... From the Editors
A letter from the editors of the Sloan-C View

This issue gives perspectives on business models for online education:

• In “University of Phoenix: A Pioneer in Online Education,” Craig Swenson and Donna Myer describe UOP’s academic vision for every course, program and campus.
• In Lessons from the Edge, Gary Berg, Director of Extended Education at California State University Channel Islands, shares insights reported at length in his book of the same name.
• In “Training and Mentoring: Redefining the Online Instructor,” Kathleen Ives, Sloan-C Events Coordinator, describes UOP’s approach to faculty/learner relationships as client relationships.
• “Identifying Successful Business Strategies for Distance Learning,” by Christine Geith of MSU, Steve Schiffman of the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, and Karen Vignare of the Rochester Institute of Technology identify knowledge gaps about business models and strategies. Help create an online workshop that’s useful to you by answering a brief survey.
• In "Hot off the Blog," Ray Schroeder of the University of Illinois at Springfield looks at news items about online for-profit initiatives at all levels of education.

• Welcome to new and updated programs in the Sloan-C Catalog. Why not submit your ALN programs so visitors to the Catalog can see what distinguishes your programs?
• In Sloan-C Member News, UMassOnline reports continuing growth, and Quality Matters receives the Maryland Distance Learning Association’s distinguished program award for 2005.

• Upcoming online workshops are opportunities to learn and to network with colleagues worldwide. Join Sloan-C for the Marketing Online Programs — Start Date: July 20, 2005. Sign up here to be notified of new events, and for more information, and to register, visit Sloan-C Online Events.
• Time to plan your attendance at the 11th ALN Conference: The Power of Online Learning: Mobilizing to Expand Community, in Orlando, Florida, November 17–19, 2005. Remember, premium members receive discounts on conference attendance.
• Annual awards will be conferred at the Conference. For information about award nominations and applications, please visit http://www.sloan-c.org/aboutus/awards.asp.
• Read about 2004 awards in the June issue of JALN.

For a wealth of useful information, please visit the Sloan-C free resources page. And, to contribute in kind, please share your effective practices with the higher education online community in the Sloan-C effective practices collection.