(Adelphi, MD) -- Forbes magazine and its Forbes.com Web site hailed University of Maryland University College (UMUC) twice this month. In both the print magazine and the online version, the university’s Web site was featured as the "Forbes Favorite" in Higher Education. The online magazine cited UMUC alumnus Anthony Brock as a Best of the Web "virtual graduate student." The Sept. 11 issue of Forbes.com Best of the Web is now on newsstands.

The university "has been offering distance-learning classes for half a century, and its Web site shows it. This school understands Web classes better than any other," said the review. The UMUC site (www.umuc.edu) enables visitors to "go to" the library and search the card catalog, try a sample class, and view class schedules and other important course information, such as reading assignments and case studies. Students can visit the university’s new "virtual" bookstore or download free digital copies of journal articles and course packs.

Forbes cited 45 sites as Forbes Favorites, ranging from financial portals and venture investing to videos, DVDs, and party planning.

Brock, a U.S. Navy intelligence officer stationed in Bahrain, earned a master’s of business administration (MBA) degree online at UMUC. He sees online education as "a realistic simulation of how business will be conducted in the next decade" and credited online professors for updating material to reflect current markets.

UMUC offers over 300 online courses and 14 bachelor’s and 12 graduate degrees, including the MBA, completely online. Starting this fall, the university began offering over 40 certificate programs online as well. Last year, UMUC had approximately 40,000 online enrollments.

To view the Fall 2000 Forbes.com Best of The Web Issue online, visit www.forbesbest.com.

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Note to Editor: Please include the complete name University of Maryland University College (or the acronym UMUC). Abbreviating the name might create confusion with other University System of Maryland institutions.

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