Outline:

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

Membership and Cooperation

• The ADEC Distance Education Consortium includes 55 members and is a full-service multimedia consortium of land-grant institutions and associates operating as a virtual organization.

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

• ADEC has a Fair Use and Ethical Standards Policy developed by the Ohio State staff.

• ADEC is implementing an Ideal Distance Education Administrative Language (IDEAL) vision and policy paper. Dean Rosemary Haggett, West Virginia University, chairs the development team. Six Ideal Report Implementation Committees (IRICs) are working on credit transfer, finances, smart software, turf barriers, and quality.

• ADEC has an awards and recognition program. The highest ADEC award is the "Irving," named for Irvin Omtvedt, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and first chair of the Board of Directors. Dr. Larry Whiting, The Ohio State University, and Dr. Thomas Malone, Sigma Xi, received Irving Awards. 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 manages the ADEC virtual catalog. This distributed database provides complete program information as well as a Quicklist.

• North Carolina State University designed and hosts the ADEC home page registered with the Internic as ADEC.EDU.

• ADEC added new membership categories:
  • System Partnership Membership
  • Capacity Building Status for 1890s
  • 1994 Complimentary Membership
  • Foreign Educational Institutions

Charter Memberships

• ADEC is a charter member of the EDUCOM National Learning Infrastructure Initiative (NLII). ADEC participated in NLII activities focused on establishing public-private sector partnerships to create technology-based instructional/learning products; increasing productivity; increasing access, and decreasing costs in institutions of higher education; and 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 educational opportunities that are distributed 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. Current activities include collaboration with the Kellogg Foundation and Clemson University on the 21st Century Land-Grant Universities: Action on Issues.

• the National Computational Science Alliance (NCSA), University of Illinois. NCSA is working with ADEC to establish the 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) and Internet II, focusing on educational software applications, access, and productivity.

• Sigma Xi, the national science and technology honorary society. This alliance produces national satellite town meetings using Internet and audio technology and is focuses on national and international science policy. Programs have featured National Science Foundation (NSF) director Neal Lane and Frank Press, author of the National Academy of Sciences study on national budgeting systems for science and technology. Joint activity in 1997 focused on improving undergraduate education.

• the Media Access Project and Benton Foundation on public interest issues in digital conversion.

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

• the 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.

• Tribal Colleges - 1994 Land-Grant Colleges/Universities.

ADEC Infrastructure

• ADEC received a fifth grant for $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce Public television Facilities Program (PTFP) to begin 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 conferencing, interactive video, CD-ROM, and all appropriate technologies are used depending on learners' needs and cost factor.

• ADEC offers complimentary satellite booking services and consultation to its members. Services are available on a variety of satellites serving audiences domestically and internationally. 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 provides five planning grants for academic programs. Recent examples include the following:
  • University of Kentucky
    (Introduction to Plant Science)
  • University of Florida
    (Introduction to Agribusiness Management)
  • University of Minnesota
    (Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health)
  • University of Minnesota
    (Environment and World Food Production)
  • University of Arizona
    (Nutrition, Food, and You)

• Iowa State University is the institution offering the largest number of courses and degree programs through the consortium, including a professional master's and a bachelor's degree in agriculture.

• Penn State offers a learner-focused, WWW-based, multimedia course in turfgrass management that is being used as a national model.

• The University of Kentucky offers Animal Science and Equine Science.

• The University of Nebraska-Lincoln provides the Program Evaluation course.

• Kansas State University offers Parent-Child Relationships.

• Research Literature in Gerontology and Early Childhood Theory, Practice, and Evaluation are offered by Oklahoma State University.

• The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective comes from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln using audio conference and Internet.

• The University of FLorida offers Man's Food; Fundamentals of Human Nutrition by videotape; Human Resources Management in Agribusiness by videotape; and Computer Technologies in Agriculture and Natural Resources by satellite, videotape, and Internet.

