STAFF REPORT

Growth in online learning at South Dakota public universities outpaces the national trend line, according to a report that will be presented this week to the South Dakota Board of Regents.

The number of students enrolled in some type of distance education course in the 2008-09 academic year was up 17 percent over the previous year, compared to a 12.9 percent growth rate nationally, as reported by the Sloan Consortium.

The unduplicated distance student head count in South Dakota was 21,998, compared to 18,815 in 2007-08.

Registrations for individual distance courses also increased last year by 14 percent to a total of 31,636.

Students enrolled in distance education coursework in South Dakota range in age from 16 to 78, with 61 percent falling in the 18-to-24 age group.

The most common way to deliver distance education was by the Internet, with 65 percent of all distance courses utilizing that method.

The five most frequently taught courses by distance were Composition II, South Dakota Indian Studies, College Algebra, Composition I and Intermediate Algebra.