WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Funded on a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), a task force comprised of representatives of leading national organizations in online and e-learning in higher education, has issued a report on the future of online learning in higher education. The Task Force includes representatives from the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC), the Association of Continuing Higher Education (ACHE), EDUCAUSE, the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C), UPCEA and the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET).

The Summit on the Future of Online Learning held in Chicago in September 2011 addressed many of the issues facing online learning in higher education today. An outcome of the Summit was a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to convene an Inter-Organizational Task Force on Online Learning.

"Each of these organizations is deeply engaged in the development, delivery and support of high quality online education," said Robert Hansen, CEO of UPCEA."This report lays the foundation for working together with the goal of advancing the interests of the students and institutions we serve through quality online learning."

The report, issued October 3rd, 2012, calls for several action steps to achieve that goal:

"This is a unique initiative among the leading national associations in online and e-learning in higher education," said Ray Schroeder, Chair of the Task Force and Associate Vice Chancellor at the University of Illinois at Springfield."In the rapidly evolving online environment, it is important that we draw upon the knowledge and experience of those who represent the colleges and universities who have demonstrated their commitment to quality and innovation in this field."

Please visit http://www.upcea.edu to view the full report.

Contact: Robert J. Hansen, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer University Professional & Continuing Education Association rhansen@upcea.edu 202-659-3130

Ray Schroeder Associate VCAA for Online Learning University of Illinois Springfield Schroeder.ray@uis.edu 217-206-7531

SOURCE University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA)

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Online learning organizations create a national e-learning alliance to promote access to quality higher education online

TORONTO, Oct. 3, 2012 /CNW/ - A new online educational consortium, which will give students open access to the growing number of online courses and programs from institutions across the province, is one of many commitments outlined in the Council of Ontario Universities' (COU) submission to the provincial government.

The paper, Transforming Ontario Universities, is a response to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' discussionpaper that launched sector-wide consultations and institutional dialogues on how to improve Ontario's postsecondary sector for the 21st century learner.

"The Ministry's consultations confirmed that university faculty and staff are continually enhancing the educational experience for students," says Alastair Summerlee, Chair of COU and President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guelph. "These discussions have provided further momentum to build on the numerous innovations taking place on campuses across the province."

In addition to committing to the online consortium, universities are also working together to improve Ontario's credit transfer system; advance the definition and assessment of learning outcomes, so students and employers know what knowledge and skills they will acquire from their programs; and expand opportunities for experiential learning, so students are better equipped for their careers.

The submission also discusses ways to leverage existing innovations and share best practices in different areas, such as teaching and learning, credential options and degree supplements, including e-learning portfolios that provide students with a list of their learning outcomes and volunteer activities beyond the classroom to demonstrate their experiences and skill sets to future employers.

"Universities continuously update course content and identify new academic programs that meet student and labour market demand. They create new experiential and e-learning opportunities that will best prepare today's students for the future," says Bonnie M. Patterson, COU's President and CEO. "By continuing to effectively manage costs, they are ensuring that financial resources stay dedicated to teaching and learning activities, and essential student supports."

View the submission, Transforming Ontario Universities.

Visit the COU website at http://www.cou.on.ca Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CouncilofOntarioUniversities Follow us on Twitter at @OntUniv

SOURCE: Council of Ontario Universities

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Ontario universities respond to need for greater access to online education

NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Columbia Business School Executive Education announced the launch of its first online executive education program, as part of a larger initiative to place the School as an innovative leader in executive education online learning. The program, in partnership with the Institute for Personal Leadership (IPL), offers a wider community of business professionals the opportunity to experience executive education in a dynamic online format that provides an interactive learning experience much beyond traditional online education programs.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120905/NY68578LOGO )

The inaugural program, Personal Leadership Online, taught by Professor Hitendra Wadhwa, Columbia Business School's director of e-learning and founder of the Institute for Personal Leadership, provides insights and tools to gain mastery over one's goals, values, purpose, thoughts, emotions, beliefs, mindsets and motivations, so executives can operate at their best in all moments, become a more effective leader, build stronger relationships, and experience greater fulfillment at work and in life.

