jennifer Rees , (512) 499-4409

Date: April 29, 3003

UT System News Release

UT TeleCampus Online Master's Degree in Kinesiology Wins National Honors

AUSTIN -- The UT TeleCampus and several University of Texas campuses have won the national excellence award from the US Distance Learning Association for the second year in a row. The association awarded its "2002 Excellence in Distance Learning - Higher Education" award to the Master's in Kinesiology Online Program. Last year's Excellence Award was also given to the UT TeleCampus for its collaborative online MBA program.

The national awards program was created to acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning and to highlight instructors, programs, and distance learning professionals who have achieved excellence in the field.

The UT TeleCampus facilitated the launch of the online master's degree in kinesiology. The collaborative degree program offers students expert UT faculty, student support services including 24/7 tech support, a flexible schedule, portability, and innovative curriculum. While the kinesiology program was designed to serve physical educators and coaches, a growing number of physical therapists, wellness trainers, and other fitness professionals have also opted for the online alternative.

The degree program includes UT El Paso, UT Pan American, UT Permian Basin, and UT Tyler as the degree-conferring institutions, while UT Arlington and UT San Antonio provide additional faculty expertise and coursework.

The program was developed by a team of faculty and university administrators led by Dr. Lois Hale, associate professor of kinesiology and chair of the Department of Behavioral Science at UT Permian Basin. Dr. Hale's interest in online education was spurred by concern for access.

"Before the online program, graduate students in West Texas would commute more than 100 miles to take a graduate course," she said.. "I was concerned we weren't adequately serving their educational needs. Now these students spend their former travel time on their professional, family and educational responsibilities." She added that students who could not have considered the degree before can, now that geographic barriers have been lifted.

In addition to increased access, the online program often brings increased diversity to the classroom. Dr. James Schwane, chairman of the Department of Health and Kinesiology at UT Tyler, concurs.

"I'm continually impressed with the rich diversity of students in terms of professional backgrounds and experiences, geographic locations and cultures," he said. "This semester in a single class I have military officers stationed in Massachusetts, North Dakota and Hawaii; athletic trainers at various levels of sports including one with a major league baseball organization in Florida; students working in middle and secondary schools, junior colleges, small four-year colleges, and major universities. This provides an exceptional learning environment for all in the class, and an experience for local and regional students that simply could not occur in the traditional classroom. That's one of several advantages of online classes."

Students link to the program information via the UT TeleCampus website and can access admissions offices, faculty advisors, program descriptions and all of the contacts they need to get started. After applying to the home campus from which they will receive their degree, students take online courses from the full spectrum of partner institutions. In addition to interactive courses, threaded discussion groups, online research and team-based projects, TeleCampus-based students also enjoy exemplary student support. Student services include access to a digital library with a distance librarian, tutorial services, technical support, and help through a toll-free phone number.

Faculty interact with the students via a variety of means including web-based discussion groups, email and phone. The combination of expert faculty, flexible scheduling, and a clearly defined syllabus with goals and due dates work well for the adult learners in these programs.

"These are disciplined adults, they are good about knowing in advance their schedules,' said Dr. Sue Mottinger, associate professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at UT Pan American. "If they see a conflict coming between career and educational responsibilities we can talk about the schedules and work things out," she said.

The educational outcomes prepare graduates to apply current knowledge and research from the sport and exercise sciences to the practice of teaching physical education and coaching sports.

Access the UT TeleCampus for more information about this program or to contact faculty advisers. Toll-free student support is available at 1-888-TEXAS-16 or via email at telecampus@utsystem.edu.