Press Releases

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 http://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 web site at www.westlawn.edu.