ECOLLEGE COM, S-8, 2000-04-07

ECOLLEGE COM
S-8, 2000-04-07
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

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<PAGE>

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2000
Registration No. 333-___________

================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
____________________
eCollege.com
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Delaware 84-1351729
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
</TABLE>
10200 A East Girard Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80231
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
____________________
eCollege.com
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
WARRANT ISSUED TO MR. REDNER PURSUANT TO WRITTEN COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
(Full title of the Plans)
____________________
ROBERT N. HELMICK
President and Chief Executive Officer
eCollege.com
10200 A East Girard Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80231
(Name and address of agent for service)
(303) 873-7400
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================

Title of Securities to be Registered Amount to be Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
Registered (1) Offering Price Per Share Aggregate Offering Price Registration Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999 Stock Incentive Plan 3,353,752 shares $6.56(2) $22,000,613.12(2) $5,808.16
- -------------------------
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 666,667 shares $6.56(2) $ 4,373,335.52(2) $1,154.56
- ---------------------------------
Common Stock $0.01 par value
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warrant Issued to Mr. Redner 23,333 shares $1.62(3) $ 37,799.46(3) $ 9.97
- ---------------------------
Common Stock $0.01 par value
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aggregate Registration Fee: $6,972.69
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common
Stock which become issuable under the eCollege.com 1999 Stock Incentive
Plan, 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and warrant issued to Mr. Redner
pursuant to a written compensation agreement by reason of any stock
dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction
effected without the Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in
an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of Registrant's Common
Stock.

(2) Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high
and low selling prices per share of Registrant's Common Stock on April 5,
2000, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

(3) Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the exercise price of
the warrant.
<PAGE>

PART II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
---------------------------------------

eCollege.com (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by reference into
this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"):

(a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000,
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"); and

(b) The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-28393 on Form 8-
A12G filed with the SEC on December 7, 1999, in which there is
described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the
Registrant's outstanding Common Stock.

All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, (the "1934 Act") after the date of this Registration Statement
and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities
-------------------------

Not Applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
--------------------------------------

Not Applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
-----------------------------------------

The Registrant's Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate") provides that, except to the extent prohibited by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as amended (the "DGCL"), the Registrant's directors
shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for
monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as directors of the
Registrant. Under the DGCL, the directors have a fiduciary duty to the
Registrant which is not eliminated by this provision of the Certificate and, in
appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms
of non monetary relief will remain available. In addition, each director will
continue to be subject to liability under the DGCL for breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Registrant, for acts or omissions which are found by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be not in good faith or involving intentional
misconduct, for knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper
personal benefit to the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of
stock repurchases or redemptions that are prohibited by the DGCL. This provision
also does not affect the directors' responsibilities under any other laws, such
as the Federal securities laws or state or Federal environmental laws. The
Registrant has applied for liability insurance for its officers and directors.

Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify its directors and
officers and to purchase insurance with respect to liability arising out of
their capacity or status as directors and officers, provided that this provision

II-1
<PAGE>

shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director: (i) for any breach of
the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) arising under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv)
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit. The DGCL provides further that the indemnification permitted thereunder
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the directors and
officers may be entitled under the corporation's bylaws, any agreement, a vote
of stockholders or otherwise. The Certificate eliminates the personal liability
of directors to the fullest extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL
and provides that the Registrant may fully indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or
officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant
as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including
attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
-----------------------------------

Not Applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits
--------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number Exhibit
- ------ -------
<C> <S>
4 Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-28393
on Form 8-A12G/A which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(b).
5 Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Accountants.
23.2 Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.
24 Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.
99.1 eCollege.com 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (as Amended and Restated Through January 3, 2000).
99.2 eCollege.com 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
99.3 Warrant Issued to Mr. Redner Pursuant to Written Compensation Agreement
</TABLE>

Item 9. Undertakings.
------------

A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during
any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
to this Registration Statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that for the
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the eCollege.com 1999
Stock Incentive Plan, 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and warrant issued to
Mr. Redner pursuant to a written compensation agreement.

II-2
<PAGE>

B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933
Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act, and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

II-3
<PAGE>

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado this 7th day of
April, 2000.

eCollege.com

By: /s/ Robert N. Helmick
-----------------------------------
Robert N. Helmick,
President, Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the undersigned officers and directors of eCollege.com, a Delaware
corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Robert N. Helmick, Chief Executive
Officer, and Douglas H. Kelsall, Chief Financial Officer, and each of them, the
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power and authority to do any and
all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys
and agents, and any one of them, determine may be necessary or advisable or
required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and any rules or regulations or requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in connection with this Registration Statement. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted
include the power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers
and directors in the capacities indicated below to this Registration Statement,
to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and
supplements to this Registration Statement, and to any and all instruments or
documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this Registration Statement or
amendments or supplements thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies
and confirms that all said attorneys and agents, or any one of them, shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in
several counterparts.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney as of the date indicated.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Robert N. Helmick
- ------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of April 7, 2000
Robert N. Helmick the Board (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Douglas H. Kelsall
- ------------------------------- Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer April 7, 2000
Douglas H. Kelsall (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Linda Schmehl
- ------------------------------- Corporate Controller (Principal April 7, 2000
Linda Schmehl Accounting Officer)

</TABLE>

II-4
<PAGE>

/s/ Jonathan M. Dobrin
- --------------------------- Vice President, Chief Technology April 7, 2000
Jonathan M. Dobrin Officer and Director

/s/ Jack W. Blumenstein
- --------------------------- Director April 7, 2000
Jack W. Blumenstein

/s/ Christopher W. Girgenti
- --------------------------- Director April 7, 2000
Christopher W. Girgenti

- --------------------------- Director
Oakleigh Thorne

/s/ Jeri Korshak
- --------------------------- Director April 7, 2000
Jeri Korshak

</TABLE>

II-5
<PAGE>

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

EXHIBITS

FORM S-8

UNDER

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

eCollege.com
<PAGE>

EXHIBITS INDEX

Exhibits
- --------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number Exhibit
- ------ -------

<C> <S>
4 Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to Registrant's Registration Statement
No. 000-28393 on Form 8-A12G/A which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(b).
5 Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Accountants.
23.2 Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.
24 Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.
99.1 eCollege.com 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (as Amended and Restated Through January 3, 2000).
99.2 eCollege.com 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
99.3 Warrant Issued to Mr. Redner Pursuant to Written Compensation Agreement
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 5

OPINION AND CONSENT OF BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP.

April 7, 2000

eCollege.com
10200 A East Girard Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80231

Re: eCollege.com (the "Company") Registration Statement for
Offering of an Aggregate of 4,043,752 Shares of Common Stock
------------------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to eCollege.com, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") in connection with the registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of an
aggregate of 4,043,752 shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Shares")
including (i) a reserve of 3,353,752 shares of the Company's common stock (the
"Shares") for issuance under the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Incentive Plan") (ii) an initial reserve of 666,667 Shares for issuance under
the Company's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"),
(collectively, the "Plans") and (iii) 23,333 Shares issuable under the warrant
issued to Mr. Redner pursuant to a written compensation agreement (the
"Warrant").

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of
Item 8 of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.

We have reviewed the Company's charter documents and the corporate
proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the establishment and
Amendment of the Incentive Plan, the establishment of the Purchase Plan and the
issuance of the Warrant. Based on such review, we are of the opinion that, if,
as and when the Shares are issued and sold (and the consideration therefor
received) pursuant to the (a) provisions of option agreements duly authorized
under the Incentive Plan and in accordance with the Registration Statement, (b)
duly authorized direct stock issuances in accordance with the Incentive Plan and
in accordance with the Registration Statement, (c) duly authorized stock
purchase rights granted and exercised under the Purchase Plan and in accordance
with the Registration Statement, or (d) a duly authorized issuance in accordance
with the Warrant and in accordance with the Registration Statement, such Shares
will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement.

