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Desire2Learn Offers Free Use of eLearning platform to Schools and Students Affected by Katrina and Rita
SYNOPSIS: Desire2Learn is offering no cost licensing and hosting to help students affected by recent hurricanes learn online
Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, Canada, October 5, 2005 – In the spirit of helping others exemplified by the ongoing efforts of thousands in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Desire2Learn announces contribution of its products and services to those affected students and teachers by offering free access to its online learning platform. Many thousands of K-12, higher education and adult learners are unable to continue their education this fall due to the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the gulf coast of the United States. Desire2Learn worked quickly in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina to ensure its clients could continue teaching and learning and again reacted quickly after hurricane Rita to lend assistance. Now in partnership with clients, Desire2Learn is providing continuation of education to the many others whose studies have been interrupted.
To assist with restoration of normal life and rebuilding for the future, Desire2Learn is offering to all of its existing clients in North America the ability to add any displaced students to their campuses or distance education programs at no cost. Licensing and/or hosting of the industry-leading D2L enterprise learning platform for displaced students is provided at no additional cost for the rest of the year to any Desire2Learn client that is taking on students affected by the hurricanes. One of many participating D2L client schools assisting in the wake of the hurricane is the Rochester Institute of Technology.
"RIT, in collaboration with the Sloan Semester Initiative, is working diligently to provide distance learning courses for students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. There have been many logistics to work through in a very short period of time. RIT is appreciative of Desire2Learn proactively contacting us to let us know they are generously providing free licenses and support to these students", stated Leah Perlman, Associate Director of Online Learning. "Their timely support has assisted in keeping the costs down in this initiative and has assisted us in moving forward."
In addition to assisting existing clients, Desire2Learn extends its offer with free hosting of the D2L Learning Platform to any school in K-12 or higher education that has had its Fall 2005 semester interrupted by Hurricane Katrina.
"So many people are working feverishly to help those devastated by Katrina. Desire2Learn wants to do what we can to help students and teachers recover and continue their studies by providing the enterprise learning technology at no cost." stated John Baker, CEO & President of Desire2Learn. "Working together with our clients, we can provide accessible, affordable and high quality education that will help rebuild the future for those displaced."
For more information, please contact 519-772-0325 or email info@desire2learn.com.
About Desire2Learn Inc.
Desire2Learn Inc. is a world-leading provider of enterprise learning systems that empower education providers to build teaching and learning environments that reflect their values, goals, objectives, pedagogical approaches, branding and vision. Desire2Learn clients include primary and secondary schools, higher education, as well as associations and other leading organizations. There are more than three million users of the Desire2Learn enterprise eLearning technology worldwide. Founded in 1999, Desire2Learn is headquartered in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. For more information, please visit www.Desire2Learn.com
About Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Rochester Institute of Technology is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, engineering, imaging technology, fine and applied arts, and education of the deaf. More than 15,300 full- and part-time students are enrolled in RIT's 340 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.
For well over a decade, U.S. News and World Report has ranked RIT among the nation's leading comprehensive universities. The Princeton Review recognizes RIT as one of America's "Most Wired Campuses," and the university is also featured in The Fiske Guide to Colleges and Barron's Best Buys in Education. For more information, visit: www.rit.edu
