INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Distance Education Universities (DEU)
Interview with
Lynn Gilath
Executive Vice President and Co-Owner
Distance Education Universities (DEU)
Q: What is DEU’s relationship to Bellevue University? Are you a school?
A: DEU is a marketing arm of Bellevue University as it relates to their outreach to military service members. We offer Bellevue University the opportunity to match their current catalog to SkillSoft’s online courses [DEU is a channel partner of SkillSoft] thereby enhancing Bellevue’s military education programs. DEU specifically focuses on the marketing, recruitment and service to Bellevue’s military market. Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Q: How does your program benefit the military learner?
A: Our focus is exclusively on the military learner. Since our target market is specific, we design all aspects of our programs, from course development to student services, to benefit the military student. We understand that the needs of the military learner are different from a traditional civilian learner. They are getting deployed, transferring to a new base, serving in a hostile area, and going underway for months at a time. So what we’ve done is partner with an institution like Bellevue to provide each service member with: (1) quality courses that they are able to take no matter where they are located; (2) a free study tool, which is a laptop computer for select courses; (3) no book fees; (4) online access as well as CD-ROMs to study–an internet connection is not a necessity; (5) a DEU student support representative that follows them through their course. It’s important to us that every student complete and pass their courses. Our completion rate is around 92 percent, which is extremely high for online learning; (6) a military discount on tuition–our courses are $250 per semester hour. This allows them to utilize tuition assistance benefits and not pay any out of pocket costs; (7) a transcript evaluation of military training and prior college coursework.
We have found that our students are coming back to us saying they enjoy our courses–this is really important for those students that were afraid of taking college courses because they thought they wouldn’t be able to finish. Now they are excited about earning a bachelor degree.
Q: What is the certificate of completion?
A: The certificate of completion is not to be confused with a “certification.” Each student who satisfactorily completes their course receives a paper certificate—it basically says “you finished this course.” Bellevue University awards the final grade and college credit to the student.
Q: How much is tuition?
A: Tuition is $250 per credit hour for the BU Select courses powered by DEU.
Q: How long does a servicemember have to complete a course?
A: They have 18 weeks to complete a course.
Q: What if they can’t complete the work in that time?
A: An extension of up to 90 days is available if they need it. After that, the University grants extensions on a case by case basis. If a student cannot complete the course after the first extension they will be issued an “F” or an “incomplete.” However, when they are ready to return, they are allowed to finish the course and can apply for a grade change.
Q: What new programs do you offer?
A: Our partnership with Bellevue has made way for two new degree programs—information technology and game and simulation design. The Bachelor of Science in information technology launched fall of 2007—this is a degree completion program where the military learner can take up to 36 hours of our self-paced courses along with transferring in their military training to meet the degree requirements. In August of 2008, the game and simulation design degree will be available. This is an exciting new program that only a few accredited universities are currently offering and we are proud to be involved with one of them. We are providing the “developmental” courses for this program that will prepare those interested in pursuing the degree. A student can sign up now for these courses and be ready to start the program in August.
Another undergraduate program that I hope we’ll be launching sometime this year is in acquisitions. This is extremely relevant to military personnel. There is a large demand for those with this body of knowledge. Plus it’s good for someone looking to transition into a civilian career but still work in a government capacity. We’re very excited about all the new developments we have going on.
Q: Is there anything you wanted to add?
A: We support our military servicemembers—they are first and foremost in our minds—and we appreciate what they do every day. We really love what we do here because it feels good to help out, even if in a small way. ♦
Email Lynn Gilath