JIU named one of the Top 10 Online Universities in the World

Washington, D.C., (News Release Wire) September 16, 2008 - Five American universities have made the top ten of the best online universities in the world for the first time according to the 5th Edition of the BEST WORST IN ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS. The ratings are edited by online higher education pioneer, Professor Fred DiUlus.

DiUlus has been rating online colleges continuously since 2002. He started rating these institutions when there were barely 20 in existence and notes the list is growing rapidly. He states, "The popularity of online education will grow to unimaginable proportions." He predicts the number of schools rated will double and perhaps triple in less than two years.

"The hype that a degree from an online university somehow just does not measure up to a degree acquired by sitting in a traditional classroom for years just doesn't add up", offers DiUlus. "Our surveys consistently show that students who have experienced both types of learning rate an online education as superior, or at least equal to, that of a traditional experience by a margin of 70% of the time."

Each school's rating is based on the overall online program quality of content and delivery using a five point rating system that puts considerable emphasis on the experience of each institution's faculty. The top university is perennial #1, the University of London. It is followed by what DiUlus refers to as "the granddaddy" of US online universities and the top rated online university in the USA. Jones International, Indiana, USF, UMass, and Regent are all new additions to the top ten online educators list this year.

1. University of London
2. University of Phoenix
3. University of South Africa
4. University of Southern Queensland
5. Golden Gate University
6. Jones International University
7. Indiana University
8. University of South Florida
9. University of Massachusetts
10. Regent University

DiUlus says he leaves the measurement of a school's social value, research capabilities, sports programs, student popularity, curb appeal, and latest technology advancements to the hard core rating services that measure traditional schools. "Window dressing", DiUlus states, "is not one of my considerations."

JIU Undergraduate Military Book Program

Jones International University offers an Undergraduate Military Book Program. The program covers the cost of all course materials for undergraduate military students. Course materials include all textbooks, e-books and downloadable required reading for a given course. This program is available to military students for the duration of their undergraduate studies. To be eligible for the program, students must successfully complete their course(s) each term.

Receiving Course Materials

Textbooks, e-books and downloadable readings are ordered each month for all undergraduate students by the day after Registration Close. All textbooks will be shipped by MBS Direct to the student prior to the start of the course.

• Register Early - students are encouraged to register early as that will increase the opportunity of receiving materials before the respective course starts.
• ebooks and Downloads - some courses allow for the use of ebooks or downloadable course materials, which students will download or access online. In these cases, students will be given instructions to access these materials.
• International Students - ebooks will be assigned to all international students wherever possible. Students who are stationed overseas are encouraged to register early to prevent shipping delays where hard copies of textbooks are the only option.
• Accurate Addresses - it is crucial that students make sure that they have accurate address information on file with JIU. Inaccurate information could result in shipping delays.

Returning Course Materials

Undergraduate students who do not successfully complete their course or drop a course and do not register for the same course in the next term are required to return all textbooks issued through the Undergraduate Military Book Program. Failure to return textbooks in a timely manner will result in a balance due for the cost of the course materials.

• Returning Textbooks - Students are responsible for returning textbooks to MBS Direct at their own cost to the address below. Please include original packing slip with your return to ensure proper credit.
• Shipping Address -
  MBS Direct
  [Insert your order number here]
  2711 West Ash St.
  Columbia, MO 65203

Book Program FAQs

• What if I have already ordered my materials for my January course(s)? If you've already ordered your books from MBS, please contact April Gonzales at 303.784.8192 to make arrangements.
• Is the vocational rehabilitation group included in this offer? Yes, those individuals taking advantage of vocational rehabilitation will be included in this program.
• Are there special accommodations for me if I am overseas and have an international mailing address? The JIU policy states that e-books will be assigned to all international students wherever available to eliminate international shipping issues. International students are encouraged to register early to prevent any shipping delays.
• What constitutes early registration? An early registration includes any course registration that has been completed by the 15th of the month prior to the given course's start date. An early registration will increase the early arrival of materials.
• What constitutes successful completion of my course? Successful completion means that you have completed a given course with a passing grade.
• Will I receive a return shipping label with each order? No. Students are responsible for returning textbooks to MBS Direct for dropped courses.
• How do I reach the MBS Customer Service? You can contact the MBS Direct Customer Service team at: 800.325.3252.
• Will MBS Direct send the order number upon shipment of the books? Yes. You will receive an email when your order is placed and then a second when the order has shipped.
• I didn't get my materials. Who do I contact? You will need to contact the MBS Direct bookstore at: 800.325.3252. If you do not get a resolution, please contact April Gonzales at: 303.784.8192.
• When will I receive my materials? You should have your materials within the first week of class.

Accreditation

The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by higher ed institutions meets acceptable levels of quality. There are two types of accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education: regional accreditation and national accreditation.

Harvard, Michigan State, UCLA and JIU are regionally accredited and are considered traditional colleges or universities. There are six regional accrediting bodies, each responsible for maintaining educational quality assurance. One of the six is the North Central Association of which JIU is a member.

National accreditation generally applies to what can be considered a vocational college or institution where the primary focus is on a specialization, such as fine arts, trade or technology.

Students find greater ease and acceptance when they transfer credits from a regionally accredited school to another regionally accredited school. Often it's not as easy when transferring credits from a nationally accredited school to one that's regionally accredited.