Members of Teachers College, Graduate School and the School of Continuing Education toured the state, meeting with teachers interested in obtaining graduate degrees.

"There is a large group of teachers who need continuing education credit or who want a master's and a doctorate in education," said Jackie Nelson, assistant dean of the Graduate School, who is assisting the Teachers College project.

"In the spring of 2001, we met with people who wanted to move into public school administration," she said. "While we were at various sites, we also met with teachers who wanted additional education in other areas offered by Teachers College."

Besides Nelson, Ball State administrators participating in the meetings and promoting the distance education option include: Roy Weaver, dean of Teachers College; John Hill, director of off-campus education programs for the School of Continuing Education; and Joe McKinney, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership.

The educational leadership department oversees the educational administration graduate program, which saw its enrollment jump from 76 in 2000-2001 to 169 for the spring of 2002. The department's doctoral program has increased by 15 students.

Classes are taught via interactive television, the Internet and on-site in Carmel and Fort Wayne.

"Getting out and meeting potential distance learning students is the key," McKinney said. "There are so many teachers who want to move into administration, which is something the state badly needs at this time.

"Our distance education program is helping to reach educational professionals statewide," he said. "It also gives Ball State a more diverse student population by going to these markets around the state."

This summer, the educational leadership department will begin a joint master's program with Indiana University at its Richmond campus.