Pierce College in Lakewood will be one of 12 new colleges and universities to begin offering online courses in 2003 through eArmyU, the U.S. Army’s largest e-learning virtual university program with more than 30,000 enrolled soldiers.

Pierce College will be one of 32 institutions of higher education offering online college level courses to U.S. Army personnel throughout the world, according to IBM Business Consulting Services, which operates eArmyU.

Pierce College has been providing higher education to military personnel for more than three decades. At any one time, the college serves about 2,500 soldiers and airmen at education centers at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base near Lakewood, while others attend classes either online or at one or both of the district’s two colleges, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood and/or Pierce College Puyallup.

Pierce College will offer two degrees through eArmyU – an associate in general technology and an associate of arts and sciences. Pierce College was selected after a rigorous proposal process and is the only institution in Washington state to offer programs through eArmyU.

Pierce College is also one of the least expensive providers of military higher education in the eArmyU program.

The 32 colleges and universities participating in eArmyU are located in 19 states. The academic institutions will offer more than 3,000 courses and more than 150 academic degree programs, tripling the degree programs since eArmyU’s inception. eArmyU has delivered educational opportunities online to more than 30,500 enlisted soldiers since the program began in January 2001 and will enroll approximately 80,000 soldiers by 2005 at military installations around the world. The program is accessed at www.earmyu.com.

IBM Business Consulting Services identified colleges and universities to provide online degree programs for enlisted soldiers through a competitive process.

In concert with U.S. Army needs, the company recommended schools based on their ability to address the higher education goals and interests of soldier-students, meet the program’s technological and administrative requirements, and optimize value to the Army.

Twelve new undergraduate and graduate schools and at least 68 additional degree programs will be phased into eArmyU over the next six to nine months.
IBM Business Consulting Services anticipates adding more targeted degree programs and schools over time to meet the Army’s goals.