It’s no secret that Mountain State University has grounded its success in the diversity of its programs and learning options since it broke ground with innovative distance education programs in the early 1990s before other schools even considered the cutting-edge concept.

Now, MSU is adding another alternative for busy students and working adults who desire a college degree — blended learning.

According to MSU officials, the blended learning format combines the top benefits of two learning environments — the classroom and online studies.

MSU’s School of Business and Technology will be the first to roll out the new blended learning programs, beginning with this fall’s schedule.

“We’re excited to offer this new option to our students,” said Ann Nagye, co-chair of the School of Business and Technology. “With rising gas prices, increased family responsibilities and demanding work schedules, today’s student needs the flexibility a program such as this can provide.”

MSU students who elect to study in the new blended format will meet with their instructor and interact with classmates during periodic, scheduled classroom meetings, with the balance of their assignments carried out online, Nagye said.

Instead of attending class two or more times each week, as with traditional classroom-based courses, students will meet on an average of once every three weeks for lectures, projects and tests, according to Nagye. During the interim, students collaborate in an online format that provides them with peer interaction and one-on-one accessibility to their instructors.

MSU offers a variety of courses through accessible and convenient learning options, she added.

“Our students can now build their entire program schedule with a combination of blended format, individualized study and online classes, providing them with flexibility that fits any busy lifestyle,” she said. “If students prefer traditional in-seat classroom instruction, it’s still available, but the days of students having to conform to a four-days-a-week schedule no longer exist.”

The blended learning format is one more alternative MSU has made available to students who demand flexibility in academic options, Nagye said.

“For many students,” she said, “traditional classes are impossible to fit into their hectic lives. With our new blended learning course option, educational opportunities are increased, doors can be opened and success can be attained. We’re proud to develop new opportunities such as this and to serve our students through educational diversity.”

For more information about the blended learning programs available through MSU’s School of Business and Technology, or for other education options at MSU, call 866.FOR.MSU1, or visit www.mountainstate.edu.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com