Technology has revolutionized almost every aspect of our lives. We communicate, work and travel with greater speed and precision. We now use the Internet for everything from trading stocks to grocery shopping--so, it only makes sense that we would use technology for education and learning.

Imagine taking classes from the convenience of your home, office or wherever your laptop can take you. That's what the Dallas TeleCollege and distance learning is all about. The Dallas County Community Colleges have been in the distance learning business for over 25 years. In 1991, the LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications (LCET) was established to house the rapidly growing and expanding distance learning course development program. Today the DCCCD has over 15,000 distance learning enrollments every year.

Distance learning is a collaborative effort of all seven colleges of the DCCCD, each accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This program draws its strength from its faculty and the integrity of the course content, from technical to baccalaureate-transfer classes, offered by the colleges. Faculty ensure the continued success of distance learning courses by facilitating vigorous student interaction via multiple technologies.

Many aspects of the districtwide distance learning administration, technology infrastructure and instructional support service function are housed at the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications, located adjacent to the Richland College campus in North Dallas. In addition to Dallas TeleCollege, the LeCroy Center operates:

• Dallas TeleLearning, one of the nation's premier producers of educational telecommunications and distance learning products;
• Dallas Teleconferences, award-winning producer of international teleconferences on topics supporting education and training for educational institutions, businesses and government agencies; and
• STARLINK, a Texas-statewide videoconference network that produces and distributes staff development programming primarily for 90-two year colleges, technical institutions, state agencies and other public entities.