Research provides ample evidence that online programs can yield institutional cost efficiencies while improving learning and reducing costs to learners. Strengthening the business of education—quality education at capacity enrollment—online learning can help schools prepare for "increasingly dire budget circumstances."[1]

How do online programs succeed in integrating mission, quality and cost? How do prospective online learners select from the growing array of online programs? How do learning outcomes demonstrably improve while cost of instruction demonstrably decreases?

These are a few of the questions answered in Sloan-C’s forthcoming volume: Quality Studies: Online Education Practice and Direction, Volume 4 in the Sloan-C Series. Led by national expert Tana Bishop, Associate Dean for Administration in the Graduate School at University of Maryland University College, the cost effectiveness seminar invites you to preview the cost effectiveness studies, receive the forthcoming volume upon publication, and consult with editors and practitioners—via an affordable, convenient online discussion forum. Three seminars in the series are open for registration. Here’s how the seminars proceed:

Topic	Editor & Moderator	Week 1 Read 3 papers and comment	Week 2 Introductions; learn forum	Week 3 Discuss topics; receive synopses
Cost Effectiveness	Tana Bishop	April 3-9	April 10-16	April 17-21
Access	John Sener	May 1-7	May 8-14	May 15-19
Student Satisfaction	Meg Benke	June 5-11	June 12-18	June 19-23

The Sloan-C Third Thursday online seminar on Cost Effectiveness commences this week, and registration is open through April 17. For a fee of $79.95, obtain the cost effectiveness previews, Volume 4, and a synthesis of the August 2002 seminar. Register online at: https://secured.sloanconsortium.org/sloancseminars/registration/index.htm

1 “Another Bleak Budget Year.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. January 3, 2003.