VUE, Announces Virtual University Enterprises (VUE) Acquisition of SMARTS

Aquisition to Strengthen Novell Education Channels

March 21, 1995--PROVO, UT--Novell, Inc. today announced an important product transition between two of its industry partners that service Novell Authorized Education Centers (NAECs) and Novell Education Academic Partners (NEAPs). On March 21, Virtual University Enterprises (VUE), a training services company whose mission is to connect students with the training they need, will acquire the SMARTS electronic communications platform from Sylvan Learning Systems. Pioneered by Novell Education and Sylvan, SMARTS is an industry tool that links high-quality training centers with training vendors. The cornerstone of the SMARTS system is an electronic course feedback system that is used to collect student customer feedback following instructor-led courses.

The acquisition combines a number of complementary services at VUE. "VUE's charter--to connect students with authorized training centers--and its expertise in marketing and business development make VUE the logical partner for taking SMARTS into its next generation of development," said Jerry S. Christensen, Director of Business Development for Novell Education.

"VUE's mission is to connect students with the training they need, improving access to training on a global basis," said VUE co-founder E. Clarke Porter. "VUE accomplishes this mission by partnering with training centers and training vendors. VUE is adding strong value to the authorized education channel and to Novell Education with the leads management and referrals program."

Porter added, "I'm pleased to broaden VUE's relationship with the education centers through our acquisition of SMARTS. This will allow VUE to better understand and service both student customers and NAECs. VUE's commitment to Novell and the authorized education channel is unmatched, and VUE is making SMARTS one of the most powerful tools that the authorized education channel has at its disposal."

The acquisition allows VUE to provide more focus--and increased resources--to further develop SMARTS. NAECs and NEAPs will immediately benefit from VUE's three-tiered technical support strategy. In addition to electronic course feedback and vendor connections to the SMARTS data center, VUE also has a strategic plan for value-added services to SMARTS.

Carolyn G. Rose, vice president and general manager of Novell Education, applauded the transition of the SMARTS technology. "Novell Education's strategy is to partner with industry leaders to strengthen NAECs' businesses. This transition of SMARTS ensures the level of quality service that our student customers expect and demand from Novell Education."

"Sylvan is enthusiastic about this announcement," said Chris Hoehn-Saric, Sylvan's Chief Executive Officer. "As we were establishing the goals for future SMARTS services, it became clear that VUE's core business services corresponded directly to those of SMARTS. The sale of SMARTS to VUE is an excellent way for Sylvan to expand in its partnership with Novell and the NAEC channel, contributing to the training infrastructure needed to drive Novell's billion-user vision."

"SMARTS is a critical component of strengthening our NAECs as The Source for training," said Novell's Christensen. "It enables us to get feedback on our courses directly from student customers, and provides objective, immediate information about our delivery channel."

VUE's Priorities for SMARTS

Transitioning SMARTS from Sylvan to VUE

VUE has expanded its technical support team to assist in the transition from Sylvan to VUE. Sylvan and VUE have worked closely together to make this transition seamless to both NAECs/NEAPs and student customers. The 800 number for SMARTS will remain the same: (800) 497-6400. VUE has put new numbers in place as well to further service incoming subscribers: (612) 897-0034 for information and support; and, to sign up for SMARTS, (612) 897-7974.

"Sylvan and VUE are committed to keeping SMARTS users informed during this transition period and to making it as seamless as possible," said Marc E. Waldek, Sylvan Learning Systems director of Business Development.

Novell Education Perspective

In addition to pioneering the leveraged education model, Novell Education also pioneered certification in the information technology area with its industry-leading products and programs. CNEs are the global standard for servicing and supporting networking and network applications; CNAs are the global standard for administering networking and network applications; and CNIs are the global standard for teaching networking and network applications.