I've searched many directories and search sites but am unable to come
up with a listing or ranking of colleges and universities specializing
in adult and/or continuing and extended education. For example,
University of Phoenix.  Can you direct me to a source that can provide
this type of information?

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 25 May 2004 18:33 PDT

Hello lcardenas-ga,

Please clarify for me exactly what you?re looking for. The terminology
in post-secondary education can get somewhat confusing. Some of the
program categories have to do with method and/or place of delivery.
Some of the program categories have to do with types of schools and
degrees/certificates grated. Many institutions offer a variety of
programs. Let?s explore what you need.

Are you looking for college-level degree programs that are geared to
working adults? Some schools (like University of Phoenix) specialize
in these students. Other schools offer both regular day-time campus
programs as well as evening/weekend programs for adult learners.

Are you looking for online/distance education programs? University of
Phoenix is big in this area as well. There are a few schools that
emphasize/specialize in online degree programs while most
colleges/universities now offer some of their courses online.

Are you looking for vocational/trade school programs? 

Are you looking for non-degree, extension type adult education programs?

There are lots of resources/directories available and I?m confident I
can find what you need once you clarify your objectives. The more you
can tell me about what you?re looking for, the more likely I will be
able to get you the information you need.

I look forward to your clarification.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by lcardenas-ga on 27 May 2004 09:22 PDT

Nothing specific.  I just need a general listing of the top 50 schools
that include ALL CE programs like University of Phoenix - public and
private. Just use University of Phoenix as a guideline. From what you
say, they're pretty comprehensive.  Hope I'm clear.

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 27 May 2004 11:05 PDT

Hello again lcardenas-ga,

I?m still not certain of what you want. I think here are the
parameters of what you?re looking for:

1) List of top 50 schools
2) College/university level degree programs
3) Offer only online and/or distance education programs

If this is correct, I don?t think your question is answerable. My
preliminary research shows that there are very few ALL/ONLY
college-level distance education schools. Even University of Phoenix
has a large on-campus program. If you?re looking for distance
education only, will you accept however many I can find?

Please clarify if I?ve misunderstood what you?re looking for. Thanks.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by lcardenas-ga on 27 May 2004 12:50 PDT

Hi czh,
Whatever you can get me will be fine.  Include vocational/trade school
programs and non-degree, extension type adult education programs if
you can.

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 27 May 2004 14:19 PDT

Hello lcardenas-ga,

I still don't know what is the controlling factor for what schools
should be included. I don't know how to proceed. Thanks.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by lcardenas-ga on 27 May 2004 14:37 PDT

I'm sorry that this has become so difficult.  I guess I'm
misunderstanding your methodology.  Can you just send me data on
colleges and universities that offer continuing education no matter if
their program is long distance, online, etc.?  Or do I need to narrow
it down?

Hello again lcardenas-ga,

Instead of asking for further clarification, I?ve collected a variety
of resources to help you with reviewing the various types of programs
that are available under the categories you?ve listed. This will help
you understand my confusion about the terminology in your question.
You said you?re looking for adult/continuing/extended education
programs.

Adult education can be applied to people who are going back to school
after a period of absence to obtain a college degree or a professional
certificate. Adult education is also frequently used for vocational
education programs including programs for people who need remedial or
specialized training. Continuing education is a label frequently
applied to courses offered for personal enrichment but it?s also often
used for required coursework for people who serve in various licensed
professions. Extended education programs are usually a combination of
personal enrichment and professional advancement courses offered by
colleges and universities without having to qualify for admissions.

Online and/or distance education is a method of delivery for any type
of education, including the ones listed above. The number of these
programs have been growing rapidly and are useful for obtaining
degrees, certificates or required credits for professional
accreditation.

I hope you can understand my confusion about how to answer your
question. I?ve collected a variety of resources to help you get an
overview of the various categories of educational institutions and
programs that fit the scope of your question. I hope that they will
provide the information you need. If not, I hope we will be able to
iterate to a more precise definition of your needs so I can get you
the information you require.

All the best.

~ czh ~


=====================================================
ADULT / CONTINUING / EXTENSION / VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
=====================================================

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html?exp=0 
The OVAE website has information, research, and resources to help
prepare young people and adults for postsecondary education,
successful careers, and productive lives.

***** This is a Federal agency that oversees various programs for
adult and continuing education. The site should give you a better
understanding of the types of schooling included in these categories.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.iacet.org/about/about.htm
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training is
a non-profit association dedicated to quality continuing education and
training programs. IACET authorizes education providers that meet
strict continuing education guidelines created in 1968.

