Outline:

1. Membership and Cooperation
2. Charter Memberships
3. Partnerships
4. Infrastructure
5. Nonacademic Programs
6. Needs Assessment with Private Sector Industries
7. Strategic Planning
8. Governance
9. New Members
10. Marketing
11. Evalutaion
12. International
13. Finances

Membership and Cooperation:

• ADEC continues 47 members strong as a full-service multimedia consortium of land-grant institutions operating as a virtual organization.

• ADEC's name and logo were registered for trademark purposes. Cornell University designed the logo. The Ohio State University designed the Web page logo adaptation.

• ADEC developed a Fair Use and Ethical Standards Policy led by The Ohio State staff.

• ADEC developed an Ideal Distance Education Administrative Language (IDEAL) Vision and Policy paper. Dean Rosemary Haggett, West Virginia University, chaired the development team.

• ADEC implemented an awards and recognition program. The highest ADEC award is the "Irving," named for Dr. Irvin Omtvedt, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and first chair of the Board of Directors. Outstanding service and contributions to the organization are recognized at the annual meeting of ADEC Principal Contact Officers (PCOs) and the annual Administrative Council meeting during the NASULGC meeting.

• The University of Illinois designed the ADEC virtual catalog. This distributed database provides complete program information as well as a Quicklist.

• North Carolina State University designed and implemented the very active ADEC home page registered with the InterNIC as ADEC.EDU.

Charter Memberships

• ADEC is a charter member of the EDUCOM, National Learning Infrastructure Initiative (NLII). ADEC participated in NLII activities focused on
  1. creating public-sector partnerships to create technology-based instructional/learning products
  2. increasing productivity, increasing access, and decreasing costs in institutions of higher education
  3. creating virtual universities

• ADEC is a charter member of the Global Alliance for Transnational Education (GATE). This initiative focuses on developing high-quality principles and standards and easy access to distributed educational opportunities internationally. The Jones International University and the National Council on Higher Education are key organizers.

Partnerships

• the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), particularly its Board on Distance Education and Information Technology and the Commission on Outreach and Technology Transfer. The ADEC president was a plenary panelist at the Nashville Conference organized by NASULGC.

• the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), University of Illinois. NCSA is working with ADEC to establish an Internet-based Shared Learning and Management System for the consortium. Virtual reality applications are in progress. ADEC and NCSA are developing strategies for lifelong learning and virtual university applications.

• EDUCOM and its National Learning Infrastructure Initiative (NLII). This collaboration focuses on educational software applications, access, and productivity.

• Sigma Xi, the national science and technology honorary society. This alliance produces national satellite teleconferencing using Internet and audio technology and is focused on national and international science policy. Recent programs have featured National Science Foundation (NSF) director Neal Lane and Frank Press, author of the National Academy of Sciences study on new national budgeting systems for Science and Technology. National events on revamping undergraduate education and the role of universities in national and international science competitiveness are in planning.

• the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA.

• Southern Food System Education Consortium (SOFSEC). This Kellogg-supported collaboration works in partnership with ADEC under the leadership of North Carolina A&T and Tuskegee.

• Western Governors University. Utah State, Colorado State, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln lead collaboration with the governors and WGU.

Infrastructure

• ADEC received a fifth grant for $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce Public Television Facilities Program (PTFP) to begin the process of digitizing its satellite network. The network currently includes 39 uplinks and more than 2,000 downlinks. Analog satellite delivery is KU and C band.

• ADEC as a "virtual organization" uses all Internet functions - mail, listserv, collaborative work tools, and World Wide Web - and will increase Internet-based program delivery.

• Audio conferenceing, interactive video, CD-ROM, and all appropriate technologies are used depending on learner needs and cost factors.

• ADEC offers complimentary satellite booking services and consultation to its members. Services are available on a variety of satellites serving audiences domestically and internationally. More than 1,000 hours of satellite time were booked during the past year. ADEC support staff also handle federal reporting requirements for members.

• ADEC established a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) chaired by members from Colorado State University and Texas A&M under the Program Panel.

• ADEC offered academic courses for advanced college placement for high schools and bachelor's degree credit in more than 50 content areas in food and agriculture; natural resources and environment; children, youth, and families; community and economic development; nutrition and health; and communication, education, leadership, and management.

• ADEC members can enroll for a master's degree in Human Resources and Family Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Great Plains deans of human sciences are collaborating on additional postgraduate programs and policies.

• The ADEC IDEAL report now establishes the foundation for future collaborative degree offerings, with degrees granted by member institutions where students are enrolled.

• ADEC granted five planning grants for academic programs this past year:
  • University of Kentucky - Introduction to Plant Science
  • University of Florida - Introduction to Agribusiness Management
  • University of Minnesota - Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
  • University of Arizona - Nutrition, Food, and You

• ADEC established an Academic Priorities Committee under the Program Panel chaired by a member from Oklahoma State University.

• ADEC recognized Iowa State University as the institution offering the largest number of courses and degree programs through the consortium.

• Al Turgeon, ADEC PCO form Penn State, developed cooperatively with ADEC a learner-focused, WWW-based, multimedia course in turfgrass management that is being used as a model.

• University of Kentucky continued to offer Animal Science and Equine Science.

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln sustained the Program Evaluation course.

