ITHACA, NY, July 26, 2005 — YMCA of the USA has selected eCornell as its first provider of online learning for the YMCA University. The choice was made based on eCornell's comprehensive professional development curriculum in human resources, management, and executive development, and "structured flexibility" delivery methodology. The eCornell system allows learners to work at their own pace within an established timeframe, ability to scale in order to serve a diverse population, and cost-effective economics that allow YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) to offer programs across the country to over 2,500 locations. Y-USA is the national resource office for the nation's 2,594 independent YMCAs.

The YMCA University provides learning and leadership development for YMCA staff and volunteers through a variety of modalities. "We entered into a long-term relationship with eCornell following a very successful pilot program," said Dan Nussbaum, YMCA Director of Leadership Development. "Participants were extremely impressed with the course content, rigor, and relevance to their responsibilities. The efficiency of the online delivery allows us to make the programs widely available, with no investment in infrastructure, and gives staff the opportunity to participate from their own community as their schedule permits."

YMCA managers and staff will enroll in eCornell courses designed to help their local YMCA succeed in their competitive environments. Courses and certificates from Cornell University are available in human resources management, supervisory skills, strategic thinking and scenario planning, and studies in proactive leadership. Many eCornell courses have also been approved to satisfy the requirements for leadership development for senior YMCA staff.

"The YMCA's large and decentralized organization provided a wonderful opportunity to leverage eCornell's ability to partner with clients in building their organizational capability. Our course format and course delivery options were a perfect match for the YMCA's Executive Development and New CEO Institute," says Chris Proulx, eCornell's President and CEO.

eCornell's partnership with the Y-USA is just the latest chapter in the movement's long association with Cornell University. John R. Mott, winner of the 1946 Nobel Peace prize for his leadership of the YMCA, graduated from Cornell in 1888.

About YMCA of the USA: YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation's 2,594 YMCAs, collectively the nation's largest not-for-profit community service organization, serving 20.1 million people of all faiths, races, ages and incomes, including 9.7 million children. YMCAs offer a broad range of programs including youth leadership and volunteerism and are collectively the nation's largest providers of child-care. To learn more about the YMCA please visit www.ymca.net.

About eCornell: eCornell provides many of the world's leading organizations with online, asynchronous professional and executive development in the areas of strategy, leadership and management development, human resources, financial management, and hospitality management. Its patent-pending course development model and proven instructor-led course delivery provide for engaging, rigorous, and interactive learning. For more information, please visit www.ecornell.com.

For further information, contact:

Arnold Collins
YMCA of the USA
(312) 419-8418
arnold.collins@ymca.net

Ross Pearo
eCornell
(607) 330-3334
rpearo@ecornell.com