Tuesday, November 26, 2002

National U. Creates a For-Profit Company to Run Growing Online Programs By ANDREA L. FOSTER National University has turned its distance-learning program, started in 1996, into a for-profit venture called Spectrum Pacific Learning Company, the university announced last week. The decision reflects the 31-year-old nonprofit university's effort to build on its success in operating another for-profit entity, the College of Oceaneering, which the university purchased about a year ago. Janet Littrell, the chief executive officer of Spectrum Pacific, says the university's online program can now offer courses to businesses, corporations, and community colleges. Already Spectrum Pacific has established a partnership with Blackboard Inc. to train that company's customers in how to use its Web-based software for online instruction. Spectrum also will help generate revenue for the university, which has announced a tuition freeze for the 2003 fiscal year even as it hires new faculty members and opens additional campuses. Spectrum got its name from the university's most recent campus, located in San Diego's Spectrum Business Park. "This is a time to be creative about finding ways to protect and enhance the fiscal bottom line of the entire institution," says Ms. Littrell, the former dean of the university's online program. Since 1999 the university's online monthly enrollment has increased from 30 students to more than 3,500 students, a university spokesman says. The university offers about 200 online courses a month and 16 online degree programs accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. National University is the second-largest private nonprofit university in California. It has 26 regional centers in 11 cities in the state and serves primarily professionals who want to attend college part time. Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

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