From: "Swisher, Bob" <bswisher@ou.edu>
To: "'it-fyi@listserv.ou.edu'" <it-fyi@lists.ou.edu>
Subject: it-fyi: California Virtual U in Danger (Chron of Higher Ed)
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 10:06:34 -0600
Lack of Funds Puts California Virtual U. in Danger
By GOLDIE BLUMENSTYK
California Virtual University may be on the rocks. Opposition to a
proposed financing plan could force the venture to severely cut back its
ambitious marketing plans, and perhaps even lead to its demise.
No official announcement has been made, but a spokesman for the virtual
university confirmed that the participants -- the state's three
public-college systems and a number of independent colleges -- had
balked at the idea of putting up $1-million a year for three years to
cover operating costs.
When he learned of the opposition this week, the chief executive officer
of the nascent project, Stanley A. Chodorow, circulated an
electonic-mail message that said the university would "cease operations
on March 31." In the March 17 message, he also thanked colleagues for
their help in developing the venture, but added, "We just did not have
enough fuel to get up to takeoff speed."
Other officials familiar with the project, however, said Mr. Chodorow's
ringing of the death knell may have been premature.
The virtual university's board is now scrambling to restructure the
venture. In particular, the board wants to insure the continued
operation of the university's World-Wide Web site, where the 112
participating colleges list their on-line courses.
Mr. Chodorow did not return telephone calls seeking comment. The
chairman of the board, Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, was unavailable for
comment, but her assistant said efforts were under way to help the
venture reconstitute itself in some form. "It's not going to disappear
off the face of the earth," said the assistant, Judith Ellis. Ms.
Tomlinson-Keasey is vice-provost for academic initiatives for the
University of California System.
California Virtual University was begun by former Gov. Pete Wilson as an
alternative to Western Governors University, a distance-learning
institution that involves colleges and other course providers in 17
states and Guam. The State of California ended its oversight of
California Virtual University seven months ago, when it handed
responsibility for the venture to an independent foundation run by eight
higher-education representatives. Mr. Chodorow was named president in
September.
Although the university had attracted five $75,000 corporate
sponsorships and a $250,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation,
organizers had still hoped to raise about $1-million a year to help
cover the cost of operations for the next three years. The money was to
be used to pay for a five-person staff and for the costs of maintaining
the Web site, recruiting more universities and students, and promoting
on-line education. Those efforts are likely to be scaled back under any
reorganization plan.
Background stories from The Chronicle:
"Enrollment Figures Spur Optimism at Virtual Universities," 11/27/98
"California Virtual U. Doubles Its Course Offerings," 8/7/98
"California Virtual U. Offers Sample Courses via the Web," 1/30/98
Copyright © 1999 by The Chronicle of Higher Education