This opinion letter is rendered as of the date first written above and
we disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or
developments which hereafter may be brought to our attention and which may
alter, affect or modify the opinion expressed herein. Our opinion is expressly
limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by
implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the
Plans, the Warrant or the Shares issuable under such Plans or the Warrant.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP

BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accounts, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated April 7, 2000 of our
report dated February 15, 2000 included in eCollege.com's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and to all references to our Firm
included in this registration statement.

/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Denver, Colorado.
April 7, 2000.

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 99.1

eCollege.com

1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
<PAGE>

ECOLLEGE.COM
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED THROUGH JANUARY 3, 2000
-------------------------

ARTICLE ONE

GENERAL PROVISIONS
------------------

I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

This 1999 Stock Incentive Plan is intended to promote the interests of
eCollege.com, a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible persons with the
opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their
proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an incentive for them to remain in
the service of the Corporation.

Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the attached Appendix.

II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall be divided into five separate equity programs:

(i) the Discretionary Option Grant Program under which eligible
persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to
purchase shares of Common Stock,

(ii) the Salary Investment Option Grant Program under which
eligible employees may elect to have a portion of their base salary invested
each year in special options,

(iii) the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible persons may,
at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of Common Stock
directly, either through the immediate purchase of such shares or as a bonus for
services rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary),

(iv) the Automatic Option Grant Program under which eligible non-
employee Board members shall automatically receive options at periodic intervals
to purchase shares of Common Stock; and

(v) the Director Fee Option Grant Program under which non-employee
Board members may elect to have all or any portion of their annual retainer fee
otherwise payable in cash applied to a special option grant.

B. The provisions of Articles One and Seven shall apply to all equity
programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons under the
Plan.
<PAGE>

III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

A. The following provisions shall govern the administration of the
Plan:

(i) The Board shall have the authority to administer the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section
16 Insiders but may delegate such authority in whole or in part to the Primary
Committee.

(ii) Administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock
Issuance Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in
those programs may, at the Board's discretion, be vested in the Primary
Committee or a Secondary Committee, or the Board may retain the power to
administer those programs with respect to all such persons.

(iii) The Primary Committee shall have the sole and exclusive
authority to determine which Section 16 Insiders and other highly compensated
Employees shall be eligible for participation in the Salary Investment Option
Grant Program for one or more calendar years. However, all option grants under
the Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall be made in accordance with the
express terms of that program, and the Primary Committee shall not exercise any
discretionary functions with respect to the option grants made under that
program.

(iv) Administration of the Automatic Option Grant and Director Fee
Option Grant Programs shall be self-executing in accordance with the terms of
those programs.

B. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its
administrative jurisdiction under the Plan, have full power and authority
subject to the provisions of the Plan:

(i) to establish such rules as it may deem appropriate for proper
administration of the Plan, to make all factual determinations, to construe and
interpret the provisions of the Plan and the awards thereunder and to resolve
any and all ambiguities thereunder;

(ii) to determine, with respect to awards made under the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs, which eligible persons
are to receive such awards, the time or times when such awards are to be made,
the number of shares to be covered by each such award, the vesting schedule (if
any) applicable to the award, the status of a granted option as either an
Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option and the maximum term for which the
option is to remain outstanding;

(iii) to amend, modify or cancel any outstanding award with the
consent of the holder or accelerate the vesting of such award; and

2
<PAGE>

(iv) to take such other discretionary actions as permitted pursuant
to the terms of the applicable program.

Decisions of each Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative
functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties.

C. Members of the Primary Committee or any Secondary Committee shall
serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be removed by
the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of
any Secondary Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously
delegated to such committee.

D. Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee shall
constitute service as a Board member, and members of each such committee shall
accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board
members for their service on such committee. No member of the Primary Committee
or the Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or any options or stock issuances under the Plan.

IV. ELIGIBILITY

A. The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs are as follows:

(i) Employees,

(ii) non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of
any Parent or Subsidiary, and

(iii) consultants and other independent advisors who provide
services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

B. Only Employees who are Section 16 Insiders or other highly
compensated individuals shall be eligible to participate in the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program.

C. Only non-employee Board members shall be eligible to participate
in the Automatic Option Grant and Director Fee Option Grant Programs.

V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized
but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the
Corporation on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall not exceed three million
eight hundred eight thousand twenty-two (3,808,022) shares. Such authorized
share reserve consists of (i) the number of shares which remain available for
issuance, as of the Plan Effective Date, under the Predecessor Plan, including
the shares subject to the outstanding options to be incorporated into the Plan
and the additional shares which would otherwise be available for future grant,
plus (ii)

3
<PAGE>

an increase of one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares authorized
by the Board and approved by the Stockholders on September 17, 1999, and (iii)
an additional four hundred forty-one thousand three hundred fifty-six (441,356)-
share automatic increase pursuant to Section V.B. below.

B. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under
the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of each calendar
year during the term of the Plan, beginning with the 2000 calendar year, by an
amount equal to three percent (3%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on
the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar year, but in no event
shall any such annual increase exceed one million five hundred thousand
(1,500,000) shares.

C. No one person participating in the Plan may receive options,
separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances for
more than seven hundred and fifty thousand (750,000) shares of Common Stock in
the aggregate per calendar year, beginning with the 1999 calendar year.

D. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options (including
options incorporated into this Plan from the Predecessor Plan) shall be
available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those options
expire, terminate or are cancelled for any reason prior to exercise in full.
Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently repurchased by the
Corporation, at the original exercise or issue price paid per share, pursuant to
the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the
number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall
accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more subsequent options
or direct stock issuances under the Plan. However, should the exercise price of
an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock or should shares of
Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Corporation in
satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise
of an option or the vesting of a stock issuance under the Plan, then the number
of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced
by the gross number of shares for which the option is exercised or which vest
under the stock issuance, and not by the net number of shares of Common Stock
issued to the holder of such option or stock issuance. Shares of Common Stock
underlying one or more stock appreciation rights exercised under the Plan shall
not be available for subsequent issuance.

E. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of
shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without
the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be
made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the
Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities by which the share reserve is
to increase each calendar year pursuant to the automatic share increase
provisions of the Plan, (iii) the number and/or class of securities for which
any one person may be granted options, separately exercisable stock appreciation
rights and direct stock issuances under the Plan per calendar year, (iv) the
number and/or class of securities for which grants are subsequently to be made
under the Automatic Option Grant Program to new and continuing non-employee
Board members, (v) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise price
per share in effect under each outstanding option under the Plan and (vi) the
number and/or class of securities and price per share in effect under each
outstanding option incorporated into this Plan from the Predecessor Plan. Such
adjustments to the outstanding options are to be effected in a manner

4
<PAGE>

which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under
such options. The adjustments determined by the Plan Administrator shall be
final, binding and conclusive.

5
<PAGE>

ARTICLE TWO

DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
----------------------------------

I. OPTION TERMS

Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form
approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such document
--------
shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing an
Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan
applicable to such options.

A. Exercise Price.
--------------

1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator at the time of the option grant, but shall not be less than one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
grant date.

2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise
of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section II of Article
Seven and the documents evidencing the option, be payable in cash or check made
payable to the Corporation. Should the Common Stock be registered under Section
12 of the 1934 Act at the time the option is exercised, then the exercise price
may also be paid as follows:

(i) shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period
necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for financial
reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or

(ii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares,
through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Optionee
shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions to (a) a Corporation-
approved brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and
remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement
date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the
purchased shares plus all applicable Federal, state and local income and
employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such
exercise and (b) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased
shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.

Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is utilized,
payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the
Exercise Date.

