An institution must formulate clear and explicit goals for its distance learning programs and demonstrate that they are consistent with the institution s stated purpose. Further, an institution must demonstrate that it achieves these goals and that its distance learning programs are effective and comply with all applicable Criteria. The University has distance learning programs that are fully supportive of its mission. It is imperative that the University be relevant to the community.
Efforts are underway to clarify and make explicit goals for distance learning.
Demand for graduate and certification courses led to the establishment of locations to satisfy that demand. Increase in demand led to the establishment of the Northwest Houston Graduate Center, which, subsequently moved to its current location at Prime Bank Spring, Texas. It initially used the network for conferences, while encouraging member institutions to experiment with and develop educational uses for the network. The lack of educational programs outside of urban areas for registered nurses to obtain a baccalaureate degree led the College of Nursing to pursue the possibility of using the network to establish a link with Blinn College in College Station as an outreach. The Texas Legislature questioned the wisdom of establishing new four-year universities and encouraged experimentation with the concept of MITC s.