"As Columbia Business School's first venture into online executive education, we created this program and online format to substantially extend the reach of executive education programs within organizations and communities worldwide," said Professor Wadhwa. "Our online platform delivers an experience never before seen in online learning in a way that keeps participants interested and engaged."

Personal Leadership Online is offered in two versions the Essentials Edition and Executive Edition running from 10 to 12 weeks and priced at $989 and $1899, respectively. The program guides participants through two to three modules of core lecture content per week, with each module consisting of 30 minutes or more in high-quality video. The compelling documentary-style video lectures produced in partnership with former BBC executive Andrea Miller take students outside the halls of Columbia Business School to the university's campus and other New York landmarks.

In addition to video lecture content, the participants are able to engage with faculty in several live sessions through the course of the program. Participants also interact with each other throughout the program through a number of structured online formats. A second online program, Driving Strategic Impact, will commence spring 2013. Additional information on Columbia Business School's Executive Education online programs is available at: http://www.gsb.columbia.edu/execed/online-programs.

About Columbia Business School Led by Dean Glenn Hubbard, the Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School seeks to provide a truly global business education that lasts and evolves over a lifetime, preparing students for strong leadership in any industry. The School's cutting-edge curriculum bridges pioneering academic theory with industry practice, imparting not only functional skills but the entrepreneurial mindset required to recognize and capture opportunity in a competitive business environment. Beyond academic rigor and teaching excellence, the School offers programs that are designed to give students practical experience making decisions in real-world environments. The strength of its ideas, the breadth and accessibility of its alumni network, and the extent of its connections to New York City combine to make Columbia Business School one of the most innovative and dynamic business communities in the world. The School offers MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) degrees, as well as non-degree executive education programs. For more information, visit http://www.gsb.columbia.edu.

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Columbia Business School Launches Its First Online Executive Education Program

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02-10-2012 09:52 Subscribe for more: Watch More of this show: In this episode of Daily Dose, Jillian Michaels and Janice talk about their favorite blooper moments throughout the season. So, who do you think is funnier? Jillian or Janice? Make sure to leave your comments after the video! Daily Dose with Jillian Michaels Jillian Michaels: fitness expert, life coach, best-selling author and host of Everyday Health's Daily Dose. Jillian along with her co-host, Janice Ungaro, discusses a range of topics, from exercise and nutrition to finding success in all aspects of life. It is a mix of one-on-one interviews and musings which leads viewers on a journey to unlock their fullest potential. Jillian Michaels Jillian is one of the leading health and wellness experts in the country. She contributes to and is a New York Times best-selling author. She was the trainer and life coach on The Biggest Loser for six years and Losing it with Jillian (NBC) and she has released numerous exercise DVDs. Personalized diet and fitness plans by Jillian are available through which syncs seamlessly to her mobile application published by Everyday Health. Her mobile app is available on iTunes and receives a 4 star rating. Jillian has a long-standing relationship with Everyday Health, which launched her website, JillianMichaels.com, in 1996. Jillian Michaels Facebook: Twitter: Google Plus: Pinterest: Janice Ungaro Facebook: ...

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Favorite Daily Dose Bloopers⎢Daily Dose With Jillian Michaels | Everyday Health - Video

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01-10-2012 12:05 Go Here for more info: or see us here: No more excuses, no more waiting -- it's time to put yourself first and make your health and fitness a priority! You CAN achieve results like the people you see on this site, you CAN improve your health and fitness; you CAN reach all of your fitness goals! Join Jari Love and her team of Get RIPPED! trainers so we can help you succeed with all of your health and fitness goals. Men and women of all fitness levels are welcome! You'll never get bored with the huge variety of activities and you'll thrive in our friendly, supportive environment. You simply cannot get classes like this anywhere else! Jari and her amazing team of instructors always show modifications in each class so that all fitness levels get a great workout and feel success. Every class you attend will be something different and exciting so that your body never adapts. Bootcamp classes could involve everything from spin, RIPPED!, circuits, cross-fit, ball-work, slides, treadmill/elliptical drills and much, much more! You'll make new friends, improve your fitness level and gain confidence. Let us help you be the best that you can be so you can give your best to others! Jari Love:GetRIPPED! Bootcamp in Calgary, Alberta, Canada's Number One Choice for Fitness & Wellness health & Vitality