B. Exercise and Term of Options. Each option shall be exercisable at
----------------------------
such time or times, during such period and for such number of shares as shall be
determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing
the option. However, no option shall have a term in excess of ten (10) years
measured from the option grant date.

6
<PAGE>

C. Cessation of Service.
---------------------

1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options
outstanding at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Service or death:

(i) Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee's
cessation of Service for any reason shall remain exercisable for such period of
time thereafter as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth
in the documents evidencing the option, but no such option shall be exercisable
after the expiration of the option term.

(ii) Any option exercisable in whole or in part by the Optionee
at the time of death may be subsequently exercised by his or her Beneficiary.

(iii) During the applicable post-Service exercise period, the
option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of vested
shares for which the option is exercisable on the date of the Optionee's
cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise period or
(if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall terminate
and cease to be outstanding for any vested shares for which the option has not
been exercised. However, the option shall, immediately upon the Optionee's
cessation of Service, terminate and cease to be outstanding to the extent the
option is not otherwise at that time exercisable for vested shares.

(iv) Should the Optionee's Service be terminated for Misconduct
or should the Optionee engage in Misconduct while his or her options are
outstanding, then all such options shall terminate immediately and cease to be
outstanding.

2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion, exercisable
either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the option remains
outstanding:

(i) to extend the period of time for which the option is to
remain exercisable following the Optionee's cessation of Service to such period
of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond
the expiration of the option term, and/or

(ii) to permit the option to be exercised, during the applicable
post-Service exercise period, for one or more additional installments in which
the Optionee would have vested had the Optionee continued in Service.

D. Stockholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no
------------------
stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such
person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a
holder of record of the purchased shares.

E. Repurchase Rights. The Plan Administrator shall have the
-----------------
discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common
Stock. Should the Optionee

7
<PAGE>

cease Service while holding such unvested shares, the Corporation shall have the
right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per share, any or all of those
unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable
(including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting
schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan
Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.

F. Limited Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the
----------------------------------
Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall
not be assignable or transferable other than to a Beneficiary following the
Optionee's death. Non-Statutory Options shall be subject to the same
restrictions, except that a Non-Statutory Option may, to the extent permitted by
the Plan Administrator, be assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee's
lifetime (i) as a gift to one or more members of the Optionee's immediate
family, to a trust in which Optionee and/or one or more such family members hold
more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest or to an entity in
which more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests are owned by one or
more such family members or (ii) pursuant to a domestic relations order. The
terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect
for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in
such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem
appropriate.

II. INCENTIVE OPTIONS

The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive
Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the
provisions of Articles One, Two and Six shall be applicable to Incentive
Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options
when issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.
---

A. Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.
-----------

B. Exercise Price. The exercise price per share shall not be less
--------------
than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the option grant date.

C. Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares
-----------------
of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) for
which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any other
option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the first
time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year shall
not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the extent
the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the
first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the
exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the
basis of the order in which such options are granted.

D. 10% Stockholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is
---------------
granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be
less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of
Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five
(5) years measured from the option grant date.

8
<PAGE>

III. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. Each option outstanding at the time of a Change in Control but not
otherwise fully-vested shall automatically accelerate so that each such option
shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become
exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to that
option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested
shares of Common Stock. However, an outstanding option shall not so accelerate
if and to the extent: (i) such option is, in connection with the Change in
Control, assumed or otherwise continued in full force and effect by the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) pursuant to the terms of the Change in
Control, (ii) such option is replaced with a cash incentive program of the
successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the
Change in Control on the shares of Common Stock for which the option is not
otherwise at that time exercisable and provides for subsequent payout in
accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to those option shares or
(iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by
the Plan Administrator at the time of the option grant. Each option outstanding
at the time of the Change in Control shall terminate as provided in Section
III.C. of this Article Two.

B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall also terminate
automatically, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in Control, except to
the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are assigned to the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continue in full force and effect
pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control or (ii) such accelerated vesting
is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time
the repurchase right is issued.

C. Immediately following the consummation of the Change in Control,
all outstanding options shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to
the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise
expressly continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change
in Control.

D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in
Control shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in
Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been
issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had the
option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control. Appropriate
adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to (i) the
exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the
--------
aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same, (ii)
the maximum number and/or class of securities available for issuance over the
remaining term of the Plan and (iii) the maximum number and/or class of
securities for which any one person may be granted options, separately
exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances under the Plan
per calendar year.

E. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more
options will automatically accelerate in full or in part in connection with a
Change in Control, whether or not those options are assumed or otherwise
continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in
Control. Any such option shall accordingly become exercisable,

9
<PAGE>

immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control, for all or
part of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to that option and may be
exercised for some or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common
Stock. In addition, the Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or
more of the Corporation's repurchase rights shall not be assignable in
connection with such Change in Control and shall terminate upon the consummation
of such Change in Control.

F. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more
options will automatically accelerate in full or in part upon an Involuntary
Termination of the Optionee's Service within a designated period (not to exceed
eighteen (18) months) following the effective date of any Change in Control in
which those options do not otherwise accelerate. Any options so accelerated
shall remain exercisable for fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the
-------
expiration of the option term or (ii) the expiration of the one (1) year period
measured from the effective date of the Involuntary Termination. In addition,
the Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more of the
Corporation's repurchase rights shall immediately terminate upon such
Involuntary Termination.

G. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more
options will automatically accelerate in full or in part in connection with a
Hostile Take-Over. Any such option shall become exercisable, immediately prior
to the effective date of such Hostile Take-Over, for all or part of the shares
of Common Stock at the time subject to that option and may be exercised for some
or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. In addition, the
Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more of the Corporation's
repurchase rights shall terminate automatically upon the consummation of such
Hostile Take-Over. Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may condition such
automatic acceleration and termination upon an Involuntary Termination of the
Optionee's Service within a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18)
months) following the effective date of such Hostile Take-Over. Each option so
accelerated shall remain exercisable for fully-vested shares until the
expiration or sooner termination of the option term.

H. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with
a Change in Control or Hostile Take Over shall remain exercisable as an
Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar
($100,000) limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is
exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-
Statutory Option under the Federal tax laws.

IV. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

The Plan Administrator may, subject to such conditions as it may
determine, grant to selected Optionees stock appreciation rights which will
allow the holders of those rights to elect between the exercise of the
underlying option for shares of Common Stock and the surrender of that option in
exchange for a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the
excess of (a) the Option Surrender Value of the number of shares for which the
option is surrendered over (b) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
shares. The distribution may be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair
Market Value on the option surrender date, in cash, or partly in shares and
partly in cash, as the Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion deem
appropriate.

10
<PAGE>

ARTICLE THREE

SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
--------------------------------------

I. OPTION GRANTS

The Primary Committee may implement the Salary Investment Option Grant
Program for one or more calendar years beginning after the Underwriting Date and
select the Section 16 Insiders and other highly compensated Employees eligible
to participate in the Salary Investment Option Grant Program for each such
calendar year. Each selected individual who elects to participate in the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program must, prior to the start of each calendar year
of participation, file with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) an
irrevocable authorization directing the Corporation to reduce his or her base
salary for that calendar year by an amount not less than Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000.00) nor more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). The Primary
Committee shall have complete discretion to determine whether to approve the
filed authorization in whole or in part. To the extent the Primary Committee
approves the authorization, the individual who filed that authorization shall be
granted an option under the Salary Investment Grant Program on the first trading
day in January for the calendar year for which the salary reduction is to be in
effect.

II. OPTION TERMS

Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option evidenced by one or more
documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however,
--------
that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.

A. Exercise Price.
--------------

1. The exercise price per share shall be thirty-three and one-third
percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
option grant date.

