Cindy Elliott, Fort Hays State University's assistant provost for strategic partnerships and dean of distance learning, recently completed a year's participation on a national task force on distance learning organized by the Department of Defense.

The task force developed a list of criteria for quality distance learning along with standards of good practice to be implemented across all service branches of the DOD's voluntary education program.

"Presently, nearly $100 million is spent on tuition assistance annually for distance education and, hence, the DOD is interested in ensuring that there is a consistent quality in the courses that military students enroll," said Elliott.

After final approval, the recommendations will be part of the policy handbook for the DOD's voluntary education.