October 20, 2003

Ribbon Cutting Held October 16 for New Distance Education Studio at NC State

	Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were (left to right) Tony Pearson, manager of video communication services for distance education administrative services; Sharon Pitt, associate vice provost for distance education and learning technology (DELTA); Dr. Linda Krute, director of distance education; Dr. Tom Miller, vice provost for DELTA; Dr. Downey Brill, professor and head of civil, construction, and environmental engineering; Dr. Morton Barlaz, professor and associate head of civil, construction, and environmental engineering; and Dr. David Johnston, professor, director of graduate programs, and associate head of civil, construction, and environmental engineering. (Photo: Benny Benton)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new distance education studio was held October 16 in Mann Hall at North Carolina State University in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. Among those who attended the ceremony were Dr. Tom Miller, vice provost for distance education and learning technology (DELTA); Dr. Downey Brill, professor and head of civil, construction, and environmental engineering; Dr. David Johnston, professor, director of graduate programs, and associate head of civil, construction, and environmental engineering; Dr. Morton Barlaz, professor and associate head of civil, construction, and environmental engineering; Sharon Pitt, associate vice provost for DELTA; Dr. Linda Krute, director of distance education; and Tony Pearson, manager of video communication services for distance education administrative services.

A new studio was officially opened in Mann Hall to support the distance education Master of Civil Engineering (MCE) degree program. Miller said, “We have worked closely with Engineering Online to support the establishment of several new distance education masters programs. The program in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering is leading the pack. This new studio classroom, which supports that program, is an excellent example of collaborative effort among the department, Engineering Online, and DELTA. We are proud to be a part of it.”

According to Brill, “The MCE degree was the natural place to start, given the needs of the profession and given our emphasis on graduate education. While it will take many years to understand and develop the full potential of distance education, our department intends to be a national leader, and we are excited about the anticipated developments. As our capabilities evolve, we can move to other graduate degrees and possibly even upper-level undergraduate programs. Having studios in Mann Hall will, of course, advance all of these efforts.”

Krute indicated that the new studio will provide more opportunity to teach and deliver courses to distance students from Mann Hall and provide a much-needed studio space. With all the distance engineering degree programs available and the number of Engineering Online courses offered each semester, this new facility will allow the College to teach and capture more courses than in past semesters.

Engineering professionals as well as the department are already realizing the benefits of increased capacity made possible by distance education courses. Sixteen students have been admitted to the MCE degree based entirely on the distance education program, in addition to perhaps 15 to 20 students who are testing the waters before they decide whether to work towards a degree.

In total, 50 students are enrolled in 7 departmental distance education classes this semester. The department projects that they will be able to offer five to nine classes per semester across various specialty areas such as transportation materials and systems, geotechnical, construction, structures and water resources and environmental. At present, there are 20 courses that can be offered through the distance education program with more coming on line each year.

A second studio is planned for Mann Hall within three years.

Dr. Mike Leming, associate professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering, teaches class in the new distance education studio. (Photo: Kathi McBlief)		Engineering students enjoy the new distance education studio. (Photo: Kathi McBlief)

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