News

Ohio, Minnesota Higher Ed Systems To Share Online Programs

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 01/05/10

Two state systems have formally agreed to work together in sharing tools, services, planning, and implementation strategies to bolster their online student services. The University System of Ohio and Minnesota State Colleges & Universities, both consisting of numerous public campuses, have signed the memorandum of understanding to expedite rollout of online and hybrid courses in their respective programs.

The Ohio system will provide its E 4 ME course developed by the Ohio Learning Network, a month-long introduction to distance learning that can be adapted to another institution's needs. The primary audience of the course is adults 25 or older who may have some college education, yet have not completed a degree or certificate.

The Minnesota system will share two tools: its electronic portfolio, eFolio Minnesota, which allows students to share their writing, academic, and career documents with teachers and others; and its "Goals, Planning = Success" (GPS) LifePlan application, which gives students as well as Minnesota residents an electronic tool to integrate academic and career planning into the electronic portfolio program.

This isn't the first time Minnesota has taken its electronic portfolio initiative out of state. Last year, California Virtual Campus (CVC) signed a licensing agreement with the Minnesota system to implement a pilot project called ePortfolio California, using Minnesota's technology. eFolio Minnesota has been in operation seven years.