For small, private, brick and mortar colleges and universities, the shift toward online education can often seem like a leap into the unknown. However, in the Spring of 2008, The Learning House, Inc. — a total online education solutions provider — took its own step into new territory with the launch of its pre-packaged Ready-To-Launch Online Programs.

Based out of Louisville, Ky., Learning House has been in the distance learning business since 1985. Since this time, Learning House has built a strong reputation as a leading online education solutions partner for small colleges and universities seeking to implement, maintain and manage distance learning programs.

Over the years, Learning House has witnessed many client reactions to the initial stages of designing a fully-interactive online campus. Most often, administrators, faculty and staff find themselves at a loss for words when first trying to envision the implementation of a virtual campus. And there is always one, big question waiting to be answered: Where do we begin?

It is this question that sparked Learning House’s interest in offering online Ready-to Launch Programs. These easily customizable online programs are designed to alleviate the potential stress of building a new and inclusive online learning environment.

With this new service, clients have the ability to select from a set of pre-determined courses within Learning House’s course catalog designated to meet the requirements for offering a bachelor’s degree online. By doing so, clients do not have to build an online campus from scratch. Furthermore, Learning House guarantees the launch of any client’s Ready-to-Launch Program within 60 days or less. Ready-to-Launch Programs are also available for non-degree programs, such as dual enrollment or general education.

However, the most appealing aspect of the Ready-to-Launch Programs is the client’s ability to modify the structure and details of any online program package to suit their specific needs. In fact, clients may incorporate specialty courses found within Learning House’s course catalog into a Ready-to-Launch course package upon request.

Within the first months of their availability, several higher education institutions, including both new and old clients, have opted to take advantage of Learning House’s Ready-to-Launch Programs. Midland Lutheran College, an undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Fremont, Neb., was one of the first clients to benefit from the online Ready-to-Launch Programs. The college’s summer general education program will launch this summer alongside degree programs in business administration and criminal justice. Other online programs offered by Midland include Post Baccalaureate Certification in Secondary Education, Writing Certificate, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and RN-BSN Baccalaureate Experiential Nursing Degree.

Meanwhile, clients such as Hannibal La Grange College, who launched its online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) program in Fall 2006, have also taken advantage of the Ready-to-Launch Programs. Hannibal La Grange — a four-year liberal arts Christian college that was founded in LaGrange, Miss. in 1858 — chose to expand its online campus with the introduction of an online Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice, as well as summer general education courses.

Other colleges to incorporate Ready-to-Launch Programs include Brescia University (Kentucky), Bryan College (Tennessee), Highland Community College (Kansas), Hiwassee College (Tennessee) and Louisiana College (Louisiana).

The Ready-to-Launch Programs offered by Learning House include: Bachelor’s in Business Administration — Ready to Launch — Degree Completion, Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice — Ready to Launch — Degree Completion, Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts — Ready to Launch — Degree Completion, Dual Enrollment — Ready to Launch — Online Courses, and General Education — Ready to Launch — Online Courses.