Review of Virtual University is pessimistic

(Salt Lake City-AP) -- A new report says an online university system that includes Oklahoma faces numerous challenges, some perhaps even insurmountable.

Western Governors University is the brainchild of Governors Mike Leavitt of Utah and Roy Romer of Colorado.

It began in 1997 with the goal of being the first university to provide college courses and degrees entirely via the Internet, television and mail.

The review says the low number of tuition-paying students, lack of accreditation and increased competition from other colleges and universities threatens W-G-U.

W-G-U President Bob Mendenhall disputes the report's conclusions saying auditors did not talk to any university officials.

Mendenhall says another audit is under way and shows the university hundreds of thousands of dollars above budget.