WHAT WE HEARD FROM STAKEHOLDERS—NATIONAL AGENDA OPPORTUNITIES

The listening sessions we conducted around the country provided ample evidence of the importance of technology and its uses both for on-campus and distance education courses, but also documented challenges. These included:

1. Technological change raises a wide range of policy issues and challenges that face policymakers, educators, and administrators at all levels. Policymakers at the federal and state levels of government must work actively with institutions, other postsecondary education providers, and accrediting agencies to address these challenges.

2. Distance education especially raises new challenges in the area of quality assurance. Both regulators and consumers need new ways to judge the quality of distance education offerings.

3. OPE should continue to encourage accreditors to develop outcome assessment techniques for learning in the classroom as well as out of it.

4. Title IV Student Financial Assistance Program requirements limit financial aid to distance education students. These rules need to be revised in order to expand access to distance education while still protecting the taxpayer investment in financial aid.

5. Technology offers new opportunities to use distance education and exchanges to improve international education and research.

6. Many institutions lack the resources to develop their technical capability and fully exploit the potential of new technology. Colleges and universities that serve minorities, low-income students, and first-generation college students need financial resources to develop technological infrastructure and expertise.

7. Technology has the potential to promote access, meet new needs for education and training, and improve quality. Promising technological approaches to these issues need more national support.