Virginia Clark Johnson, dean of human development and education, received the 2015 Friend of the Great Plains IDEA Award at the program's annual meeting March 30 in Omaha, Nebraska. Johnson received the award for her work as a pioneer founder of the online degree alliance and her 20 years of support. IDEA stands for Interactive Distance Education Alliance.

“Few others in the Great Plains IDEA network have contributed both the years and depth of support that Virginia has,” said Greg Sanders, associate dean and chair of the Great Plains IDEA cabinet. “She has been a strong advocate, leader and team member from the first meetings to today.”

Jim Deal, chair and head of human development and family science, said, getting the alliance started took work. “The challenges seemed insurmountable at times: bringing together not only the different colleges and departments, but also the graduate deans, finance officers, distance education offices – it seemed an impossible task. Dean Clark Johnson was a tireless advocate for Great Plains IDEA,” he said.

NDSU participates in seven of the nine Great Plains IDEA human sciences programs and three of the 11 agriculture programs. There are 18 member institutions and two affiliates offering Great Plains IDEA degrees and certificates.

Students enroll in one alliance university as a home institution. Students then take online courses from any of the universities in the alliance offering their program of study. The alliance helps faculty from accredited universities collaborate to offer high-quality online academic programs cost-effectively.

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