2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of
the option and shall be payable in one or more of the alternative forms
authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. Except to the extent
the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is utilized, payment of
the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

B. Number of Option Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock
-----------------------
subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the following formula
(rounded down to the nearest whole number):

X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where

X is the number of option shares,

A is the dollar amount of the approved reduction in the
Optionee's base salary for the calendar year, and

11
<PAGE>

B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
option grant date.

C. Exercise and Term of Options. The option shall become exercisable
----------------------------
in a series of twelve (12) successive equal monthly installments upon the
Optionee's completion of each calendar month of Service in the calendar year for
which the salary reduction is in effect. Each option shall have a maximum term
of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

D. Cessation of Service. Each option outstanding at the time of the
--------------------
Optionee's cessation of Service shall remain exercisable, for any or all of the
shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of
Service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the option term or (ii) the
-------
expiration of the three (3)-year period following the Optionee's cessation of
Service. To the extent the option is held by the Optionee at the time of his or
her death, the option may be exercised by his or her Beneficiary. However, the
option shall, immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Service, terminate
and cease to remain outstanding with respect to any and all shares of Common
Stock for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.

III. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. In the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over while
the Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option shall automatically
accelerate so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective
date of the Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over, become fully exercisable
with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject
to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-
vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option accelerated in connection with
a Change in Control shall terminate upon the Change in Control, except to the
extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise
continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in
Control. Each such option accelerated in connection with a Hostile Take-Over
shall remain exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the
option term.

B. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in
Control shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to the number and class of
securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of
such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such
Change in Control. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise
price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate
--------
exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same.

C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall
have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each of
his or her outstanding options. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a
cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i)
the Option Surrender Value of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
each surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time
vested in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the
surrender of the option to the Corporation.

12
<PAGE>
IV. REMAINING TERMS

The remaining terms of each option granted under the Salary Investment
Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for options made
under the discretionary Option Grant Program.

13
<PAGE>

ARTICLE FOUR

STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM
----------------------

I. STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS

Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program
through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening options. Shares
of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance Program pursuant to
share right awards which entitle the recipients to receive those shares upon the
attainment of designated performance goals or Service requirements. Each such
award shall be evidenced by one or more documents which comply with the terms
specified below.

A. Purchase Price.
--------------

1. The purchase price per share of Common Stock subject to
direct issuance shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator, but shall not be less
than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the issuance date.

2. Subject to the provisions of Section II of Article Seven,
shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for any of
the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem
appropriate in each individual instance:

(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation, or

(ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary).

B. Vesting/Issuance Provisions.
---------------------------

1. The Plan Administrator may issue shares of Common Stock which are
fully and immediately vested upon issuance or which are to vest in one or more
installments over the Participant's period of Service or upon attainment of
specified performance objectives. Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may
issue share right awards which shall entitle the recipient to receive a
specified number of vested shares of Common Stock upon the attainment of one or
more performance goals or Service requirements established by the Plan
Administrator.

2. Any new, substituted or additional securities or other property
(including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the
Participant may have the right to receive with respect to his or her unvested
shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change
affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's
receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting
requirements applicable to the Participant's unvested shares of Common Stock and
(ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.

3. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with respect to
the issued shares of Common Stock, whether or not the Participant's interest in
those shares is

14
<PAGE>

vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such shares
and to receive any regular cash dividends paid on such shares.

4. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while holding
one or more unvested shares of Common Stock, or should the performance
objectives not be attained with respect to one or more such unvested shares of
Common Stock, then those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the
Corporation for cancellation, and the Participant shall have no further
stockholder rights with respect to those shares. To the extent the surrendered
shares were previously issued to the Participant for consideration paid in cash
or cash equivalent (including the Participant's purchase-money indebtedness),
the Corporation shall repay to the Participant the cash consideration paid for
the surrendered shares and shall cancel the unpaid principal balance of any
outstanding purchase-money note of the Participant attributable to the
surrendered shares.

5. The Plan Administrator may waive the surrender and cancellation of
one or more unvested shares of Common Stock (or other assets attributable
thereto) which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant's
Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those
shares. Such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant's
interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies. Such
waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant's
cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable
performance objectives.

6. Outstanding share right awards shall automatically terminate, and
no shares of Common Stock shall actually be issued in satisfaction of those
awards, if the performance goals or Service requirements established for such
awards are not attained. The Plan Administrator, however, shall have the
authority to issue shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of one or more
outstanding share right awards as to which the designated performance goals or
Service requirements are not attained.

II. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. All of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights shall
terminate automatically, and all the shares of Common Stock subject to those
terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in
Control, except to the extent (i) those repurchase rights are assigned to the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continue in full force
and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control or (ii) such
accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan
Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.

B. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide for the automatic
termination of one or more of those outstanding repurchase rights and the
immediate vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated
rights upon (i) a Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over or (ii) an Involuntary
Termination of the Participant's Service within a designated period (not to
exceed eighteen (18) months) following the effective date of any Change in
Control or Hostile Take-Over in which those repurchase rights are assigned to
the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continue in full
force and effect.

15
<PAGE>

III. SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion, be held
in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such shares
vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive legends on
the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.

16
<PAGE>

ARTICLE FIVE

AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

I. OPTION TERMS

A. Grant Dates. Options shall be made on the dates specified below:
-----------

1. Each individual who is first elected or appointed as a non-
employee Board member at any time after the Underwriting Date shall
automatically be granted, on the date of such initial election or appointment, a
Non-Statutory Option to purchase five thousand (5,000) shares of Common Stock,
provided that individual has not previously been in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

3. On the date of each Annual Stockholders Meeting held after the
Underwriting Date, each individual who is to continue to serve as a non-employee
Board member, whether or not that individual is standing for re-election to the
Board, shall automatically be granted a Non-Statutory Option to purchase two
thousand five hundred (2,500) shares of Common Stock, provided such individual
has served as a non-employee Board member for at least six (6) months.

B. Exercise Price.
--------------

1. The exercise price per share shall be equal to one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option
grant date.

2. The exercise price shall be payable in one or more of the
alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on
the Exercise Date.

C. Option Term. Each option shall have a term of ten (10) years
-----------
measured from the option grant date.

D. Exercise and Vesting of Options. Each option shall be immediately
-------------------------------
exercisable for any or all of the option shares. However, any shares purchased
under the option shall be subject to repurchase by the Corporation, at the
exercise price paid per share, upon the Optionee's cessation of Board service
prior to vesting in those shares. Each initial 5,000 share grant shall vest,
and the Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse, in a series of four (4)
successive equal annual installments over the Optionee's period of continued
service as a Board member, with the first such installment to vest upon the
Optionee's completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the option
grant date. Each annual 2,500 share option grant shall vest, and the
Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse upon the Optionee's completion of one
(1) year of Board service measured from the option grant date.

E. Cessation of Board Service. The following provisions shall govern
--------------------------
the exercise of any options outstanding at the time of the Optionee's cessation
of Board service:

17
<PAGE>

(i) Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee's
cessation of Board service for any reason shall remain exercisable for a
twelve (12)-month period following the date of such cessation of Board
service, but in no event shall such option be exercisable after the
expiration of the option term.

(ii) Any option exercisable in whole or in part by the
Optionee at the time of death may be subsequently exercised by his or her
Beneficiary.

(iii) Following the Optionee's cessation of Board service,
the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number
of shares for which the option was exercisable on the date of such
cessation of Board service. Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise
period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option
shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested shares for which
the option has not been exercised. However, the option shall, immediately
upon the Optionee's cessation of Board service, terminate and cease to be
outstanding for any and all shares for which the option is not otherwise at
that time exercisable.

