I am Laura N. Gasaway, Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am grateful to have this opportunity to present testimony on distance education on behalf of the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education, and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, as well as the organizations listed at the end of this testimony.
Education is the principal societal function for developing our nation's human resources.
As we move into an information age where both cooperation and competition will be played out on a global stage, the ability of the United States to meet its domestic and international challenges and responsibilities will depend critically on its educational capacity. For decades, distance education has expanded the reach of educational programs in time and space, thereby expanding the nation's capacity to educate its citizens. New developments in information technology and digital networks provide the opportunity to expand and enrich distance education. Whether it is professionals working long hours or parents meeting family commitments at home, the flexible nature of technology now allows people to access educational programs when their own schedules permit. Our institutions are using technologies in innovative ways to provide instruction via satellite, one and two-way video, and over the Internet.