Last month Drexel co-hosted the Second Annual Northeast Regional WebCT conference. Representatives from colleges and universities from across the country attended to learn how they can make WebCT, one of the world’s major higher education course management systems, work for their institutions.

Drexel is one of WebCT’s leading users. The University has made a significant commitment to providing our students and faculty with online access to Web-based course materials, and we have chosen WebCT to be our major partner in that effort. DrexelOne, our single, sign-on portal allows students and faculty to access all of their WebCT course materials and all relevant academic information with one login.

Since the University began working with WebCT in January 2002, the Office of Information Resources and Technology (IRT), through its “boot camp” workshops, has trained more than 400 faculty members in how to incorporate WebCT into their courses. This term, more than 850 Drexel courses are actively being taught using WebCT.

IRT is also working with Neumann, Cabrini, Wilkes and Rosemont Colleges to provide WebCT hosting, training and support. Together, Drexel’s partner institutions are currently teaching more than 600 courses using WebCT, and the growth of interest and involvement in online course development increases daily.

Programs like WebCT are reinventing higher education by allowing students and faculty to access academic information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any place and at any time. Drexel has a long-standing tradition of integrating emerging technologies into our academic programs. Incorporating WebCT into courses across the University helps Drexel maintain its leadership in technology-based education.

The WebCT conference provided a unique opportunity for faculty and staff from academic institutions around the country to learn from each other and share ideas on e-learning. My congratulations to the entire IRT team for organizing this outstanding event.

C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni Interim President