Released on: October 13, 2008, 7:20 am

Press Release Author: MMI ASSOCIATES, INC.

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: McGraw-Hill Garners Awards In Annual CODiE Awards Competition

Press Release Body: WASHINGTON D.C. - StraighterLine (www.straighterline.com), a new
online education solution that provides students a high quality, better supported,
and lower cost way to obtain college credits through regionally accredited colleges
and universities, has announced that McGraw-Hill, a leading global provider of
electronic and print products for the pre-K through 12th grade, higher education and
professional markets and course material provider for StraighterLine, has won awards
in the Software and Information Industry Association's (SIIA) 23rd Annual CODiE
Awards competition. McGraw-Hill won "Best Postsecondary Course or Learning
Management Solution" and "Best Postsecondary Instructional Solution."

This is the second consecutive year a company associated with StraighterLine has won
a CODiE Award. SMARTHINKING, a market leader in providing online tutoring and
academic support to students, won in 2007 for "Best Instruction for Students at
Home." This recognized the company as the best educational technology system that
extends traditional learning in the home.

McGraw-Hill and SMARTHINKING provide the company with course material and online
educators, respectively. McGraw-Hill provides course material for StraighterLine's
four entry-level curriculum courses where credit can be transferred: College
Algebra, English Composition, Economics 101 and Accounting 101. SMARTHINKING
provides experienced and trained online educators who are the primary instructional
contact for students. All of the educators must successfully complete a rigorous
online training program and are subject to on-going evaluation and professional
development activities. The instructors are available 24/7, seven days a week.

StraighterLine allows students to receive credit from the company's regionally
accredited partner colleges or allows students to transfer to non-partner colleges
that recognize StraighterLine's courses as equivalent programs. The company's
partner colleges include Fort Hays State University, Jones International University,
Potomac College and most recently Grand Canyon University, a private
non-denominational Christian University in Phoenix, Ariz.

Additional information on the StraighterLine program can be found at
www.straighterline.com or by visiting the StraighterLine blog at
www.mmimarketing.com/blog/?author=straighterline.

Related Links:
www.straighterline.com
www.smarthinking.com
www.mheducation.com/home/index.shtml
www.siia.net
www.siia.net/Codies/2008
www.mmimarketing.com/blog/?author=straighterline
www.mmimarketing.com

Quotes:
"We are proud to partner with two award-winning companies to provide our students
with exceptional course material," said Ryan Busch, director of StraighterLine. "We
feel that partnering with these innovative and quality companies will enhance our
programs and improve the academic support StraighterLine offers its students."

"These awards underscore McGraw-Hill's ability to deliver the very best educational
services to students and educators through the use of cutting-edge technology and
high-quality, authoritative content," said Ed Stanford, president of McGraw-Hill
Higher Education. "Online instruction is becoming an integral part of today's
university system, and McGraw-Hill Higher Education, with these award-winning online
courses and an array of other digital offerings, is at the forefront of this trend."


"The CODiE Award is a great honor for SMARTHINKING," said Dr. Chuck Kleiner, vice
president of SMARTHINKING sales and marketing. "It confirms our vision that high
quality academic support can be delivered on-demand, anywhere and at any time, via
the Internet."

About StraighterLine:
StraighterLine provides students with a new online option for obtaining required
college credits from accredited colleges and universities. StraighterLine's
affordable courses are the first to include up to 24/7 live, on-demand instruction.
StraighterLine offers six entry-level college courses, including College Algebra,
English Composition I, Accounting I, Accounting II, Economics I: Macroeconomics and
Economics II: Microeconomics, and two developmental courses, with many more planned.
StraighterLine students may choose to receive credit from StraighterLine's
regionally accredited partner colleges. Student-earned credits may also be
transferable to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine's partner's
courses as equivalent programs. There are no set due dates for StraighterLine
courses. Students may start and stop at any point with up to six months of access.
StraighterLine offers two remarkable pricing programs; individual courses cost only
$399, include 10 hours of one-on-one instructional support, and allow up to six
months of access; and the StraighterLine for $99 program: a $99 per month
subscription with no additional start-up costs which includes unlimited access to
any and all courses one at a time, plus 10 total hours of one-on-one instructional
support, with no minimum or maximum time limit for course completion. For more
information, visit www.straighterline.com or call 202-507-7020 or 1-877-str8erline
(1-877-787-8375).

About SMARTHINKING:
SMARTHINKING is the market leader in providing online tutoring and academic support
to students. Their services were honored with the Software & Information Industry
Association (SIIA) CODiE award for Best Instruction Solution for Students at Home.
Schools, colleges, universities, libraries, government agencies, textbook publishers
and other education providers partner with SMARTHINKING to increase student
achievement and enhance learning. SMARTHINKING connects students to
e-structor(r)-certified tutors for assistance in math, writing, science and business,
up to 24/7, on any Internet connected computer. SMARTHINKING's corporate office is
located in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.smarthinking.com.

About McGraw-Hill Higher Education:
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is a premier provider of teaching and learning
solutions for the post-secondary and higher education markets worldwide. It is a
unit of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of instructional,
assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all
ages. McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), has
offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 40 languages. Additional
information is available at www.mheducation.com.

About CODiE Awards:
The CODiE Awards honor outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital
content and education technology industries. It is a peer-recognition program,
providing an opportunity to be recognized by competitors, and it is the
longest-running awards program in the software and information industry, established
in 1986 by SIIA. SIIA is the principal trade association for the software and
digital content industry. It provides global services in government relations,
business development, corporate education and intellectual property to leading
companies. SIIA works to promote the software and digital content industry, protect
the intellectual property of member companies and inform the industry and the
public.

Tags:
SMARTHINKING, StraighterLine, Ryan Busch, Burck Smith, Online Education, Online
Tutoring, Education Technology, Online Academic Support, E-structor, e-Scholars,
McGraw-Hill, Blackboard, Whiteboard, Online Learning, College Accreditation, Codie
Awards, Software and Information Industry Association, Dr. Chuck Kleiner, Ed
Stanford, CODiE Awards, SIIA

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Web Site: http://WWW.MMIMARKETING.COM

Contact Details: Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
(919) 233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC