Online Weather Studies (OWS) is the first science course with electronic delivery to be offered at State University of New York / College at Old Westbury. Located twenty miles from the center of New York City, Old Westbury was originally envisioned as an experimental four-year college with innovative curricula, procedures and academic policies. The College recently initiated its first graduate program, and now includes in its mission the goal of educating a diverse, multicultural student population through a curriculum that addresses fundamental issues in American society. The 3000 - member student body is one of the most ethnically diverse in the SUNY system, with 26% African American, 7% Asian, 32% Caucasian and 14% Hispanic. The Science departments are among the strongest at the College, with small classes leading to the bachelors' degree in Biology, Biochemistry and Chemistry (ACS-certifed). Most of our science majors participate in undergraduate research, with support provided by federal and state funding.

SUNY / Old Westbury will offer Online Weather Studies for the first time during the Spring 2005 semester. We have designed this first-time offering as a hybrid, with a traditional lecture accompanied by the full AMS online laboratory program. The course will be team-taught by a physicist and atmospheric chemist, both of whom participated in a week-long training workshop provided through the AMS OWS Diversity Program.

OWS will broaden Old Westbury's offerings in the Physical Sciences and will provide a much-requested distance learning option in the sciences. It has been approved as a full lecture plus laboratory course by the College's General Education Committee, and should be attractive to students in the Teacher Education department, one of our most popular majors. To this end, we have devised a course syllabus that aligns course content with New York State Learning Standards for the public schools. We have begun to publicize the course in local newspapers and through the College web site, and we anticipate full enrollment.