Stephen F. Austin State University

A Stephen F. Austin State University employee has been appointed to serve on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Distance Education Advisory Committee. Dr. Randy McDonald, director of the Office of Instructional Technology, will serve a three-year term.

McDonald is no stranger to distance education; he received a master’s degree in library science from the University of North Texas via distance education. His other degrees include a Bachelor of Business Administration in information systems and quantitative studies from Abilene Christian University in 1986, a master’s degree in secondary education from SFA, as well as a doctorate degree in higher education from Texas A&M University - Commerce. He was named director of SFA’s Office of Instructional Technology in 2000 after eight years as a staff and faculty member. 

The Distance Education Advisory Committee provides feedback to Texas institutions regarding distance education policy development, quality assessment and costs. As a member of the committee, McDonald said he hopes to promote the use of distance education as an effective way for the citizens of Texas to access higher education.

SFA has a growing number of distance education courses and programs, and I'm excited about this opportunity to share what we have learned at SFA about delivering quality distance education programs and to work with other committee members to encourage best practices among all institutions across the state," McDonald said.

Using the Internet, interactive video and other technologies, SFA offers several distance education courses and degree programs for the benefit of students who are unable to attend classes on campus. In fall 2006, almost 4 percent of SFA’s population used distance education while pursuing undergraduate degrees.

For more information about SFA’s online programs, visit http://sfaonline.sfasu.edu.