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Penn State’s World Campus gets approval to continue in eArmyU
	Penn State’s World Campus is expanding its participation in the U.S. Army’s online university program eArmyU. The program, which currently boasts more than 30,500 enrolled soldiers, has added new academic program offerings and expanded participating colleges and universities to meet soldiers’ educational needs. The World Campus was approved to expand its offerings in the program, operated by IBM Business Consulting Services.   “The World Campus was one of the original institutions to participate in eArmyU, with Penn State’s master of education in adult education,” said Dr. Gary E. Miller, associate vice president for Distance Education and executive director of the World Campus. “That program has been a great success with eArmyU, and we look forward to the opportunity to bring to Army personnel several new undergraduate degree programs, as well.”   The new degree offerings include a baccalaureate degree-completion program in Letters, Arts and Sciences and associate degrees in Letters, Arts and Sciences; Dietetic Food Systems Management; and Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management.   The World Campus will join 31 other colleges and universities offering more than 3,000 courses and more than 150 academic degree programs to enlisted soldiers worldwide. eArmyU has delivered educational opportunities online since its inception in January 2001 and anticipates enrolling 80,000 additional soldiers at military installations around the world by 2005.   IBM Business Consulting Services identified colleges and universities to provide online degree programs for enlisted soldiers through a competitive process. In concert with U.S. Army needs, the company recommended schools based on their ability to address the higher-education goals and interests of the enrolled soldiers, meet the program’s technological and administrative requirements and optimize value to the Army.   “The demand for education through eArmyU is astounding, and we built the online program so that it can meet not only a growing enrollment, but also demands for different kinds of courses,” said Jill Kidwell, IBM Business Consulting Services partner.   Miller added, “Penn State’s World Campus uses technology to extend Penn State degree programs nationally and internationally. We are excited about matching our ability to reach distant students with the U.S. Army’s capacity to provide educational opportunities to soldiers wherever they may be stationed.”