University of the Rockies Announces Constellation

DENVER, Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- University of the Rockies announced today the launch of Constellation, a new online learning platform to be used by its students. The platform consists of engaging web-based course materials, which include both text and multimedia assets that were developed in cooperation with University of the Rockies faculty, as well as subject matter experts from across the country.

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"At University of the Rockies, we provide our students with an attainable quality education and are always seeking to improve the overall student experience through new technologies and methods," said Dr. Charlita Shelton, President of University of the Rockies. "Our faculty and staff exhibit a remarkable willingness to innovate and adapt in keeping with today's trends and available resources. We expect the students at Rockies to benefit significantly from this new system, both in terms of making education more affordable and in making education more adaptive to their personal schedule."

"We believe that Constellation raises the bar for other learning platforms," continued Shelton. "Its features and capabilities enhance content delivery by incorporating elements of modern communication into course materials. Constellation courses offer a variety of multimedia, interactivity, and disability-accessible content to better serve students and their personal learning styles."

Quality Curriculum
Given the close alignment of materials with University of the Rockies core learning outcomes, a more relevant and comprehensive education experience is provided to students. Constellation also presents opportunities for tighter integration with assessment tools used by University of the Rockies' parent company, Bridgepoint Education. Those include Waypoint Outcomes' interactive assessment tools and surveys that develop rich data on student learning outcomes and help assure optimum online instruction for students. Waypoint Outcomes was acquired by Bridgepoint Education in 2009.

Technological Innovation
Constellation materials are displayed in a proprietary, browser-based reader developed and owned by Bridgepoint Education. The innovative Constellation Reader is included with the course materials and gives students an interactive web-based experience. It enables students to search and download multiple versions of the materials like PDF and ePub, and also creates highlights, notes, and bookmarks. While full functionality is best enjoyed with the Constellation reader, students may also engage with the materials on a variety of devices, including web-enabled cell phones like Android Smartphones and tablets such as the iPad.

Students are able to use their course materials in any way that works best for them. They can enjoy a full audio version of the materials, download materials to various devices, print them without restriction, keep them for future reference, or share the materials with colleagues.

Accessibility/Affordability
A cornerstone of Constellation is student affordability. Constellation materials replace third-party textbooks, which have typically cost students enrolled in online programs $200 per course. With Constellation, the cost is expected to be cut to approximately $75. Initially, Constellation will be provided in some University of the Rockies courses and, ultimately, is expected to include additional courses in the future.

Constellation officially launched on August 27 and is currently available to students enrolled in specific University of the Rockies coursework.

About University of the Rockies
University of the Rockies is an advanced graduate institution for tomorrow's thought leaders. The University provides an intimate and dynamic learning environment, offering highly specialized master's and doctoral degree programs in the social and behavioral sciences, access to industry experts, campus clinical programs for practical experience, and research and publishing opportunities. University of the Rockies is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www.ncahlc.org). Small by design, University of the Rockies classes are presented in a progressive online format and at its Colorado Springs, Colorado campus and its Denver Instructional Site. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu or call Shari Winet Rodriguez, vice president of Public Relations, at 866.621.0124, ext. 2513.

About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) improves the way individuals learn. By harnessing creativity, knowledge and proprietary technologies, such as Constellation, Thuze and Waypoint Outcomes, Bridgepoint Education has re-engineered the modern student experience with innovative solutions that advance learning. Its academic institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies – embody the contemporary college experience. Ashford University offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs while University of the Rockies offers master's and doctoral degree programs. Both provide progressive online platforms, as well as traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa (Ashford University), and Colorado Springs, Colorado (University of the Rockies). For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Winet Rodriguez, vice president of Public Relations, at 858.668.2580.

Contact: Shari Winet Rodriguez, Vice President of Public Relations
866.621.0124, ext. 2513 · [email protected]

SOURCE University of the Rockies