Great Plains IDEA and AG IDEA, a consortium of 20 public universities providing online education - including the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences - has been rebranded and has a new name.

The group is now called IDEA, which stands for Innovative Digital Education Alliance.

IDEA still provides transformative academic programs, partnerships and initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to serve learners regardless of location. The new tagline, "An Online Higher Education Alliance," conveys the purpose and underscores the adaptability of the alliance.

The new name is rooted in the alliance's history and represents its position in higher education's ever-changing landscape and as a provider of opportunities beyond what one university can offer on its own. The consortium offers online courses, certificates and degrees in agriculture and human sciences. Founded in 2000, IDEA's collaborative approach to sharing resources offers students a unique educational experience where they learn from expert faculty at multiple universities. The alliance has impacted over 11,500 students by providing educational freedom beyond what one university can provide.

Bumpers College joined the alliance in 2010 and participates in two programs — a master's degree program in gerontology and aging, and a master's degree in agricultural education.

Through IDEA, students can select the U of A as their home university and take online courses from universities across the United States, giving them flexibility to earn a degree their way, in their time.

"Our participation in IDEA provides opportunities for U of A students to access high-quality instruction, a collaborative learning environment and a broader range of courses," said Bumpers College Associate Dean Lona Robertson.

The gerontology and aging interdisciplinary program provides advanced knowledge to professionals working in the field of aging and benefits individuals and companies doing business or influenced by this growing population.

The agricultural education program provides knowledge and skills needed to inform people about the importance of the agriculture industry and its many working sectors. It is designed for those who educate others about agriculture in both formal and informal settings across private, nonprofit and community institutions.

Bumpers College and the U of A represent one of five institutions providing instruction for the gerontology program and one of eight institutions for the agricultural education degree.

Bumpers College's contact for both programs is Cathy Hamilton, an academic adviser in the Student Services Office housed in the Waldrip Student Center. She can be reached at 479-575-3470, hamilton@uark.edu or in AGRI 231-A.

Find out more about IDEA.

"Rebranding to IDEA marks a significant milestone in our journey," says IDEA Cabinet Chair Megan Lasso. "Our new identity reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, excellence and accessibility in online learning. With the launch of our new website, we are better equipped to serve our diverse community of learners and educators."

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About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.