After pioneering the city's first Internet course (1996) and the first degree via Internet (2002), San Antonio College officials announced this week SAC Online, enhanced electronic services available to students - whether they are located across town or across the globe.

"SAC Online is an enhancement of student instruction and a variety of services that are delivered on the Internet and packaged into one convenient website," said Dr. Robert E. Zeigler, President. The website address is http://www.accd.edu/sac/online/.

He added, "This integration of electronic instruction and student support is an important step in expanding access to higher education to more people, regardless of their location."

According to Helen Torres, Director of Distance Education, the alternatives to traditional classroom instruction include Internet, video courses, and interactive videoconferencing. Student support services available at the website include application, assessment, catalog and schedule, registration, instruction, counseling, tutoring, library, Internet course readiness, financial aid, payment, and bookstore.

There were nine students enrolled in San Antonio College's first Internet course in 1996. Today, more than 4,900 students are enrolled in more than 187 Internet courses (about 22 percent of the total student enrollment). Of these students, 489 live out of state (California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington) and 69 live out of the country (Brazil, Columbia, Thailand, India, Morocco, Ukraine, and Mexico).

Students will also find it easier now to matriculate to San Antonio College from other colleges in the Alamo Community College District. Based on present trends, San Antonio College will have a growing Internet presence beyond the state and country.

For more information, call Helen Torres, Director of Distance Education, at 733-2044.