New Study Indicates Positive Student Feedback For SMARTHINKING

SMARTHINKING, Inc. (www.smarthinking.com) has announced that students in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System are in overwhelming support of SMARTHINKING online tutoring, according to a Fall 2007 survey. The survey explored the satisfaction of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system students enrolled in the Minnesota Online gateway system who use SMARTHINKING online tutoring. SMARTHINKING is an award-winning market leader in providing online tutoring and academic support to students.

SMARTHINKING and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities established an education-based partnership in 2006. The Fall 2007 survey was conducted by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Survey results demonstrated student success in regards to the relationship between Minnesota Online and SMARTHINKING. 91.7 percent of students surveyed agreed or strongly agreed they enjoyed a positive experience with SMARTHINKING. Exit surveys also showed that 93 percent of students would recommend SMARTHINKING to a fellow classmate or friend. The study helped pave the way in soliciting additional funding for students using Minnesota Online and SMARTHINKING online tutoring.

"We are pleased with the very positive outcomes of SMARTHINKING online tutoring in helping students in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to be successful," said Gary Langer, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Innovations, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. "The recent survey of our users underscores the high quality services that SMARTHINKING provides."

Minnesota Online is the gateway system to all online programs within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. All 32 institutions within the system use Minnesota Online as the centralized Internet portal for students to obtain logistical and technical help, find answers to course questions and utilize student services. Of the 32 institutions, 30 have the capabilities to offer SMARTHINKING Online Tutoring.

For more information on the Minnesota State College and Universities system or Minnesota Online, contact Carla Johnson, Minnesota Online marketing director, at (218) 849-2656 or by e-mail at Carla.johnson@minnesota.edu.

Related Links:
www.smarthinking.com
www.minnesotaonline.org
www.mnscu.edu
www.mmimarketing.com

Other Quotes:
"This research shows the Minnesota State Colleges and University System is proactively providing the tools that students need to succeed, particularly in subjects in which students most often struggle," said Burck Smith CEO of SMARTHINKING. "This, combined with other client studies, provides clear evidence that SMARTHINKING increases student success."

"Their response time is quick and they are more accessible than my college’s learning/writing center," said a Minnesota Online student about SMARTHINKING. "They give good suggestions without telling you exactly what to write. I will use them again in the upcoming semester."

About SMARTHINKING:
SMARTHINKING is the market leader in providing online tutoring and academic support to students. Their services were honored with the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE award for Best Instruction Solution for Students at Home. Schools, colleges, universities, libraries, government agencies, textbook publishers and other education providers partner with SMARTHINKING to increase student achievement and enhance learning. SMARTHINKING connects students to e-structor® certified tutors for assistance in math, writing, science and business, up to 24/7, on any Internet connected computer. SMARTHINKING’s corporate office is located in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.smarthinking.com.

About Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses, and an additional 135,000 students in non-credit courses. For more information, visit www.minnesotaonline.org or visit www.mnscu.edu.

About Minnesota Online:
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities established Minnesota Online as the primary conduit to the system's full array of online education and training. Through Minnesota Online, you can search and review the thousands of online courses, and more than 200 degree, certification and diploma programs offered by 32 colleges and universities. Minnesota Online provides student support, pre-admissions planning and advising seven days a week. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is a national leader in public online higher education and the state's foremost source of online higher education. In 2007, more than 50,000 students were enrolled in online courses.

Tags:
SMARTHINKING, Burck Smith, Online Education, Online Tutoring, Education Technology, Online Academic Support, E-structor, e-structor®, e-scholars, McGraw-Hill, Blackboard, Whiteboard, Online Learning, College Accreditation, Minnesota Online, Gary Langer, Minnesota State Colleges and University System

Kristin O’Bannon
SMARTHINKING
(858) 693-1622
kobannon@smarthinking.com

(end)