StraighterLine Unveils Program Partners

Access to high quality and affordable higher education courses for millions of students nationwide just got a lot easier thanks to an alliance established by StraighterLine (www.straighterline.com), a new online education solution that provides students a better way to obtain college credits through regionally accredited colleges and universities.

StraighterLine – combining its capabilities with the digital content of McGraw-Hill Higher Education, the learning management system of Blackboard, the online bookstore available through ED MAP and the 24/7 instructors provided by SMARTHINKING – will deliver the ideal lower-cost solution for students who want to take entry-level, online, post-secondary courses. Students who complete these courses successfully will receive credit from StraighterLine’s regionally accredited partner colleges. They may also transfer their credits to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine’s courses as equivalent programs.

The services each company offers for StraighterLine are as follows:

• McGraw-Hill Higher Education is currently providing digital content for StraighterLine’s entry-level curriculum courses: College Algebra, English Composition I, Accounting I, and Economics I: Macroeconomics. Other McGraw-Hill online content to be added in the near future will be for courses in Introductory Algebra, Developmental Writing, Accounting II, and Economics II: Microeconomics. McGraw-Hill Higher Education is a premier provider of teaching and learning solutions for the post-secondary and higher education markets worldwide.

• Blackboard Inc. offers a comprehensive yet easy-to-use Learning Management System employed by StraighterLine. Blackboard is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world by allowing thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online.

• ED MAP serves as the online bookstore for students to purchase any materials required for StraighterLine’s courses. The firm provides software and support services for proprietary and career colleges, K-12 online programs and institutions, multi-campus systems, traditional campuses, continuing education, professional associations and corporate training.

• SMARTHINKING supplies experienced and trained online educators who are the primary instructional contact for StraighterLine students. All of the educators must successfully complete a rigorous online training program and are subject to ongoing evaluation and professional development activities. The instructors are available 24/7, seven days a week. SMARTHINKING is the market leader in providing online tutoring and academic support to students of all ages, connecting them to certified tutors for assistance in math, writing, science and business, as well as the parent company for StraighterLine.

Additional information on the StraighterLine program can be found at www.straighterline.com or by visiting the StraighterLine blog at www.mmimarketing.com/blog/?author=straighterline.

Related Links:
www.straighterline.com
www.mheducation.com/home/index.shtml
www.blackboard.com
www.edmap.biz
www.smarthinking.com
www.mmimarketing.com/blog/?author=straighterline

Quotes:
"We greatly appreciate each of our support partners for the excellent services that in turn enhance our ability to provide top quality educational instruction to our students," said Burck Smith, CEO of StraighterLine. "We could not prosper and succeed without receiving their assistance in our efforts."

"We are very proud to provide McGraw-Hill’s comprehensive digital content directly to students through this alliance with StraighterLine. Improving access to higher education is essential if our nation is going to continue to successfully compete in an increasingly global economy," said Ed Stanford, president of McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

"ED MAP is pleased to partner with StraighterLine to provide affordable access to quality introductory courses that will enable students to jumpstart their participation in post-secondary education," notes Dr. Kenneth C. Sherman, ED MAP’s senior vice president of Business Development. "ED MAP is actively engaged in seeking solutions that help institutions and students alike reduce costs while providing a superior educational experience. We believe these StraighterLine courses fulfill this goal and provide an excellent opportunity to support students’ educational aspirations."

About McGraw-Hill Higher Education:
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is a premier provider of teaching and learning solutions for the post-secondary and higher education markets worldwide. It is a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 40 languages. Additional information is available at www.mheducation.com.

About SMARTHINKING:
SMARTHINKING is the market leader in providing online tutoring and academic support to students. Their services were honored with the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE award for Best Instruction Solution for Students at Home. Schools, colleges, universities, libraries, government agencies, textbook publishers and other education providers partner with SMARTHINKING to increase student achievement and enhance learning. SMARTHINKING connects students to e-structor®-certified tutors for assistance in math, writing, science and business, up to 24/7, on any Internet connected computer. SMARTHINKING’s corporate office is located in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.smarthinking.com.

About StraighterLine:
StraighterLine provides students with a new online option for obtaining required college credits from accredited colleges and universities. StraighterLine’s affordable courses are the first to include up to 24/7 live, on-demand instruction. StraighterLine offers entry-level college courses including College Algebra, English Composition, Economics I and Accounting I, with many more under development. StraighterLine students may choose to receive credit from StraighterLine’s regionally accredited partner colleges. Student-earned credits may also be transferable to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine’s partner’s courses as equivalent programs. There are no set due dates for StraighterLine courses. Students may start and stop at any point with up to six months of access. For more information, visit www.straighterline.com or call 202-507-7020 or 1-877-str8erline (1-877-787-8375).

Tags:
SMARTHINKING, StraighterLine, Ryan Busch, Burck Smith, Online Education, Online Tutoring, Education Technology, Online Academic Support, E-structor, e-Scholars, McGraw-Hill, Blackboard, Whiteboard, Online Learning, College Accreditation, ED MAP, Support Partners

Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
(919) 233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC

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