Brandford Yeboa, a Christian theologian, is working toward his online master's degree in Jewish studies and plans to teach Jewish history, culture and civilization to his students at the University of Ghana. Oyunbolor Demberel of Mongolia wants to study Hebrew to better communicate with Israeli tourists. And Shabnam Khan of Pakistan just completed the course Introduction to Jewish Studies.

These students and scores of others from around the world are knocking at the virtual doors of Hebrew College Online (HCO) just as the growing campus in cyberspace is poised to expand far beyond its current borders through the work of a newly formed strategic planning committee.

"The time is right," says Mark Atkins, CEO of Invention Machine, new Hebrew College Trustee and the committee's chair. "HCO has met its original goals, serving a small audience with a quality product. Now we're bringing it out in a big, broad fashion, reaching out globally to touch anyone with an interest in Judaism, Hebrew language and Jewish studies."

Since December, the committee—including leading experts in technology, marketing, finance and distance learning—has been mapping out plans for future HCO programs such as Me'ah online, adult learning lectures broadcast through streaming video and professional development courses for Jewish educators. In addition to the Online MA in Jewish Studies, HCO plans to offer an Online Master of Jewish Education. Prozdor students will join teens in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for an online class this fall: Introduction to Jewish History, Culture and Civilization.

"We're looking at how to take what we've done and build the necessary technical and academic infrastructure—both to support our ongoing programs and create these new resources," says HCO Dean Nathan Ehrlich.

"Our growing international student body, which now includes students from Ghana, Pakistan, Japan and Nepal as well as five European countries and Israel, offers Hebrew College an opportunity to forge connections between Jewish communities and build bridges between cultures and religions," Ehrlich adds. New inquiries have arrived from China, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, South Korea, India and Morocco.

Since its inception in 1996, HCO has offered the first Online MA in Jewish Studies, launched MyJewishLearning.com, created a pioneering online Hebrew language program, and maintained the Shamash Jewish Network, which hosts 500 discussion groups serving 120,000 worldwide subscriptions.

"HCO embodies the best of what the Internet was intended for," says Atkins, who expects the committee to unveil its recommendations in May. In addition to Atkins and Ehrlich, committee members include Jason Chudnofsky, HCO's chair; Steffan Berelowitz; Kathryn Bloom; Martin Flusberg; Brian Goldstein; Lowell Gray; Charles Housman; Scott Krentzman; Sid Lejfer; Jonathan Mark; David Rosenthal; David Solomont; Alan Steinert; David Teplow; Peter Winston. Hebrew College representatives include President David Gordis; Vice President Alan Leifer; Provost Barry Mesch; Marsha Katz Slotnick, Director of Development and Capital Campaign; David Chivo, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving; Harry Bloom, Project Director, MyJewishLearning.com; and George Renz, Director of the Center for Information and Technology.

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