The University Professionals of Illinois, Eastern’s faculty union, will be hosting a meeting Wednesday to discuss distance learning.

“We will be giving a presentation on distance learning and then opening the floor to questions and comments,” said David Radavich, president of Eastern’s chapter of UPI. “We will also talk about whatever concerns or issues people may want to discuss.”

Charles Delman, associate professor of mathematics, is scheduled to deliver the presentation on UPI’s distance learning task force.

Radavich said the meeting is only open to faculty and academic support staff, also described as “bargaining unit members”.

The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at Buzzard Hall in the faculty lounge (RM 2504).

Distance learning has experienced rapid growth at Eastern over the past year and recent initiatives preclude that it will continue to grow.

This semester the Technology Enhanced and Delivered Education steering committee headed by Robert Augustine, dean of the graduate school, distributed technology grants worth over $286,000 to faculty members for incorporating technology into the classroom and developing online courses and programs.

In addition, the committee is currently reviewing administrative models to be applied for the administration of technology at Eastern.