By MARK NIESSE
The Red & Black

A second chance to graduate may be possible for University dropouts - as long as they have a computer.

University System Chancellor Stephen Portch proposed a $1.5 million full-degree program over the Internet to the state legislative budget writers Tuesday.

"There is an absolutely huge, pent-up demand because you've got hundreds of thousands of Georgians who have got a little bit of college or some college or quite a bit of college, but for whatever reason had to drop out," Portch said.

The online degree program would be aimed at students who have families or left school early to go to work.

"This would offer academic programs to those who can't come on to campus the way traditional students can," said Arlethia Perry-Johnson, Board of Regents spokeswoman. "This would help those adult professionals with families who have to put kids to bed before they can turn to further professional development."

The program could go into effect as soon as next year, if the state legislature approves Gov. Roy Barnes' $13.2 billion budget for the fiscal year of 2000, Perry-Johnson said. Students could earn bachelor's and master's degrees online.

Now, Georgia universities offer 250 computer courses, but students can't earn a degree online except at Georgia Tech and Southern Polytechnic State University.

"We're talking about shaping full-fledged degree programs offered in an online method," Perry-Johnson said.

The Internet courses would function as "online classrooms," where students could learn lecture material and use Web resources to enhance education, Perry-Johnson said.

Tuition costs for online degree programs haven't been determined yet.

"Your audience is potentially worldwide, so there are questions of what you do about a fee structure," Portch said. "I hope it's not significantly different in quality, thoroughness or price from traditional degrees."

Details of what specific degree programs will be offered won't be decided until funding is approved by the state legislature.

"The goal is to have more Georgians graduating from college," Perry-Johnson said.

- Contributing: Associated Press

(Story courtesy of The Red & Black, January 21, 1999.)

See related article: Regional Electronic Campus Now On Line.