• Penn State offers an associate's degree in Dietetics and Food System Management.

• The University of Missouri provides Medical Ethics, a philosophy course.

Nonacademic Programs

• ADEC offers more than 200 programs in this category. Here are some highlights:
  • 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 and Iowa State University
    • "International Biotechnology-Allerton II," University of Illinois (available by videotape)

  • 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 '97," University of Maryland-College Park

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

  • Capacity-Building
    • "21st CEntury Land Grant Universities: Action on Issues," six-part town meeting series, Clemson, Kellogg Foundation, NASULGC

  • Distance Education and Technology
    • "Quality Distance Education," University of Wisconsin (available on video)

  • Natural Resources and Environment
    • "Principles of Wildlife Conservation" (credit and noncredit), Oregon State University

• ADEC provides planning grants for nonformal education. Here are some recent examples:
  • Virginia Tech (HACCP Training at a Distance for Commercial Fish and Shellfish Industry)

  • Purdue University (Certified Crop Advisor 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)

Needs Assessment with Private Sector Industries

• ADEC established an initiative to conduct needs assessments in the food and agricultural industry. Texas A&M and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln chair this effort. Reports from ConAgra and Monsanto have been discussed with the board. ADEC met with the University Industry Consortium.

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 met in person three times and monthly by audio conference. On-site visits and strategic field trips for consortium development this year were to the University of Wisconsin Distance Teaching and Learning Conference; the International Council for Distance Ed (ICDE) at Penn State; and GTE Telecom in Dallas.

Governance

• The ADEC Board of Directors met in person three times, hosted by GTE in January, Penn State at the ICDE meeting in June, and in Washington D.C., in November. The board also conducted one meeting by audio conference. The Executive Committee of the board met monthly by audio conference.

• The ADEC Administrative Council met in Washington, D.C., at the annual NASULGC meeting to review the program and finances and to 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 reviews and strategic seminars at Purdue, University of Maryland annual extension conference, Auburn, Alabama A&M, West Virginia, University of Nebraska, Iowa State, University of Melbourne, Clemson, Kansas State, and University of Missouri.

New Members

• ADEC welcomed Michigan State back along with new members Texas Tech and Langston University. Dull Knife Memorial Tribal College is the first 1994 land-grant member.

Marketing

• ADEC has a 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, a strategic plan, and annual accomplishments.

Evaluation

• Washington State coordinated the Western Institute for Research and Evaluation (WIRE). Utah State University contracted for the development of a comprehensive evaluation and tool set.

International

• The ADEC president was invited to participate in the Global Knowledge 97 World Bank Think Tank held in Toronto, Canada.

• ADEC welcomed the University of Melbourne as the first ADEC international educational member. Victor Lechtenberg, Purdue, is coordinating implementation of joint programs.

• ADEC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Virtual University Monterrey Tech in Mexico. E. G. Sander of Arizona and board chair provides oversight. Focus areas include socio-cultural understanding across the Americas and environmental and sustainable development in the hemisphere.

• An agreement was made with the International Council on Distance Education (ICDE). Janet Poley, president, serves on the ICDE Program Council.

• ADEC will sign a joint agreement with Oregon State and Bunda College in Malawi for shared programs and technologies.

• Janet Poley conducted distance education and Internet workshops for Peace Corps volunteers and university and nongovernmental officials in Loja, Ecuador.

• ADEC is working with NASULGC and USAID on forming new relationships with the International Agricultural Research Centers.

• The consortium is working on a strategy for East and Southern Africa with leadership from North Carolina A&T and Tuskegee.

Orientation

• North Carolina A&T leads work on implementing a regular orientation program for new members and those holding Board, Program Panel, and PCO positions.

Finances

• The consortium is self-supporting through annual dues, grants and fees.

• ADEC is a non-profit consortium owned by its state university/land-grant college members to provide world-class distance/distributed education and training locally, nationally, and internationally.