UI president wants Global Campus changes

CHAMPAIGN -- University of Illinois President Joseph White wants to loosen the reins on the school's new online Global Campus to boost its disappointing enrollment and speed up the development of degree programs.

White says he'll ask the university's board of trustees to let the Global Campus seek its own accreditation. In an interview Wednesday, he also said he wants it to have the same standing as the university's three bick-and-mortar campuses.

White added that the Global Campus should create its own degree programs. New degrees now have to be created by departments at campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Springfield and Chicago.

White led the creation of the Global Campus. He predicted it would have 9,000 students after five years. So far, only about 120 people have enrolled.