Cornell University President Hunter Rawlings has announced the formation of a new Provost's Advisory Committee on Distance Learning to help in the development of plans for distance-learning activities.

The committee of eight includes seven faculty members and is chaired by William Arms, professor of computer science. The other members of the committee are Barry Carpenter, professor of chemistry and chemical biology; Donald Greenberg,the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Computer Graphics; Peter Lepage, professor of physics; David Lipsky, professor and director of the Institute on Conflict Resolution; Peter Martin, professor of law; Deborah Streeter, professor of agricultural, resource and managerial economics; and Robert Swieringa, the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson Graduate School of Management. Vice Provost Mary Sansalone is an ex-officio member.

"The appointment of this committee is an important means of responding to concerns raised by members of the faculty and the Faculty Senate about the university's proposals for distance learning," Rawlings said. "We intend to develop these plans in partnership with the Cornell faculty."

Rawlings noted that "... the charge to the committee is broad in scope, and the committee will consult with and give reports to both the faculty and the administration. I look forward to the deliberations and recommendations of a first-rate committee."

The charge asks the committee "... to advise the president, provost and the university on all aspects of distance education, in particular to study and make recommendations about the relationship of Cornell University to other organizations that use Cornell's name or resources for distance education. The committee will consult with and submit reports to both the university administration and the faculty."

On March 10 the university's Board of Trustees approved a recommendation to create e-Cornell, a legally separate, but Cornell-controlled, for-profit company to create and market primarily asynchronous distance-learning programs focused on executive, continuing and general education. The vote authorized the administration to take such steps as are necessary to create e-Cornell, but the resolution did not include any material financial commitment by the university to

the new entity. In addition, no decision was made on how to capitalize the new entity. Options include investment from venture capital firms, investment by alumni and/or investment by the university.

Rawlings said the vote does not commit the university to a specific plan for distance learning. Rather, he said, it enables the administration to explore with potential investors the possibility of a for-profit venture, to see whether there is sufficient interest to continue consideration of such a plan.

The Faculty Senate earlier had voted to approve a resolution that seeks the senate's participation in the development of any distance-learning plans for Cornell.

"With the appointment of this strong committee, I believe that the deliberative process can now proceed both effectively and rapidly," said J. Robert Cooke, dean of the faculty. "I anticipate that the committee will seek advice broadly, think deeply about this important and historic opportunity, and propose options that are consistent with the broad service and educational missions of the university. The Faculty Senate, in my opinion, is eager to receive recommendations and to respond thoughtfully."

Arms said he is happy to chair the committee. "Distance learning provides fascinating opportunities for Cornell to take its educational programs to a wider range of students. The committee's goal is to make this a universitywide initiative, where everybody contributes ideas and benefits from the successes. Our greatest challenge is to reconcile the need to make rapid decisions with widespread discussion and consensus-building."

Sansalone coordinated development of the plans for e-Cornell based on the recommendations from earlier distance-learning committee reports and studies, particularly the 1998 Report to the Provost on Distance Learning, which recommended the creation of a legally separate entity for distance learning.

"A number of mechanisms need to be created to realize Cornell's potential in distance learning, and e-Cornell is just one of those mechanisms," Sansalone said. "I look forward to working through the strategic issues related to distance learning with the new Provost's Advisory Committee."

Sansalone noted that a web site featuring the history and discussions of distance learning has been established at http://asc-www.dayadmin.cornell.edu/Provost.DistanceLearning/.