(iv) However, should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board
member by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then all shares at the
time subject to the option shall immediately vest so that such option may,
during the twelve (12)-month exercise period following such cessation of
Board service, be exercised for all or any portion of those shares as
fully-vested shares of Common Stock.

II. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. In the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over, the
shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not
otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option may,
immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control or Hostile
Take-Over, became fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the
time subject to such option and maybe exercised for all or any of those shares
as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option accelerated in
connection with a Change in Control shall terminate upon the Change in Control,
except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or
otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change
in Control. Each such option accelerated in connection with a Hostile Take-Over
shall remain exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the
option term.

B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall automatically terminate
and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall
immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-
Over.

C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall
have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each of
his or her outstanding

18
<PAGE>

options. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from
the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Option Surrender
Value of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered
option (whether or not the option is otherwise at the time exercisable for those
shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such
cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of
the option to the Corporation.

D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in
Control shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to the number and class of
securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of
such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such
Change in Control. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise
price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate
--------
exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same.

III. REMAINING TERMS

The remaining terms of each option granted under the Automatic Option
Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for options made under
the Discretionary Option Grant Program.

19
<PAGE>

ARTICLE SIX

DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
---------------------------------

I. OPTION GRANTS

The Board may implement the Director Fee Option Grant Program as of
the first day of any calendar year beginning after the Underwriting Date. Upon
such implementation of the Program, each non-employee Board member may elect to
apply all or any portion of the annual retainer fee otherwise payable in cash
for his or her service on the Board to the acquisition of a special option grant
under this Director Fee Option Grant Program. Such election must be filed with
the Corporation's Chief Financial Officer prior to the first day of the calendar
year for which the election is to be in effect. Each non-employee Board member
who files such a timely election with respect to the annul retainer fee shall
automatically be granted an option under this Director Fee Option Grant Program
on the first trading day in January in the calendar year for which that fee
would otherwise be payable.

II. OPTION TERMS

Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option governed by the terms and
conditions specified below.

A. Exercise Price.
--------------

1. The exercise price per share shall be thirty-three and one-
third percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on
the option grant date.

2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise
of the option and shall be payable in one or more of the alternative forms
authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. Except to the extent
the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is utilized, payment of
the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where

X is the number of option shares,

A is the portion of the annual retainer fee subject to the non-
employee Board member's election, and

B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option
grant date.

20
<PAGE>

C. Exercise and Term of Options. The option shall become exercisable
----------------------------
in a series of twelve (12) successive equal monthly installments upon the
Optionee's completion of each month of Board service during the calendar year in
which the option is granted. Each option shall have a maximum term of ten (10)
years measured from the option grant date.

D. Cessation of Board Service. Should the Optionee cease Board
--------------------------
service for any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability) while holding
one or more options, then each such option shall remain exercisable, for any or
all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such
cessation of Board service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten
-------
(10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of such cessation of Board service. However, each option
held by the Optionee at the time of such cessation of Board service shall
immediately terminate and cease to remain outstanding with respect to any and
all shares of Common Stock for which the option is not otherwise at that time
exercisable.

E. Death or Permanent Disability. Should the Optionee's service as a
-----------------------------
Board member cease by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then each option
held by such Optionee shall immediately become exercisable for all the shares of
Common Stock at the time subject to that option, and the option may be exercised
for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i)
-------
the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the
three (3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation of Board service.

Should the Optionee die after cessation of Board service but while
holding one or more options, then each such option may be exercised, for any or
all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of the
Optionee's cessation of Board service (less any shares subsequently purchased by
Optionee prior to death), by the Optionee's Beneficiary. Such right of exercise
shall lapse, and the option shall terminate, upon the earlier of (i) the
-------
expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Board service.

III. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. In the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over while
the Optionee remains in Board service, each outstanding option held by such
Optionee shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control or Hostile
Take-Over, become fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares
of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any
or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option
accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall terminate upon the
Change in Control, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof) or otherwise expressly continued in full force and effect
pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control. Each such option accelerated in
connection with a Hostile Take-Over shall remain exercisable until the
expiration or sooner termination of the option term.

B. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall
have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each of
his or her outstanding options. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a
cash distribution from the Corporation in an

21
<PAGE>

amount equal to the excess of (i) the Option Surrender Value of the shares of
Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered option (whether or not the
Optionee is otherwise at the time vested in those shares) over (ii) the
aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall
be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the option to the
Corporation.

IV. REMAINING TERMS

The remaining terms of each option granted under this Director Fee
Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for options made
under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.

22
<PAGE>

ARTICLE SEVEN

MISCELLANEOUS
-------------

I. NO IMPAIRMENT OF AUTHORITY

Outstanding awards shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation
to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business
structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all
or any part of its business or assets.

II. FINANCING

The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant to pay
the option exercise price under the Discretionary Option Grant Program or the
purchase price of shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program by delivering a
full-recourse, interest bearing promissory note payable in one or more
installments. The terms of any such promissory note (including the interest
rate and the terms of repayment) shall be established by the Plan Administrator
in its sole discretion. In no event may the maximum credit available to the
Optionee or Participant exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate option exercise
price or purchase price payable for the purchased shares plus (ii) any Federal,
state and local income and employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or
the Participant in connection with the option exercise or share purchase.

III. TAX WITHHOLDING

A. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of options or the issuance or vesting of such shares under the
Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and
local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide any or all
holders of Non-Statutory Options or unvested shares of Common Stock under the
Plan with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part
of the Withholding Taxes incurred by such holders in connection with the
exercise of their options or the vesting of their shares. Such right may be
provided to any such holder in either or both of the following formats:

Stock Withholding: The election to have the Corporation withhold,
-----------------
from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of such
Non-Statutory Option or the vesting of such shares, a portion of those shares
with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding
Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%) designated by the holder.

Stock Delivery: The election to deliver to the Corporation, at the
--------------
time the Non-Statutory Option is exercised or the shares vest, one or more
shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such holder (other than in
connection with the option exercise or share vesting triggering the Withholding
Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Taxes
(not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder.

23
<PAGE>

IV. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall become effective immediately upon the Plan
Effective Date. However, the Salary Investment Option Grant and Director Fee
Option Grant Programs shall not be implemented until such time as the Primary
Committee or the Board may deem appropriate. Options may be granted under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program at any time on or after the Plan Effective
Date. However, no options granted under the Plan may be exercised, and no
shares shall be issued under the Plan, until the Plan is approved by the
Corporation's stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve (12) months after the Plan Effective Date, then all options previously
granted under this Plan shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, and no
further options shall be granted and no shares shall be issued under the Plan.

B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor Plan, and
no further options or direct stock issuances shall be made under the Predecessor
Plan after the Plan Effective Date. All options outstanding under the
Predecessor Plan on the Plan Effective Date shall be incorporated into the Plan
at that time and shall be treated as outstanding options under the Plan.
However, each outstanding option so incorporated shall continue to be governed
solely by the terms of the documents evidencing such option, and no provision of
the Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations
of the holders of such incorporated options with respect to their acquisition of
shares of Common Stock.

C. One or more provisions of the Plan, including (without limitation)
the option/vesting acceleration provisions of Article Two relating to Changes in
Control, may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion, be extended to one or more
options incorporated from the Predecessor Plan which do not otherwise contain
such provisions.

D. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) September 16,
--------
2009, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been issued as fully-vested shares or (iii) the termination of all
outstanding options in connection with a Change in Control. Upon such plan
termination, all outstanding options and unvested stock issuances shall
thereafter continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions
of the documents evidencing such grants or issuances.

V. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority to
amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such amendment or
modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to
stock options or unvested stock issuances at the time outstanding under the Plan
unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or
modification. In addition, certain amendments may require stockholder approval
pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.

B. Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be granted under
the Discretionary Option Grant and Salary Investment Option Grant Programs and
shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program that are
in each instance in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance
under the Plan, provided any excess

24
<PAGE>

shares actually issued under those programs shall be held in escrow until there
is obtained stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan. If such
stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date
the first such excess issuances are made, then (i) any unexercised options
granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding and (ii) the Corporation shall promptly refund to the Optionees and
the Participants the exercise or purchase price paid for any excess shares
issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with interest (at the
applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares were held in
escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be automatically cancelled and cease to
be outstanding.

VI. USE OF PROCEEDS

Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares
of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

VII. REGULATORY APPROVALS

A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock option
under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon the
exercise of any granted option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance Program shall be
subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits required
by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the stock options
granted under it and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.

B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or
delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with
all applicable requirements of Federal and state securities laws, including the
filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares
of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements
of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which
Common Stock is then listed for trading.

VIII. NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the
Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration
or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the
Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each,
to terminate such person's Service at any time for any reason, with or without
cause.

25
<PAGE>

APPENDIX
--------

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

A. Automatic Option Grant Program shall mean the automatic option
------------------------------
grant program in effect under the Plan.

B. Beneficiary shall mean, in the event the Plan Administrator
-----------
implements a beneficiary designation procedure, the person designated by an
Optionee or Participant, pursuant to such procedure, to succeed to such person's
rights under any outstanding awards held by him or her at the time of death. In
the absence of such designation or procedure, the Beneficiary shall be the
personal representative of the estate of the Optionee or Participant or the
person or persons to whom the award is transferred by will or the laws of
descent and distribution.

C. Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
-----

D. Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of
-----------------
the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

(i) a merger, consolidation or reorganization approved by the
Corporation's stockholders, unless securities representing more than fifty
------
percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting securities
of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the
persons who beneficially owned the Corporation's outstanding voting
securities immediately prior to such transaction,

(ii) any stockholder-approved transfer or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets, or

(iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly by any person or
related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Corporation), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty
percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly
to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board recommends such
stockholders accept.

E. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
----

F. Common Stock shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
------------

G. Corporation shall mean eCollege.com, a Delaware corporation, and
-----------
any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting
stock of eCollege.com which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

A-1
<PAGE>

H. Director Fee Option Grant Program shall mean the director fee
---------------------------------
option grant program in effect under the Plan.

I. Discretionary Option Grant Program shall mean the discretionary
----------------------------------
option grant program in effect under the Plan.

J. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
--------
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.

K. Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall
-------------
have received written notice of the option exercise.

L. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
-----------------
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq
National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is
reported on the Nasdaq National Market or any successor system. If there
is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last
preceding date for which such quotation exists.

(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per
share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the
Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of
transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for
the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall
be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such
quotation exists.

M. Hostile Take-Over shall mean:
-----------------

(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or
related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty
percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly
to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board does not recommend such
stockholders to accept, or

(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of
thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the
Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for
Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been
Board

A-2
<PAGE>

members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have
been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period
by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who
were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or
nomination.

N. Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the
----------------
requirements of Code Section 422.

O. Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of the Service
-----------------------
of any individual which occurs by reason of:

(i) such individual's involuntary dismissal or discharge by
the Corporation for reasons other than Misconduct, or

(ii) such individual's voluntary resignation following (A) a
change in his or her position with the Corporation or Parent or Subsidiary
employing the individual which materially reduces his or her duties and
responsibilities or the level of management to which he or she reports, (B)
a reduction in his or her level of compensation (including base salary,
fringe benefits and target bonus under any performance based bonus or
incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation
of such individual's place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles,
provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected by
the Corporation without the individual's consent.

P. Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
----------
embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use
or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any intentional wrongdoing by such
person, whether by omission or commission, which adversely affects the business
or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material
manner. This shall not limit the grounds for the dismissal or discharge of any
person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

Q. 1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
--------
amended.

R. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy
--------------------
the requirements of Code Section 422.

S. Option Surrender Value shall mean the Fair Market Value per share
----------------------
of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to the Corporation or, in
the event of a Hostile Take-Over, effected through a tender offer, the highest
reported price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in effecting
such Hostile Take-Over, if greater. However, if the surrendered option is an
Incentive Option, the Option Surrender Value shall not exceed the Fair Market
Value per share.

T. Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under
--------
the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant, Automatic Option
Grant or Director Fee Option Grant Program.

A-3
<PAGE>

U. Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in
------
an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.

V. Participant shall mean any person who is issued shares of Common
-----------
Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

W. Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the
--------------------------------------------
inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve
(12) months or more. However, solely for purposes of the Automatic Option Grant
and Director Fee Option Grant Programs, Permanent Disability or Permanently
Disabled shall mean the inability of the non-employee Board member to perform
his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be
of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

X. Plan shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, as
----
set forth in this document.

Y. Plan Administrator shall mean the particular entity, whether the
------------------
Primary Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee, which is authorized to
administer the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant and
Stock Issuance Programs with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons,
to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under
those programs with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction. However, the
Primary Committee shall have the plenary authority to make all factual
determinations and to construe and interpret any and all ambiguities under the
Plan to the extent such authority is not otherwise expressly delegated to any
other Plan Administrator.

Z. Plan Effective Date shall mean September 17, 1999, the date on
-------------------
which the Plan was adopted by the Board.

AA. Predecessor Plan shall mean the Corporation's pre-existing 1997
----------------
Stock Option Plan in effect immediately prior to the Plan Effective Date
hereunder.

BB. Primary Committee shall mean the committee of two (2) or more
-----------------
non-employee Board members appointed by the Board to administer the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section
16 Insiders and to administer the Salary Investment Option Grant Program with
respect to all eligible individuals.

CC. Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall mean the salary
--------------------------------------
investment grant program in effect under the Plan.

DD. Secondary Committee shall mean a committee of one (1) or more
-------------------
Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to eligible persons other than
Section 16 Insiders.

A-4
<PAGE>

EE. Section 12 Registration Date shall mean the date on which the
----------------------------
Common Stock is first registered under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act.

FF. Section 16 Insider shall mean an officer or director of the
------------------
Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the
1934 Act.

GG. Service shall mean the performance of services for the
-------
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an
Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or
independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the
documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance.

HH. Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or
--------------
the New York Stock Exchange.

II. Stock Issuance Program shall mean the stock issuance program in
----------------------
effect under the Plan.

JJ. Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the
----------
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the
Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the
unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.

KK. 10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined
---------------
under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent
or Subsidiary).

LL. Underwriting Agreement shall mean the agreement between the
----------------------
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the initial public
offering of the Common Stock.

MM. Underwriting Date shall mean the date on which the Underwriting
-----------------
Agreement is executed and priced in connection with an initial public offering
of the Common Stock.

NN. Withholding Taxes shall mean the Federal, state and local income
-----------------
and employment withholding tax liabilities to which the holder of Non-Statutory
Options or unvested shares of Common Stock may become subject in connection with
the exercise of those options or the vesting of those shares.

A-5

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 99.2

eCollege.com

1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
<PAGE>

ECOLLEGE.COM
1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
---------------------------------

I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

This 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to promote the
interests of eCollege.com, a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible
employees with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the
Corporation through participation in a payroll-deduction based employee stock
purchase plan designed to qualify under Section 423 of the Code.

Capitalized terms herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms
in the attached Appendix.

II. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to interpret and
construe any provision of the Plan and to adopt such rules and regulations for
administering the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to comply with the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code. Decisions of the Plan Administrator
shall be final and binding on all parties having an interest in the Plan.

III. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

A. The stock purchasable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized
but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock
purchased on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which
may be issued over the term of the Plan shall not exceed six hundred sixty-six
thousand six hundred sixty-seven (666,667) shares.

B. Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange
of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class
without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments
shall be made to (i) the maximum number and class of securities issuable under
the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of securities purchasable per
Participant and in the aggregate on any one Purchase Date and (iii) the number
and class of securities and the price per share in effect under each outstanding
purchase right in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits
thereunder.

IV. OFFERING PERIODS

A. Shares of Common Stock shall be offered for purchase under the Plan
through a series of successive offering periods until such time as (i) the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been purchased or (ii) the Plan shall have been sooner terminated.
<PAGE>

B. Each offering period shall be of such duration (not to exceed
twenty-four (24) months) as determined by the Plan Administrator prior to the
start date of such offering period. However, the initial offering period shall
commence at the Effective Time and terminate on the last business day in October
2001. Subsequent offering periods shall commence as designated by the Plan
Administrator .

C. Each offering period shall be comprised of a series of one or more
successive Purchase Intervals. Purchase Intervals shall run from the first
business day in May each year to the last business day in October of the same
year and from the first business day in November each year to the last business
day in April of the following year. However, the first Purchase Interval in
effect under the initial offering period shall commence at the Effective Time
and terminate on the last business day in April 2000.

D. Should the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any
Purchase Date within an offering period be less than the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock on the start date of that offering period, then that
offering period shall automatically terminate immediately after the purchase of
shares of Common Stock on such Purchase Date, and a new offering period shall
commence on the next business day following such Purchase Date. The new offering
period shall have a duration of twenty (24) months, unless a shorter duration is
established by the Plan Administrator within five (5) business days following
the start date of that offering period.

V. ELIGIBILITY

A. Each individual who is an Eligible Employee on the start date of an
offering period under the Plan may enter that offering period on such start date
or on any subsequent Semi-Annual Entry Date within that offering period,
provided he or she remains an Eligible Employee.

B. Each individual who first becomes an Eligible Employee after the
start date of an offering period may enter that offering period on any
subsequent Semi-Annual Entry Date within that offering period on which he or she
is an Eligible Employee.

C. The date an individual enters an offering period shall be
designated his or her Entry Date for purposes of that offering period.

D. To participate in the Plan for a particular offering period, the
Eligible Employee must complete the enrollment forms prescribed by the Plan
Administrator (including a stock purchase agreement and a payroll deduction
authorization) and file such forms with the Plan Administrator (or its
designate) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date.

2
<PAGE>

VI. PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

A. The payroll deduction authorized by the Participant for purposes of
acquiring shares of Common Stock during an offering period may be any multiple
of one percent (1%) of the Cash Earnings paid to the Participant during each
Purchase Interval within that offering period, up to a maximum of fifteen
percent (15%). The deduction rate so authorized shall continue in effect
throughout the offering period, except to the extent such rate is changed in
accordance with the following guidelines:

(i) The Participant may, at any time during the offering period,
reduce his or her rate of payroll deduction to become effective as soon as
possible after filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator. The
Participant may not, however, effect more than one (1) such reduction per
Purchase Interval.

(ii) The Participant may, prior to the commencement of any new
Purchase Interval within the offering period, increase the rate of his or
her payroll deduction by filing the appropriate form with the Plan
Administrator. The new rate (which may not exceed the fifteen percent (15%)
maximum) shall become effective on the start date of the first Purchase
Interval following the filing of such form.

B. Payroll deductions shall begin on the first pay day following the
Participant's Entry Date into the offering period and shall (unless sooner
terminated by the Participant) continue through the pay day ending with or
immediately prior to the last day of that offering period. The amounts so
collected shall be credited to the Participant's book account under the Plan,
but no interest shall be paid on the balance from time to time outstanding in
such account. The amounts collected from the Participant shall not be required
to be held in any segregated account or trust fund and may be commingled with
the general assets of the Corporation and used for general corporate purposes.

C. Payroll deductions shall automatically cease upon the termination
of the Participant's purchase right in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan.

D. The Participant's acquisition of Common Stock under the Plan on any
Purchase Date shall neither limit nor require the Participant's acquisition of
Common Stock on any subsequent Purchase Date, whether within the same or a
different offering period.

VII. PURCHASE RIGHTS

A. Grant of Purchase Right. A Participant shall be granted a separate
-----------------------
purchase right for each offering period in which he or she participates. The
purchase right shall be granted on the Participant's Entry Date into the
offering period and shall provide the Participant with the right to purchase
shares of Common Stock, in a series of successive installments over the
remainder of such offering period, upon the terms set forth below. The
Participant shall execute a stock purchase agreement embodying such terms and
such other provisions (not inconsistent with the Plan) as the Plan Administrator
may deem advisable.

3
<PAGE>

Under no circumstances shall purchase rights be granted under the Plan
to any Eligible Employee if such individual would, immediately after the grant,
own (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) or hold outstanding options or
other rights to purchase, stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the
total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Corporation
or any Corporate Affiliate.

B. Exercise of the Purchase Right. Each purchase right shall be
------------------------------
automatically exercised in installments on each successive Purchase Date within
the offering period, and shares of Common Stock shall accordingly be purchased
on behalf of each Participant (other than Participants whose payroll deductions
have previously been refunded pursuant to the Termination of Purchase Right
provisions below) on each such Purchase Date. The purchase shall be effected by
applying the Participant's payroll deductions for the Purchase Interval ending
on such Purchase Date to the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock at the
purchase price in effect for the Participant for that Purchase Date.

C. Purchase Price. The purchase price per share at which Common Stock
--------------
will be purchased on the Participant's behalf on each Purchase Date within the
offering period shall be equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the lower of (i)
the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Participant's Entry Date
into that offering period or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on that Purchase Date.

D. Number of Purchasable Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock
----------------------------
purchasable by a Participant on each Purchase Date during the offering period
shall be the number of whole shares obtained by dividing the amount collected
from the Participant through payroll deductions during the Purchase Interval
ending with that Purchase Date by the purchase price in effect for the
Participant for that Purchase Date. However, the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable per Participant on any one Purchase Date shall not
exceed One Thousand Five Hundred (1,500) shares, subject to periodic adjustments
in the event of certain changes in the Corporation's capitalization. In
addition, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock purchasable in the
aggregate by all Participants on any one Purchase Date shall not exceed Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) shares, subject to periodic adjustments in the
event of certain changes in the corporation's capitalization.

E. Excess Payroll Deductions. Any payroll deductions not applied to
-------------------------
the purchase of shares of Common Stock on any Purchase Date because they are not
sufficient to purchase a whole share of Common Stock shall be held for the
purchase of Common Stock on the next Purchase Date. However, any payroll
deductions not applied to the purchase of Common Stock by reason of the
limitation on the maximum number of shares purchasable on the Purchase Date
shall be promptly refunded.

F. Termination of Purchase Right. The following provisions shall
-----------------------------
govern the termination of outstanding purchase rights:

4
<PAGE>

(i) A Participant may, at any time prior to the next scheduled
Purchase Date in the offering period, terminate his or her outstanding
purchase right by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator
(or its designate), and no further payroll deductions shall be collected
from the Participant with respect to the terminated purchase right. Any
payroll deductions collected during the Purchase Interval in which such
termination occurs shall, at the Participant's election, be immediately
refunded or held for the purchase of shares on the next Purchase Date. If
no such election is made at the time such purchase right is terminated,
then the payroll deductions collected with respect to the terminated right
shall be refunded as soon as possible.

(ii) The termination of such purchase right shall be irrevocable,
and the Participant may not subsequently rejoin the Plan during the
Purchase Interval in which the purchase right was terminated. In order to
resume participation in any subsequent Purchase Interval, such individual
must re-enroll in the Plan (by making a timely filing of the prescribed
enrollment forms) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date.

