* "The Third Element: Student Services for Distance and Distributed Learning" is scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 1999 noon-1:30 PM (PT) sponsored by the California State University's Commission on the Extended University. Most institutions involved in distance and distributed education are concerned about two key elements: academic issues (curriculum and faculty) and technology. While it is essential to get these pieces right, the third element, student services and support, is often the most crucial to success or failure in technology-based education.

"The Third Element" brings together: Warren Ashley (California State University, Dominguez Hills), Pam MacBrayne (University of Maine System) and Janet Ross-Kendall (Washington State University). Register by calling: 209-278-2058.

* May 26-27, 1999 is the date for Creating Effective Online Instruction: A Hands-on Conference for Faculty and Developers," presented by the Online Academy and featuring national award-winning teams and their courses. The event is sponsored by the University of Kansas in Lawrence. For a detailed brochure go to: www.kumc.edu/kuce/app/online

* The Summer Institute for Intercultural Communications is scheduled to hold 3 Sessions of concurrent Workshops: July 14-16, July 19-23 and July 26-30, 1999. This wide range of workshops and seminars is designed to meet the needs of professionals in the areas of intercultural and multicultural communication in both domestic and international arenas. For further information see: www.intercultural.org (Name: SIIC, Password: brochure)

* The 15th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning Conference will be held August 4-6, 1999 in Madison, WI at the Marriott West. The Annual Conference is recognized internationally for its quality and integrity. Each year it provides a forum for the exchange of information on distance education and training. It addresses the needs of educators, trainers, managers and designers throughout the world. The conference will feature 90 sessions and workshops with an emphasis on "how to" guidelines and techniques, best practices, successful solutions and new development and trends - in addition to Exhibits. For more information see: www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/

* August 12 and 13, 1999 - 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, Michigan), Halle Library will sponsor a workshop that will provide hands-on experience and practical applications in how to blend interactive television (two-way video and two-way audio) and online technologies to actively engage learners, stimulate higher-level thinking and capture scheduling efficiencies. Topics will include ITV best practices (tips and techniques), how to create web sites and integrate multimedia applications, learner support systems, and accreditation data (what to collect and what to do with it). To obtain more information or a registration form, go to: www.dldynamics.com

* PictureTel Users Group conference is scheduled for September 12-15, 1999 in Sacramento, CA at the Sacramento Convention Center. Participate in educational experiences, explore new Videoconferencing innovations and demonstrations, exchange perspectives and experiences and hear about PictureTel's directions. For more information see: www.pug.com/apug/hot.htm

* Evaluating Web-based Courses will be held at the Rochester Institute of Technology, on October 1-2, 1999. The workshop will cover various aspects of quality assurance and improvement, with a focus on teaching and learning but also covering cost analysis. People with other interests in the study of technology in distance learning should also find this useful. Put the dates on your calendar and sign up for the free evaluation newsletter, F-LIGHT; it comes out once a month and, in addition to information on recent studies, includes information on upcoming workshops, Flashlight Online, new tool kits, etc. You can sign up by sending email to listproc@listproc.wsu.edu with the message SUBSCRIBE F-LIGHT (your name).

* The Governor's Wisconsin Educational Technology Conference (GWETC) - 1999 is scheduled for October 12-14 at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee, WI, with hands-on Workshops and Labs on the 11th and 12th. Now in its seventh year, GWETC is geared to K-12, Higher education and the private sector. For this year's conference, there will be three Keynote Speakers, over 200 Presentations, more than 200 Exhibits, and 20 plus hands-on Workshops and Labs. Special Events are also being added to this year's expanded Conference: Poster Sessions, Exhibitor Showcases, Hands-on Classrooms and Learning and Cultural Tours. For further information go to: www.gwetc.org