The New School, the University's founding school, continues to provide high-quality degree programs, professional training, and intellectual and cultural enrichment for adult students. Our new graduate program in international affairs enrolled its first class in fall 2001. Offering both a 30-credit master of science in international affairs and a 42-credit master of arts in international affairs, the program combines analysis of the changing global economy and culture with an understanding of the economic and social problems facing developing countries. This program is off to a strong start, with enrollment far exceeding projections. The international affairs program is housed on the newly renovated ninth floor at the 66 West 12th Street building. This very attractive space will serve as a model for other University renovations.

The New School is also a leader in online learning. Indeed, using new technology was an outgrowth of its historic mission to “educate the educated” and promote an informed citizenry. Today New School Online University offers nearly 300 distance-learning courses annually; it has over 3,000 registrations, and more than 1,000 faculty members have been trained in online distance course delivery. This fall the Online University launched the University Portal, offering classroom support to over 2,000 on-campus classes in addition to full distance classes. This portal Web site gives all members of the University community access to online courses and services, enhanced on-campus course support, news, information and special events. Currently about 10% of the community regularly uses the portal to access course and support materials; the goal is to increase participation aggressively over the next three years to attain close to 100% involvement. By the fall of 2002, the program expects to add bookstore services and electronic coursepacks to its offerings, in addition to increasing access to the library and to new multimedia tools.