Troy University News

Contact:
Tom Davis
Troy Office of University Relations
334/670-3196
tomdavis@troy.edu

Office of University Relations
253 Adams Administration
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3196
(334) 670-3274 (fax)

Army distance education program has good first year at TSU

   Approximately one year after Troy State University was chosen to provide degree programs for the first online-education program the U.S. Army has offered to enlisted soldiers, TSU is the second-largest provider of courses among 23 participating colleges and universities.
   TSU officials are pleased with the early success of the program, officially named Army University Access Online, but better known by its Internet portal name eArmyU. The program was started as part of an effort to boost recruiting and retention of soldiers.
   Troy State University has partnered with public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which is administering the program for the Army, to deliver degree-track courses to participating personnel, according to Dr. Susan Aldridge, Vice President of TSU’s University College.
   Through University College, Troy State University offers degree programs at more than 50 sites - predominantly military bases - in 14 states and nine countries. University College is also responsible for administering the university’s distance-learning programs. TSU’s Fort Benning campus is administrative headquarters for the eArmyU effort.
   The Army currently provides the program free of charge to soldiers at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Campbell, Ky., and Fort Hood, Texas. Soldiers who enroll in the program receive a laptop computer, printer and Internet access.
   The program was the subject of a major article in a recent edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education, which pointed out that 2,607 eArmyU students selected TSU for their coursework, second only to Central Texas College, which has 5,000. The success of eArmyU pushed TSU System enrollment to more than 19,000 students.
   TSU offers three bachelor’s degree programs through eArmyU, awarding degrees in applied science, criminal justice and management. TSU also offers four associate degree programs.
   "We’re excited about the potential of eArmyU," Dr. Aldridge said. "Our long history of educating the U.S. military, coupled with our innovative distance education program, made it a natural for us."
   Dr. Aldridge said TSU is looking to expand its role within eArmyU.
   "We’ve just submitted a proposal to add more degree programs and we have submitted a separate proposal to bring in Troy State University Montgomery as a course provider," Dr. Aldridge said. "Even though this is a distance education program, TSU is committed to having a physical presence at each installation we serve in order to better serve our students."
   Dr. Aldridge said the U.S. Army has approved two new sites for the program at Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Carson, Colo. She said the Army will expand eArmyU to an Army-wide program in 2003, setting a goal of 80,000 students in the program over the next five years. Currently, there are approximately 14,000 students in the program.