For
Immediate Release 05-30
Contact: Caroline Chetelat, (410) 956-1050, x22
cchetelat@abycinc.org
Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology
Gets .edu URL
Official Westlawn Web
Site Now www.westlawn.edu
August 8, 2005, Edgewater, MD: The
Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology’s web site has officially changed from
www.westlawn.org to www.westlawn.edu.
The .edu domain, is a top-level domain name currently in use by educational web
sites in the United States. Currently, .edu domain registration can only be
completed by four-year universities and nationally-accredited institutions of
higher learning. The non-profit organization that handles .edu domain
registration is EDUCAUSE.
Westlawn Director Dave
Gerr is extremely pleased that Westlawn’s web site is now officially a “.edu.”
“The .edu is automatic credibility as EDUCAUSE makes an applicant demonstrate
that the institution is a post-secondary institution that is institutionally
accredited (i.e. the entire institution and not just particular programs) by
agencies on the U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized
Accrediting Agencies,” stated Gerr.
“While the Westlawn web
site has always had a .org URL because of its not-for-profit, educational
institution status, we only recently realized that we met all the criteria for
a .edu domain through our accreditation by the Distance Education &
Training Council (DETC), which is on the list of accrediting bodies. It just
made sense to make the change, particularly in recognition of our 75th year!”
While the former Westlawn
URL (www.westlawn.org) will remain useable, all materials will now reflect the
new URL www.westlawn.edu and we encourage all students and visitors to make a
note of this change.
For more information on
EDUCAUSE and the .edu domain application process, visit www.educause.edu.
Founded in 1930, the
Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is the only nationally accredited and
state certified distance-learning school of small-craft design in the United States.
As the not-for-profit educational affiliate of the American Boat and Yacht
Council, Westlawn’s primary function is to assure a continual source of highly
skilled designers to the marine industry. To learn more about Westlawn, please
call (410) 956-7100 or visit the Westlawn website at www.westlawn.edu.