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An Education for TomorrowMichigan State University is Preparing Students for the Future of Online Education with an Array of Educational OpportunitiesBy Dwayne Barnes, June 2007
Since its establishment in 1855 on the banks of the Red Cedar River,
Michigan State University
(MSU) has been at the forefront of advancements in higher education.
As a pioneer land-grant institution,
MSU was the first institution of higher learning in the United States to teach scientific agriculture and was the prototype for 69 land-grant
institutions established under the Morrill Act of 1862.
With the same pioneering spirit, Michigan State University's colleges and departments, and its
entrepreneurial academic business unit, MSU
Global, are developing online institutes, programs, and services called MSU Global Ventures.
MSU Global Ventures are seen as the "formula" for success of on-line and continuing education programs.
MSU Online Learning and Continuing Education program extends academic and professional degree and certificate programs to off-campus
learners. Over 100 graduate and undergraduate courses are available over the Internet and over 300 graduate and undergraduate courses are
available throughout off-campus and abroad.
From the Banks of the Red Cedar to an Era of Online Education
Online learning began in 1996 at Michigan State University (MSU) as an assortment of standalone courses constructed by
Virtual University Project and pioneering faculty.
Today, MSU has over 10,000 enrollments in 29 degree and certificate online programs, placing it in the top three in online learning among
America's Big Ten Universities according to MSU's internal benchmarking study.
To accommodate the 10,000 student online learning population, MSU utilizes Distance Learning Services designed to meet the research and
information needs of student and faculty in off-campus or on-line courses.
The MSU community also opens its arms to lifelong learning, offering an evening college with traditional and on-line courses. Evening
College is a program of Alumni Lifelong Education, a division of the Michigan State University Alumni Association.
MSU utilizes a high-speed Internet connection provided by Merit Network to connect its Language Institute to students around Michigan.
It also uses its high-speed connections to reach students around the globe, who are utilizing the MSU Global Online Connection.
My Horse UniversityAs a land grant university MSU's foundation was agricultural science.
MSU photo 2 By combining online course with hands-on activities, the university is giving horse enthusiasts a new way of learning with
My Horse University.
Adding the ease of self paced courses and learning modules, students can check their level of mastery of the courses and receive feedback
from faculty. Units within courses take between 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete. Courses will vary in length based on the topic but will
take from 6-12 hours to complete.
My Horse University has a goal of being the premiere provider of learning and experience for horse enthusiasts since its founding in 2005.
Learn2Grow.com
MSU has taken another area related to agricultural science and made it available online to casual and advanced gardeners.
Horticulture Gardening Institute, in collaboration with the university introduced Learn2Grow.com.
Learn2grow.com is a site that offers free articles, a plant database and online community forums for plant enthusiasts to share information
ranging from problem solving techniques to Garden Guides.
Learn2Grow.com online courses are inspired by MSU award winning Horticulture Gardening Institution. Information is easily available far
beyond Michigan borders.
MSU's Confucius InstituteIn addition to distance learning courses related to agriculture, the university is MSU at the forefront of embracing global education.
While the Chinese economy continues to grow, an increasing number of people in the United States have
become interested in learning Chinese. One survey found that there are more than 30,000 to 50,000 U.S. students studying Mandarin today, according to
zdnet.com.
With an emphasis on global education, MSU's Confucius Institute and MSU Global are teaming up with Michigan Virtual University to give every high
school student in Michigan the opportunity to learn the Chinese language. MSU's
Confucius Institute
is the first Language Institute to offer Chinese language.
The one-hour course in Mandarin Chinese is offered four days a week and is available through Michigan Virtual High School and Michigan Virtual
University. Once a week, native Mandarin speakers from Michigan State hold online teleconferences where small groups of student interact.
With innovative online learning programs, such as My Horse University Confucius Institute, and Learn2Grow.com, MSU's Global Ventures is offering
diverse educational options to the university's students. Michigan State is taking higher education from its campus on the Red Cedar River in East
Lansing and establishing itself as a leader in distance learning.
More About MSU
Michigan State University was founded as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan in 1855. Designated the beneficiary of the
Morrill Act endowment in 1863, Michigan State University occupies an exclusive position in Michigan's educational system.
Michigan State University offers more than 200 programs of study offered by 14 degree-granting colleges and affiliated law school. MSU has a
student population of 35,821 undergraduate, and 9,699 graduate and professional students, along with more than 500 registered student groups
and a student run radio station (Impact 89 FM) and newspaper (The State News).
MSU is one of the nation's leading research institutions offering over 27 intense research initiatives ranging from art to zoology.
MSU is located in East Lansing. The 5,200-acre campus encompasses 660 buildings including the largest single-campus residence hall system in
the country with 23 undergraduate halls, one graduate hall, and three apartment villages.
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