Sloan Consortium

(Newburyport, MA) - The Sloan Consortium, a network of individuals, institutions and organizations committed to quality online education, is taking the lead in integrating online learning into the mainstream of higher education.  With a $4-million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Consortium will transition to a member-sustained nonprofit organization and establish a permanent presence in online learning.

“The future for online education remains bright,” said John Bourne, executive director, Sloan Consortium. “The demand for quality online education is stronger than ever and thanks to the groundbreaking work initiated by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation – and continued by the Sloan Consortium – the increasing demand for knowledge and training in online education can be satisfied.”

After nearly two decades of pioneering work in online learning, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation recently announced its major grant program for online education has largely achieved its goals.   Dating back to 1992, the Foundation has invested nearly $80 million into online education programs at universities throughout the nation, with the goal of making higher education accessible and affordable for anyone, anywhere, at any time.

“The Sloan Consortium is poised to build on the Foundation's efforts,” said Bruce Chaloux, president, Sloan Consortium. “We will continue to pursue the objectives of quality, scope, and breadth established by the Foundation and which have guided our development and growth.”

The Sloan Consortium’s most recent national survey, Staying The Course - Online Education in the United States, 2008 found more than 3.9 million students are now learning online, a 12 percent increase from the previous year.

Through its network of more than 20,000 individuals in 1,500 colleges and organizations, the Sloan Consortium offers a suite of workshops about teaching and learning online; produces a scholarly journal dedicated to research in online learning; maintains a catalog of degree and certificate programs offered online; hosts conferences to help implement and improve online programs; and conducts research, annual surveys, and forums to inform academic, government, and private sector audiences.