Only a few months have passed in 2008; however, this short period has brought many new beginnings for The Learning House, Inc. Learning House is excited to welcome several new clients to our online family, including Founders College (Virginia), Grace College (Indiana), Hiwassee College (Tennessee), Louisiana College  (Louisiana) and Midland Lutheran College (Nebraska).  Every client brings a unique vision to the table of how online education can benefit its goals and objectives.  In each case, we are proud to be a part of not only the client’s online initiative, but the institution’s overall academic mission. 

In addition, several clients have also signed on to expand their virtual campuses with additional course offerings, degree programs or certification programs. In order to express our appreciation, we would like to tell you a little more about each of these clients and their upcoming launches.

New Clients:

Founders College (http://www.founderscollege.com/) — Founders’ exquisite 660-acre campus is located at the Berry Hill Estate in South Boston, Virginia. Known for “the Founders’ Difference,” the college promotes a revolutionary approach to higher education, in which education is logically-structured and integrated into meaningful content that trains students’ minds to think clearly and incisively. Founders, a private, for-profit, four-year institution, was founded in 2006 and opened its doors to students in September 2007. 

As part of its latest initiative, the college is implementing several online programs, including a certificate program, liberal arts courses and an accelerated degree program. The certificate program can be completed in 18 weeks and is offered through the Academy of Business and Leadership Excellence. Graduates of this new online program will possess expert knowledge in maximizing employee potential and identifying personal integrity. The accelerated degree program, on the other hand, is an 18-month degree completion program designed to attract working adults who are interested in a career change or advancement.  In addition, Founders students can take part in liberal arts core courses, which enable them to understand and interrelate the causes and effects of important ideas, events and discoveries throughout human history.

Grace College (http://www.grace.edu/) — Grace College is situated in the Midwest community of Winona Lake, Indiana just 36 miles west of Fort Wayne.  Formally known as Grace College and Seminary, the college was established in 1948 and has a proud history of offering high-quality academics and serving as a place where students can enhance the critical thinking and communication skills vital to their professions and, ultimately, discover a lifelong passion for learning.

Grace’s virtual campus, labeled Grace Online™, is an exciting, new advancement for both the college and the seminary. The college will offer a total of four graduate degrees online, including a M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership, an M.S. in Instructional Leadership, an M.A. in Local Church Studies and an M.A. in Ministry Studies. Grace is also looking to position several more degree programs online in the near future, including education and graduate counseling.

Hiwassee College (http://www.hiwassee.edu/) — Hiwassee, the oldest private two-year higher education institution in Tenn., is launching its first online courses and two online degree programs in August 2008. Each of the two degree programs will allow students to earn an Associate of Applied Science upon completion of all requirements. The two online degree programs scheduled to launch in the fall term are criminal justice and business entrepreneurship.  Students who choose to enroll in online classes will be able to complete both general education requirements and more specialized core content courses online.

Louisiana College (http://www.lacollege.edu/) — Louisiana College is the newest of Learning House’s clients. Established in 1906, the institution considers itself a private, Baptist, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences. Louisiana College is located in Pineville, Louisiana just across the Red River from Alexandria. 

As the college expands its traditional legacy of superior liberal arts education to new markets and bravely explores the new medium of online instruction, we, at the Learning House, are extremely proud to be a part of this fresh beginning.

Midland Lutheran College (http://www.mlc.edu/) — Midland Lutheran College first discovered Learning House’s total package of online education solutions at a conference hosted in our hometown of Louisville, Ky. At the conference, Midland administrators found themselves stirred by the passionate speech of Dr. Denzil Edge, Learning House founder and president, and the possibilities online education held for their institution. 

Midland is a small college that enjoys a beautiful 36-acre campus located in Fremont, Nebraska. The college is eager to see the launch of its first online courses in general education during the summer of 2008.  However, Midland is also seeking to launch several degree programs in the 2008 fall term. Proposed degrees include business, education, nursing and criminal justice.

Expansion Projects:

Hannibal LaGrange College (http://www.hlg.edu/) — Through a partnership with Learning House, Hannibal LaGrange successfully launched an online RN to BSN program in 2006.  This four-year, liberal arts Christian college did not expect to add to their online campus until they realized how online courses could help them extend the reach of their mission.  A presentation held by a Learning House Relationship Manager assigned to HLG coupled with the overall satisfied reaction to the online nursing program from faculty, staff and students led to the renewal of the contract with Learning House.  Hannibal LaGrange College is now poised to expand its online campus with additional online programs and an online extension of its ADVANCE Program — an evening, degree completion program geared toward adult learners who attend class one night a week.

This year, Hannibal will launch a summer general education program online, which will allow students to continue their education while they are home for the summer break.  Along side the continuation of its RN to BSN program, the college will launch additional online programs this fall in both Administration of Criminal Justice — offered by its ADVANCE Program — and an Early Childhood Special Education endorsement program.  HLG is looking to create future online expansion projects with intentions to launch a bachelor’s degree completion programs in both Respiratory Therapy and Organizational Management.
Brescia University (http://www.brescia.edu/) — Brescia is another seasoned client of the Learning House family who has decided to expand upon the achievement of its virtual campus.  In 2005, Brescia launched two online programs in ministry formation and social work.  In more recent developments, the university has decided to add a theology concentration to the online ministry formation program, which is expected to launch this fall.  However, the university will also commence general education courses during the summer of 2008. This shift toward summer online classes has proven quite beneficial to many college students.  Summer general education courses allow students to complete core requirements during the summer term and, ultimately, complete their degree more quickly.
To learn more about all our online clients, check out www.elearnportal.com.