Providing student services to distance ed learners, too.(distance education)

Distance learning is a $5 billion market that has opened the academic doors to many students who'd been shut out, especially women. Now units such as student affairs are expected to identify and serve their needs.

Leslie Dare and Amanda Thomas have a head start. Dare is the director of distance learning and technology services for the division of student affairs at North Carolina State University, and Thomas is a graduate assistant there. They talked about their work at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) conference held in Tampa in March.

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The school's division of student affairs has 35 units and more than 600 employees. Traditionally, it served campus-based learners and undergraduates, but it recently expanded to serve distance learners.

Numbers explain why. Between 2003 and 2012, student enrollment is expected to increase 22%, while distance learning expects a 300% boost. "It's a huge conundrum," said Thomas. "Distance ed was initially funded as a solution to enrollment growth." The accrediting body expects all students to be served.

The North Carolina Legislature funded Dare's position in 2000. "We wanted to make sure that the office didn't operate in a vacuum," she explained. An advisory group acts as a liaison, clearinghouse and serves an educational role. Members bring concerns from constituents to the group.

Like most schools, NC State has two types of distance learners: the "pure"--those who take only distance ed courses, and the "hybrid"--those who enroll in both distance ed and at least one on-campus course. Hybrids outnumber pure students two to one. "We have some who take nothing but distance ed courses and live in our residence halls," said Dare.