North Carolina Community College System

1. North Carolina Community College System Distance Learning for Health Education and Training H. Martin Lancaster, President Telehealth Forum May 1, 2000 Chapel Hill, NC "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

2. What Is Our Role in Health Education? Health care and related industries make up one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors of North Carolina’s economy and of Community College education. "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

3. North Carolina’s Community Colleges: • Offer more than 45 for-credit programs in allied health and many more continuing education opportunities. • Graduate two-thirds of the state’s RNs every year and most dental hygienists and assistants, therapy assistants, lab technicians, emergency personnel and other critical health-care staff. • Train office staffs who keep medical facilities and insurance companies running. "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

4. Why Distance Learning in Health Education? • Universal access is a cornerstone of Community Colleges. • Technology helps deliver the best training to people who need good jobs in places that need quality health care. • Technology connects community colleges with AHEC, other university sites, medical centers. • Technology is especially important for rural counties, far from major hospitals and universities. "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

5. How Do We Offer Distance Learning? • Telecourses and cassettes (UNC-TV) • Live two-way video (NCIH) • Online courses (Web) • Combinations and hybrids "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

6. Public Service via Satellite • Each community college maintains a satellite downlink, usually in the Small Business Center. • Satellite teleconferences are efficient means of delivering training and important public information statewide. • Health-related examples include HIV/AIDS awareness for emergency workers and briefings after 1999 floods.

7. How Many Are We Teaching With Distance Learning? • 33,168 enrollments for credit across the system in 1998-99… • PLUS continuing education "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

8. What Are We Teaching with Distance Learning? More than 300different for-credit courses so far, including in health: • Dental Hygiene Theory • Health Law and Ethics • Medical Terminology • Nutrition • Anatomy and Physiology • Healthcare Statistics • Speech Pathology "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

9. Virtual Learning Community A New Concept for A New Century "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

10. Virtual Learning Community • VLC is a collaborative initiative of all 58 Community Colleges, sharing resources and expertise to expand access to quality online courses and support services. • VLC was formed to encourage widespread development of distance learning throughout the System.

11. VLC Components • Library of online courses,credit and non-credit • Common delivery software • Faculty and staff training • Tips and assistance for teachers and learners • Evaluation materials • Online support services "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

12. Benefits of VLC for Health Care Training • Increases access for students. • Guarantees consistent quality in wide range of courses and programs. • Helps colleges share resources in high-cost health programs. • Opens new doors for developing distance learning baccalaureate completion programs with Universities, with AHEC help. "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"

13. North Carolina Community College System www.ncccs.cc.nc.us Telephone: 919-733-7051 Fax: 919-733-0680 5001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-5001 "Fifty-Nine Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Work Force"