I have been distressed by recent press coverage of the University of Maine’s ITV system. As the site coordinator for the past three years at the Bethel ITV site, I have seen our student numbers in the ITV (interactive television) classes grow from 20 to the current 59 per semester.

I have monitored classes and talked with our students and am of the opinion that the degree of interaction and quality of the instruction in classes has more to do with overall student enrollment in the course and attitude of instructor than with technology vs. on-campus location. The student evaluations of ITV classes have been positive at this site and the outrage with which our students reacted to recent negative press about ITV was clearly an indication of their satisfaction with the system.

Press accounts have totally overlooked the support services provided at many extended sites — tutoring, peer support, access to library on-line resources, personal encouragement to enroll in degree programs as well as to attend on-campus courses.

I can certainly appreciate the desire of the university campus and their faculties to retain as many on-campus courses as possible, however, I resent the trashing of the ITV system as part of this effort. ITV classes offer the majority of Maine residents access to higher education and, in the opinion of this site coordiantor, the site has been continually improved to serve these students well. The educational needs of our state and nation require a delivery system that will reach large numbers of working adults who do not live within a reasonable distance of a campus.

Clinging to traditional on-campus courses that ignore the realities of working people’s lives is not only short-sighted but a selfish response from the campus community. Catherine S-C. Newell Director SAD 44 adult and community education Bethel