Nonacademic Programs

• ADEC offered more than 200 programs in this category during the past year. Some highlights included:

• Food
  • "Food Safety" - University of Florida
  • "Safe Food for the Hungry" - Purdue

• Agriculture
  • "The Good, the Bad, and the Bugly" - University of Nebraska-Lincoln (credit and noncredit)
  • "Sustainable Agriculture" - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • "International Biotechnology - Allerton II" - University of Illinois
  • "Biotechnology" - Three-part series - University of Illinois, Texas A&M, and University of Maryland

• Health
  • "Women Alive" - Breast Cancer Prevention - Cornell and Penn State

• Children
  • "Child Care Series" - Penn State
  • "Gee Whiz in Agriculture Series" - University of Kentucky

• Youth
  • "4-H Youth Solutions 96" - University of Maryland-College Park

• Nutrition
  • "Team Nutrition" - CSREES

• Community/Rural Development
  • "Rural Telecommunications" - Iowa State University

• Capacity Building
  • "Epsilon Sigma Phi" training - University of Maryland-College Park

• Distance Education and Technology
  • "Quality Distance Education" - University of Wisconsin

• Natural Resources and Environment
  • "Principles of Wildlife Conservation" - Oregon State Univsersity (credit and noncredit)
  • ADEC provided seven planning grants for nonformal education to:
    • Clemson University - HAACP Training for Poultry Producers
    • Virginia Tech - HAACP Training at a Distance for the Commercial Fish and Shellfish Industry
    • Purdue University - Certified Crop Adviser Training
    • University of Nevada - Distance Education Instructional Design on Decision-Making Processes for Public Lands Issues
    • University of Minnesota - Kids' Space on CYFERNet
    • The Ohio State University - Interactive Educational Programming for Youth and Parents via the World Wide Web
    • Iowa State University - Beyond the Basics: Web-Based Courseware

    A University of Florida Staff Person Chaired the review.

Needs Assessment with Private Sector Industries

• ADEC established an initiative to conduct needs assessment in the food and agricultural industry sector. Texas A&M and University of Nebraska-Lincoln chaired this effort. Reports from ConAgra and Monsanto have been discussed with the Board.

Strategic Planning

• ADEC has a strategic plan approved by the Board and available on the WWW page. It is reviewed and updated annually.

• The ADEC program Panel (PP) is charged with strategic program development. The PP meets monthly by audio conference. On-site visits and strategic field trips for consortium development this year were to NCSA and the Sloan Center for Asynchronous Learning (SCALE) at the University of Illinois; the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System (IHTES); the Indiana Statewide Partnership (ISP); the University of Wisconsin Distance Teaching and Learning Conference; and the Denver Technology Park for discussions with TCI/Sparkman Learning Center, Primestar Jones Intercable/International University, and IBM Learningspace.

Governance

• The ADEC Board of Directors met three times, hosted by the University of Arizona in January jointly with the Program Panel; the University of Idaho; and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, including presentations with Western Governors University and Monsanto. The Executive Committee of the Board met monthly by audio conference.

• The ADEC Administrative Council met in San Diego at the annual NASULGC meeting to review program and finances and elect officers.

• The ADEC president provided a monthly newsletter and weekly strategic intelligence reports to the key ADEC implementors and faculty via e-mail and the home page.

• The ADEC president provided on-campus reviews and strategic seminars at Colorado State University, University of Missouri, North Carolina State University, University of Kentucky Extension annual conference, University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois, Tuskegee University, University of Minnesota, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also met twice with senior legislative analysts and the governor of Utah, attended the Western Governors' Association meeting, and was named to the advisory committee of the Nebraska governor for the WGU.

New Members

• ADEC welcomed New Mexico State University and Alcorn State University as the newest consortium members. Dovi Alipoe, Alcorn State, and Desiree Whitfield, New Mexico State, joined the ADEC PCOs for their monthly audio conferences.

Marketing

• In January, the Board approved the Marketing Plan and allocated $20,000 to Purdue, Cornell, the University of Florida, and the University of Illinois for preliminary market research sharing, development of flexible web/folder-based marketing tools, a promotional video, and printing of brochures, strategic plan, and annual accomplishments.

Evaluation

• The University of Minnesota chaired the development of the ADEC Evaluation call for proposals. The Western Institute for Research and Evaluation (WIRE) and Utah State University were selected to develop a comprehensive evaluation and tool set.

International

• The ADEC president presented a seminar to senior World Bank staff on Rural Access to Information and Distance Education (RAIDE). ADEC agreed to partner with the World Bank on a series of on-line focus groups and a conference and to explore international projects.

• North Carolina A&T is leading consortium work with South Africa's historically black institutions, University of Fort Hare, and potentially a consortium of four institutions. The University of Missouri is working with the University of Western Cape, and Penn State and West Virginia University also have long-term relationships in South Africa. ADEC is coordinating collaborative activities.

• ADEC participated in the Global Summit on Distance Education at Intelsat in October and is discussing possible arrangements with Intelsat for use of transponders for international delivery. South Dakota State prepared the consortium report.

• Memoranda of Understanding are being developed with Monterrey Tech in Mexico and working in a number of Latin American countries, the University of Melbourne, Australia, and the IAI and CGIAR Centers.

Finances

• ADEC is a nonprofit consortium owned by its state university/land-grant college members to provide world-class distance/distributed education and training locally, nationally, and internationally. The consortium is self-supporting through annual dues, grants, and fees.