Bethune-Cookman University News September 2015 BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY RECEIVES UNITED STATES DISTANCE LEARNING ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION FOR ITS ONLINE COLLEGE B-CU is the First and Only University in the State of Florida to be Certified Bethune-Cookman University's Online College was recently certified as a United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) program. The B-CU Online College is the first program in the State of Florida and the second HBCU in the nation to be certified. The USDLA committee spent three days on BCU's campus last week as a culmination to a very lengthy and detailed review process. The B-CU Online College currently offers nine degrees, including three masters and six bachelors programs. "This is a very proud moment for B-CU. We are the first to attain this certification in the state. That speaks volumes about the leaders of this program and their quality of work," says President Edison O. Jackson. The USDLA is one of the only distance learning certification programs in the United States. According to the USDLA, a certified program represents an institution that adheres to a recognized standard of performance and is committed to offering a first-quality, distance learning program. The certification process seeks excellence across a range of distance learning settings. While this review period has not been easy, it is well worth it to the B-CU team. "We are so overjoyed to receive this stamp of approval from the USDLA. We are working hard to make sure that our online programs offer great student and faculty experiences," says Dr. Arletha McSwain, Dean of The Online College. The USDLA's goals are to: inform and protect the students; provide a framework for improvement; and assist with continued growth. B-CU will work closely with the USDLA to maintain the quality and strength of the online programs. The USDLA certification is awarded for five years and is subject to performance and annual review SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.