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The University of Miami Division of Continuing and International Education
and the Sagemont Virtual School announced today a collaboration agreement to
create the University of Miami Online High School (UMOHS). The new school will
retain the teachers, model and curriculum of the Sagemont Virtual School, the
nation's first private accredited online high school, which was created in 2001.
It will have the name and backing of the University of Miami and marks the first
venture of this kind for the university.
"The University of Miami has always held itself to the highest of standards,"
said Donna Shalala, University of Miami president. "That's why we chose
Sagemont - for its team of veteran educators, excellent reputation and quality
curriculum. UMOHS will be a great benefit to our institution giving us a global
reach and online offerings we have not had in the past."
"The Sagemont Virtual School collaboration is the next wave in the future
for UM's distance learning initiatives, said Paul Orehovec, vice president of
the Division of Continuing and International Education. "We have identified
three immediate benefits for the university: collaboration and involvement with
our faculty and students who have curriculum and research interests in online
education; developing relationships with both U.S. and international students;
and the ability to create a platform for additional online distance learning
initiatives."
"This is a win-win arrangement for both institutions," said Christopher
Gentile, executive director of UMOHS. "UM associates itself with an innovative
program considered to be 'best of breed' that blends the strength of a close
student-teacher relationship with a solid curriculum and modern delivery system.
We in turn gain the reputation and collaboration of a highly respected institution
of higher learning."
The UMOHS has already forged relationships with many organizations to provide
a quality, flexible education to students who require alternatives to the traditional
"brick and mortar" educational structure. Such companies and organizations
include Aspen Education, an outward-bound program for at-risk youth; On Location
Education, schooling services for child performers; The Orloff Central Agency
for Jewish Education, where UMOHS will supplement curriculum with online courses;
Prince Tennis Racquets and IMG Academies, which runs several tennis academies
across the country.
Currently, the UMOHS boasts an enrollment of 225 students. The UMOHS student
population is very diverse and comes from 41 states and 26 countries, including
Brazil, Korea, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, Venezuela, Italy and
South Africa. To date, the UMOHS has graduated 12 students from its online high
school, and will have a 2004 graduating class of 12-15 students. Many of the
graduates have continued on to colleges and universities including The University
of Miami, University of Florida, Columbia, Purdue University and more.
About Sagemont:
The Sagemont School is a private pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school
located in Weston, Florida. Developed by Richard, Brent and Renee Goldman, a
family of educators, the traditional private school ventured in to the virtual
education world in 2001, creating the Sagemont Virtual School. The virtual high
school became fully accredited by the Commission on International and Transregional
Accreditation and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in
2002, making it one of the few online high schools to be fully accredited and
offer a traditional high school diploma in a virtual education setting.
About the University of Miami Division of Continuing and International
Education:
The Division of Continuing & International Education should function as
the outreach arm of the University of Miami, promote the research and teaching
expertise of the faculty, and market the resources of the University externally.
Through its centers, the Division of Continuing & International Education
serves as a bridge between the University and the community. Through its programs,
the Division of Continuing & International Education addresses the needs
of the nontraditional learner.
