Certainly, accreditation and Virtual Universities is a live issue in the States, not least because some of the more disreputable providers tend to have the more attractive websites. The recent accreditation of Jones International by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, makes it first exclusively Internet-based institution to win accreditation from one of the major CHEA-approved accrediting bodies, and signals a further step towards acceptance. Another is the growing interest in virtual campuses from some of the more traditionally-minded established universities.

Part of the difficulty lies in the continuing confusion over what a virtual university is, or should be. Some are little more than online catalogues of courses, or gateways to other institutions; others offer relatively simple (but nevertheless effective) online learner support via e-mail, whilst others offer much more sophisticated (or elaborate, depending upon your point of view) methods such as video streaming and synchronous classrooms. Browsing some of the sites listed below will give you a feel for the range on offer.

Perhaps it doesn't matter. Perhaps we already understand that institutions offer a range of services. Perhaps it is only the unfamiliarity that daunts us.

As for information sources, aside from the web itself, the best is probably the USA-based newsletter, Virtual University News (available from 1111 Kane Concourse, Suite 600, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154, USA). There is no similar publication in the UK, although OLS news (11 Malford Grove, Gilwern, Abergavenny, NP7 0RN) contains significant amount of web-based material.