***** This is the organization the oversees programs that grant
Continuing Education Units (CEU) for various professions.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.aaace.org/
American Association for Adult and Continuing Education

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html?exp=0
Office of Vocational and Adult Education

***** This organization shows that Adult Education is frequently
considered to be Vocational Education.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.research.umbc.edu/~ira/AEresweb.html
University of Maryland ? Adult Education Resources

***** This site will help you get a better idea of the kinds of
programs included in Adult Education.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.naepdc.org/related_links/related_links.html
National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium

-------------------------------------------------


http://adulted.about.com/
Adult / Continuing Education

***** This site offers a collection of resources on a variety of adult
education programs.


================================
ONLINE AND/OR DISTANCE EDUCATION
================================

http://www.geteducated.com/
In 1989 GetEducated.com, LLC designed and directed America?s first
online counseling center for adult learners seeking accredited online
college degrees. Today we operate the only clearinghouse in the USA
dedicated exclusively to showcasing accredited online degrees.

Best Distance Learning Graduate Schools, Business & Management (Online MBAs)
Best Distance Learning Graduate Schools, Technology
Best Distance Learning Graduate Schools, Education & Library Science
Best Distance Learning Undergraduate Schools, Business & Management (Online BA/BS)

***** This site will help you locate online college degrees.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/elhome.htm

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/directory/about.htm
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/directory/dir_a.htm
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/directory/gradonline.htm
About the E-learning directory 

The number of institutions offering courses and degrees taught via
E-learning technologies grows rapidly every month. To help you
navigate this expanding universe, we've created a searchable directory
of E-learning providers?institutions that offer courses, certificates,
and degrees via Internet, video, CD-ROM, and other distance-education
technologies.

***** This is a major directory for locating any type of online education program.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.universityalliance.com/
Merging state-of-the-art technology with the highest educational
standards, the University Alliance Online (UA) works with regionally
accredited universities to provide, via the Internet, associate?s,
bachelor?s and master?s degrees and continuing education certificate
programs in which no classroom attendance is ever required.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.worldwidelearn.com/
Founded in 1998, World Wide Learn is the world's largest directory of
educational services, featuring informative resources as well as
hundreds of e-learning courses in 249 subject categories. World Wide
Learn enables its users to quickly and easily locate effective
e-learning courseware. The directory highlights free courses and
tutorials, computer training, corporate training, post-secondary
education, professional development, personal development, and
continuing education. The company is based in Calgary, Canada.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.back2college.com/index.shtml
Back to College is an all-in- one resource for the adult returning to
college, and is continually updated.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.theonlinedegree.com/web/theonlinedegree/index.jsp
Advance your career with an online degree. Click below to check out
some of the top schools offering online degrees in fields like
Business, Marketing, Technology, Management, Design, Education,
Psychology, Nursing, Paralegal and more.

***** This is a consortium of schools offering online degrees.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.uwex.edu/disted/about.html
The Distance Education Clearinghouse is comprehensive and widely
recognized Web site bringing together distance education information
from Wisconsin, national, and international sources. New information
and resources are being added to the Distance Education Clearinghouse
on a continual basis.

Our mission is to produce a quality, highly maintained and frequently
updated Web site that provides a wide range of information about
distance education and related resources.

***** This is a portal site for anyone interested in distance education.


===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============

adult education
online education
distance education
continuing education

---

Clarification of Answer by czh-ga on 01 Jun 2004 19:48 PDT

Hello again lcardenas-ga,

I?m very disappointed that you chose to close and rate my answer
before you were completely satisfied with the information I provided.
As I indicated in my clarification requests and then demonstrated in
my answer, there is a variety of terminology involved in this field. I
gave you an overview of what is available and was expecting you to ask
further questions if my answer didn?t give you the precise information
you needed.

I?m still not clear what you mean by ?schools offering these types of
programs.? Which types of programs? Adult education? Extension
programs? Vocational education? Continuing education? Online
education? Distance education? As I explained in my answer, there are
thousands of schools offering varieties and combinations of these
programs. In the future, please give the researcher the opportunity to
get you what you want. All of us are dedicated to providing
outstanding customer service. I hate that you were less than
satisfied.

~ czh ~

---

Request for Answer Clarification by lcardenas-ga on 02 Jun 2004 10:04 PDT

Good day, czh-ga.

I'm very sorry that you are displeased with my rating. Please know
that this was in no way a reflection on your skill as a researcher.
Again, the data you provided was excellent, although I can't use it at
this time.  I did want to give you another opportunity to try again,
but I closed out my answer
because the deadline to provide this information to a client had come and
gone.  And, it appeared that I couldn't get across a clear explanation of
what I was looking for, which is my fault.  Again, thank you for your hard work.

---

Clarification of Answer by czh-ga on 02 Jun 2004 10:57 PDT

I hope that you will give Google Answers another chance. Wishing you
well for your projects.

~ czh ~

This is great data but not what I was expecting.  I was hoping for a
listing of the schools offering these types of program, not the
programs themselves.  Nonetheless, I'm sure we can use this data for
other purposes.  Thank you.