eCollege Recognizes Excellence in Online Education at Annual Conference

DENVER, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- eCollege, the nation's leading provider of comprehensive eLearning technology and services to education, presented its annual partnership and excellence in online education awards during CiTE, the company's annual users' conference. The awards recognize the dedication of eCollege's decade-long partners and honor excellence in the development, delivery and management of successful online education programs.

Nine institutions received the 10-Year Partnership Award, which recognizes the colleges and universities that have leveraged the eCollege platform for an entire decade to help thousands of students succeed through online courses. This year's 10-Year Partnership Award recipients are:

    -- Azusa Pacific University
    -- Barton County Community College
    -- Blue Mountain Community College
    -- Eastern Michigan University
    -- Hope International University
    -- Santa Monica College
    -- SetonWorldWide
    -- University of Pennsylvania
    -- University of Wyoming

"eCollege is committed to the success of our educational partners, and our longstanding partnerships with these visionary institutions have revolutionized education across the country for thousands of students," said eCollege President Matt Leavy.

Four administrators received eCollege's Excellence in Online Administration Awards, which are given to those who have demonstrated a commitment to quality and innovation while directing, managing and administering large and growing online programs. This year's Excellence in Online Administration recipients are:

    -- Ruth Black, Chapman University College
    -- Vanessa Cox, University of Dallas
    -- Laura Malcolm, Kaplan University
    -- Philip DiSalvio, SetonWorldWide

eCollege also presented Excellence in Online Teaching Awards to four instructors who have leveraged the eCollege solution to create superior online content, develop highly engaging learning and form collaborative learning relationships with students. This year's Excellence in Online Teaching recipients are:

    -- Gabrielle Bray, Gwinnett County Online Campus
    -- Nancy LaChance, DeVry University
    -- Cathy Malone, University of North Alabama in Florence
    -- Lilia Pavlovsky, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

"CiTE 2008: Scaling the Heights of eLearning" gathered over 450 decision makers and other online administrators and faculty members of online programs. The annual eCollege users' conference provides an open forum for collaboration on topics that are shaping today's online programs. Sessions addressed topics such as enhancing learning with Web 2.0, learning outcome assessment, content management and plagiarism prevention in online courses.

About eCollege

eCollege, a Pearson company LSE: PSON NYSE: PSO, is a leading provider of value-added information services to postsecondary institutions and K-12 education. The company provides a comprehensive, on-demand eLearning solution that supports many of the most successful, fully online degree, certificate/diploma and professional development programs in the country, and increasingly, around the world. Pearson, the international media company, is the global leader in educational publishing, assessment, information and services, helping people of all ages to learn at their own pace, in their own way. In addition to Education, Pearson's primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, visit www.ecollege.com or www.pearson.com.