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Jari Love:GetRIPPED! Bootcamp in Calgary, Alberta, CANADA - Video

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02-10-2012 18:11 Subscribe Now: Watch More: Hammer curls and bicep curls are very different exercises in a number of different interesting ways. Learn the difference between hammer curls and bicep curls with help from a health and fitness expert with fifteen years of experience in this free video clip. Expert: Jeremy Shore Bio: Jeremy Shore is a health and fitness expert with 15 years experience in the fitness industry. Filmmaker: Jeremy Shore Series Description: Staying fit and being healthy is all about what exercises you're doing and how you're doing them. Learn about the basics of fitness and put together a routine that works for you with help from a health and fitness expert with fifteen years of experience in this free video series.

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The Difference Between Hammer Curls

FREMONT -- A Fremont-based organization dedicated to improving the health of Tri-City area residents has received a grant from Safeway's charity arm.

The Safeway Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the Pleasanton-based supermarket chain, last week donated $54,568 to the Tri-City Health Center.

The grant will help fund the center's child nutrition and fitness programs, which are being conducted in partnership with the YMCA. About 60 children between the ages 9 and 13 participate in the programs, whose goal is to prevent child obesity.

The Tri-City Health Center is a not-for-profit community organization that strives to promote optimal health, eliminate preventable diseases and improve the quality of life for every person and family in southern Alameda County.

The donation is part of $2 million in grants the Safeway Foundation is providing to community health programs and hospitals nationwide.

"Our commitment is to strengthen communities, create pioneering programs, expand services and implement new strategies to support the health of children and teens," said Larree Renda, Safeway executive vice president and chair of the Safeway Foundation.

Contact Chris De Benedetti at 510-353-7011. Follow him at Twitter.com/cdebenedetti.

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Fremont health center receives grant to fight childhood obesity

Health and fitness can be a scary topic for anyone. No matter where you are on your health and fitness journey you will be required to go where you are uncomfortable, on purpose, for a pay off that you may not even immediately see! This is the cost of improving your quality of life. Purposely stressing the body to prove its capabilities; embracing the changes that, in the long run, are good for you. Geesh, that sounds way too intense.

For this reason I find our health culture more likely to market the magical tricks and quick fixes; avoiding the lesson that learning to thrive in those uncomfortable spaces will, in the long run, leave you feeling more energized, refreshed, and capable of coping with your daily challenges. Time has proven this to me, and so I have acquired a list of healthy habit creating pointers to help make those uncomfortable spaces easier to thrive through. It is important to keep change as simple as it can be. That being said I will start with one small step, giving you a direction to take until I can share more with you next week.

Start small

Slowly build up your courage. Going too big too fast decreases your chance at success. It is much harder to continually feel that you have to start over, than to accept and maintain small gains, building courageous confidence along the way. Look at your lifestyle and identify your needs. Answer these questions: How much time/energy/money do I have for this need right now? What are my obstacles that I can control? What resources do I have handy? Where and who do I have for support? Use these questions to determine how much change you can realistically cope with each week.

For example, I would like to be a great and flexible yogi by the end of this year. Starting from scratch, I could go broke, be injured, and burn myself out trying to master all the moves on top of my current lifestyle. For right now I have my early mornings free, and an experienced friend that has given me simple poses to do each morning before my day takes off. I might not be bending like Bikram any time soon, but each day I am noticing small differences that remind me why my ultimate goal is important to me. It is a start. Most importantly, no matter how big my goal, I give myself credit the small start I make every day. Through this I will build up enough courage to take on more.

I challenge you all to think big enough this week to give up your excuses. Let yourself be confident in one small step instead of not starting at all. Allow yourself to become unstuck from all or nothing thinking. I hope that you all learn something about yourself and your health habits that will start you on a greater journey.

