An important facet of the Excelsior College experience is its Electronic Peer Network (EPN), which "provides the opportunity for enrolled students and alumni to interact academically and socially online."

Through a grant from the National Center of Adult Learning, EPN was launched in 1998. According to EPN Director Mary Gabrielsen, EPN is a Web-based means for Excelsior students to get to know each other, primarily through chat rooms and threaded discussions. "We have had people come to graduation ceremonies just to support each other because they became friends through EPN," she says.

Beyond online chatting and threaded discussion features of a social nature, EPN provides a host of academic and career-oriented services for Excelsior students, including numerous online resources for writing, learning, studying, and taking tests. There’s also a "Study Buddy Finder" database that helps students locate study partners or form study groups online. A "Let’s Celebrate" section publicizes and congratulates students who have passed their exams. A career-resources section provides self-assessment tips and career-exploration and job-hunting services.

The most used feature inside EPN is its Book Exchange, where Excelsior students buy, sell, and trade used study materials such as textbooks, videotapes, and calculators. Students who post messages on the book exchange are responsible for carrying out the details of their transactions.

EPN also features a photo gallery highlighting select Excelsior staff, and a section with photos from last year’s Commencement ceremonies.

"The main think about EPN is the fact that it makes the Excelsior College experience more personal," says Gabrielsen. "The students feel like they have a voice."