University of Wisconsin - Extension

The Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations was recognized by the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC) at its annual conference on March 6 as one of two Outstanding Educational Programs. This national award recognizes an institutional team or inter-institutional collaboration for innovation and excellence in the development and delivery of credit or non-credit programs. Selection was based on the documentation of excellence, learner feedback and outcomes.

"This award is so significant because it recognizes all of the people involved in the certificate series," said UW-Extension Professor Andy Lewis, who is the Vice President of Program Development at the Learning Institute. "We are a very large collaboration. UW-Extension and the Society for Nonprofit Organizations launched the Learning Institute in 1996. Wisconsin Public Television is where the programs are produced. There are a number of people in the distance education unit who have contributed, and there are faculty involved from all over the country. All of these partners are being honored with this award."

The Learning Institute launched its certificate series "Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management" nationally in 1998-99. The eight-program series was delivered via live satellite to more than 160 downlink sites across North America and Canada and reached approximately 26,000 learner contacts. The 1999-2000 series will finish this May. Beginning this spring, the programs are also available on the World Wide Web in streaming video format and as videotape learning modules.