Eat a piece of fruit with your current breakfast, instead of feeling guilty about your daily bacon intake. Have a glass of water before every meal, instead of trying to squeeze in the 4 litres milk jug of water you always forget somewhere anyway. Go for a walk around the block after supper, counting each one of those steps toward that marathon you want to run someday. Tune in next week, ready with your new found courage, to take on more healthy habit forming pointers.

Health and fitness enthusiasm is contagious around Lynda. Obtaining her degree in Kinesiology from UBC in 2008 was her first step toward making her passion her career! After extensive experience in personal training and coaching, five years of varsity ice hockey, and competing in bodybuilding figure she decided to challenge herself with the business side of health and fitness; local business Target Fitness. To contact Lynda with questions or feedback please email targetfitness@hotmail.com.

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Life Health

Kenosha Visiting Nurse Association

FLU SHOTS: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Kenosha Visiting Nurse Association, 600 52nd St., Kenosha (third floor). The fee is $32 and payable by cash, check or charge. Medicare Part B, WEA and Select Humana Plans accepted. For more information, call (262) 656-8400.

Waterford Public Library

Nourishing Life & Recovering Health: Learn about the general principles of nutrition from Maureen McNulty, a licensed acupuncturist, certified herbalist and licensed massage therapist. Nutrition advice will be from both a Western and Eastern perspective. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 and 15. Free. Advance registration is required, call (262) 534-3988. Waterford Public Library, 101 N. River St., Waterford.

Western Racine County

IMMUNIZATIONS AND FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CLINICS:

Childrens vaccines include: Chicken pox, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Hib meningitis, HPV, measles, meningococcal, mumps, pertussis, pneumococcal, polio, rotavirus, rubella and tetanus.

Adult vaccines include: Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), hepatitis A (severe food poisoning) and hepatitis B. TB skin test (must call 24 hours in advance to schedule), $10 plus the following administration fees.

Resident fees: Administration fee is $10 for one immunization, $15 for two and $20 for three or more. Non-resident fees: Administration fee is $20 for one immunization, $25 for two and $30 for three or more. Payment must be made by check or cash only. Badger Care and Medicaid fees are exempt with card.

n Oct. 10, Western Racine County Health Department, 156 E. State St., Burlington, 4-6 p.m.

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Health and Fitness File

CLINIC Saturday Free Vein Screening. Brazos Vein Institute, 2605 Osler Boulevard, Bryan. Identify the cause of leg problems originating from vein disease. Appointments are required: 776-WALK.

Tuesday Free Medical Clinic, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Bridge Ministries, 1002 E. 29th St., Bryan.

Ongoing Brazos County Health Department immunization clinics. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays; 10:30 a.m. (19 and older) and 2 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. 201 N. Texas Ave., Bryan. $5 per child, $30 per adult. http://www.brazoshealth.org, 361-4440.

Move Wednesday Seniors Golf Tournament, 7:30 a.m. Bryan Municipal Golf Course, 206 W. Villa Maria Road in Bryan. $5 entry.

Brazos Valley Laughter Yoga Circle, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Unity Church, 4016 Stillmeadow Drive. Combination of laughter exercises, deep breathing and relaxation. Good for seniors, but open to everyone. No mats required. $5 suggested donation. laughwithangelika@yahoo.com or 693-0402.

Thursday Sit and Fit Chair Exercise Class, noon to 12:45 p.m. Southwood Community Center. mrodgers@cstx.gov or 764-6371.

Friday Senior Ladies Tennis, 8 a.m. Gordons Tennis at Aerofit, 4455 Carter Creek Parkway, Bryan. 846-8925.

Line Dancing for Senior Adults, 10 to 11 a.m. Southwood Community Center. No partners needed. mrodgers@cstx.gov or 764-6371.

Line Dancing/Stretching for Senior Adults, 10 a.m. Lincoln Recreation Center. 764-3779.

Saturday 4th Annual Buffalo Stampede Half Marathon and 5K, 7:30 a.m. http://www.brazosvalleymuseum.org or 776-2195.

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Health & Fitness Calendar for Oct. 3 to 9