08-22-07

Media Release

OSU Extended Campus Associate Dean Elected to Leadership Position

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Mark Merickel, associate dean for Oregon State University’s Extended Campus, has been elected as the Oregon caucus delegate to the Western Cooperative for Educational Technologies.

The cooperative is open to providers and users of educational technologies around the world, with members across the United States and nine other countries. Member institutions of higher education, non-profit associations, government agencies and corporations work to advance the effective use of technology in higher education.

“Dr. Merickel’s leadership in educational technologies and WCET will dovetail extremely well with OSU’s new Division of Outreach and Engagement,” said Scott Reed, OSU’s vice provost for University Outreach and Engagement.

Merickel is the administrative lead of OSU’s Extended Campus, which provides distance and online education, Summer Session, P-12 Outreach and non-credit workforce development programs. Extended Campus was recently aligned with OSU Extension Service to create the new Division of Outreach and Engagement.

The role of the state caucus delegate is to serve on the cooperative’s steering committee, assist with feedback from members, make recommendations for organizational policies and suggest special educational and educational leadership projects. Steering committee members serve three-year terms.

“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in Oregon, across the nation and around the world to learn more about teaching and learning with technology, to explore the needs of tomorrow’s learners and play an active role in policy directions for higher education,” Merickel said.

For more information about the Western Cooperative for Educational Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.wcet.info/home.asp.