(iii) Should the Participant cease to remain an Eligible Employee
for any reason (including death, disability or change in status) while his
or her purchase right remains outstanding, then that purchase right shall
immediately terminate, and all of the Participant's payroll deductions for
the Purchase Interval in which the purchase right so terminates shall be
immediately refunded. However, should the Participant cease to remain in
active service by reason of an approved unpaid leave of absence, then the
Participant shall have the right, exercisable up until the last business
day of the Purchase Interval in which such leave commences, to (a) withdraw
all the payroll deductions collected to date on his or her behalf for that
Purchase Interval or (b) have such funds held for the purchase of shares on
his or her behalf on the next scheduled Purchase Date. In no event,
however, shall any further payroll deductions be collected on the
Participant's behalf during such leave. Upon the Participant's return to
active service (x) within ninety (90) days following the commencement of
such leave or (y) prior to the expiration of any longer period for which
such Participant's right to reemployment with the Corporation is guaranteed
by statute or contract, his or her payroll deductions under the Plan shall
automatically resume at the rate in

5
<PAGE>

effect at the time the leave began, unless the Participant withdraws from
the Plan prior to his or her return. An individual who returns to active
employment following a leave of absence which exceeds in duration the
applicable (x) or (y) time period will be treated as a new Employee for
purposes of subsequent participation in the Plan and must accordingly re-
enroll in the Plan (by making a timely filing of the prescribed enrollment
forms) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date into the offering
period.

G. Corporate Transaction. Each outstanding purchase right shall
---------------------
automatically be exercised, immediately prior to the effective date of any
Corporate Transaction, by applying the payroll deductions of each Participant
for the Purchase Interval in which such Corporate Transaction occurs to the
purchase of whole shares of Common Stock at a purchase price per share equal to
eighty-five percent (85%) of the lower of (i) the Fair Market Value per share of
-----
Common Stock on the Participant's Entry Date into the offering period in which
such Corporate Transaction occurs or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of
Common Stock immediately prior to the effective date of such Corporate
Transaction. However, the applicable limitations on the number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable per Participant and in the aggregate shall continue to
apply to any such purchase.

The Corporation shall use its best efforts to provide at least ten
(10)-days prior written notice of the occurrence of any Corporate Transaction,
and Participants shall, following the receipt of such notice, have the right to
terminate their outstanding purchase rights prior to the effective date of the
Corporate Transaction.

H. Proration of Purchase Rights. Should the total number of shares of
----------------------------
Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to outstanding purchase rights on any
particular date exceed the number of shares then available for issuance under
the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall make a pro-rata allocation of the
available shares on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, and the payroll
deductions of each Participant, to the extent in excess of the aggregate
purchase price payable for the Common Stock pro-rated to such individual, shall
be refunded.

I. Assignability. The purchase right shall be exercisable only by the
-------------
Participant and shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant.

J. Stockholder Rights. A Participant shall have no stockholder rights
------------------
with respect to the shares subject to his or her outstanding purchase right
until the shares are purchased on the Participant's behalf in accordance with
the provisions of the Plan and the Participant has become a holder of record of
the purchased shares.

VIII. ACCRUAL LIMITATIONS

A. No Participant shall be entitled to accrue rights to acquire Common
Stock pursuant to any purchase right outstanding under this Plan if and to the
extent such accrual, when aggregated with (i) rights to purchase Common Stock
accrued under any other purchase right granted under this Plan and (ii) similar
rights accrued under other employee stock purchase plans (within the meaning of
Code Section 423) of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate, would

7
<PAGE>

otherwise permit such Participant to purchase more than Twenty-Five Thousand
Dollars ($25,000) worth of stock of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate
(determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value per share on the date or dates
such rights are granted) for each calendar year such rights are at any time
outstanding.

B. For purposes of applying such accrual limitations to the purchase
rights granted under the Plan, the following provisions shall be in effect:

(i) The right to acquire Common Stock under each outstanding
purchase right shall accrue in a series of installments on each successive
Purchase Date during the offering period on which such right remains
outstanding.

(ii) No right to acquire Common Stock under any outstanding
purchase right shall accrue to the extent the Participant has already
accrued in the same calendar year the right to acquire Common Stock under
one (1) or more other purchase rights at a rate equal to Twenty-Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of Common Stock (determined on the basis
of the Fair Market Value per share on the date or dates of grant) for each
calendar year such rights were at any time outstanding.

C. If by reason of such accrual limitations, any purchase right of a
Participant does not accrue for a particular Purchase Interval, then the payroll
deductions which the Participant made during that Purchase Interval with respect
to such purchase right shall be promptly refunded.

D. In the event there is any conflict between the provisions of this
Article and one or more provisions of the Plan or any instrument issued
thereunder, the provisions of this Article shall be controlling.

IX. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan was adopted by the Board on September 17, 1999 and shall
become effective at the Effective Time, provided no purchase rights granted
--------
under the Plan shall be exercised, and no shares of Common Stock shall be issued
hereunder, until (i) the Plan shall have been approved by the stockholders of
the Corporation and (ii) the Corporation shall have complied with all applicable
requirements of the 1933 Act (including the registration of the shares of Common
Stock issuable under the Plan on a Form S-8 registration statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission), all applicable listing requirements of
any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which the
Common Stock is listed for trading and all other applicable requirements
established by law or regulation. In the event such stockholder approval is not
obtained, or such compliance is not effected, within twelve (12) months after
the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board, the Plan shall terminate and
have no further force or effect, and all sums collected from Participants during
the initial offering period hereunder shall be refunded.

7
<PAGE>

B. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate
upon the earliest of (i) the last business day in October 2009, (ii) the date on
--------
which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been sold
pursuant to purchase rights exercised under the Plan or (iii) the date on which
all purchase rights are exercised in connection with a Corporate Transaction. No
further purchase rights shall be granted or exercised, and no further payroll
deductions shall be collected, under the Plan following such termination.

X. AMENDMENT/TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

A. The Board may alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time to become effective immediately following the close of any Purchase
Interval. However, the Plan may be amended or terminated immediately upon Board
action, if and to the extent necessary to assure that the Corporation will not
recognize, for financial reporting purposes, any compensation expense in
connection with the shares of Common Stock offered for purchase under the Plan,
should the financial accounting rules applicable to the Plan at the Effective
Time be subsequently revised so as to require the recognition of compensation
expense in the absence of such amendment or termination.

B. In no event may the Board effect any of the following amendments or
revisions to the Plan without the approval of the Corporation's stockholders:
(i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan or the
maximum number of shares purchasable per Participant on any one Purchase Date,
except for permissible adjustments in the event of certain changes in the
Corporation's capitalization, (ii) alter the purchase price formula so as to
reduce the purchase price payable for the shares of Common Stock purchasable
under the Plan or (iii) modify eligibility requirements for participation in the
Plan.

XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to
continue in the employ of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate for any
period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way
the rights of the Corporation (or any Corporate Affiliate employing such person)
or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to
terminate such person's employment at any time for any reason, with or without
cause.

B. All costs and expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan
shall be paid by the Corporation; however, each Plan Participant shall bear all
costs and expenses incurred by such individual in the sale or other disposition
of any shares purchased under the Plan.

C. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Colorado without regard to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.

8
<PAGE>

Schedule A
----------

Corporations Participating in
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
As of the Effective Time
------------------------

eCollege.com
<PAGE>

APPENDIX
--------

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

A. Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
-----

B. Cash Earnings shall mean the (i) base salary payable to a
-------------
Participant by one or more Participating Corporations during such individual's
period of participation in one or more offering periods under the Plan plus (ii)
all overtime payments, bonuses, commissions, current profit-sharing
distributions and other incentive-type payments. Such Cash Earnings shall be
calculated before deduction of (A) any income or employment tax withholdings or
(B) any pre-tax contributions made by the Participant to any Code Section 401(k)
salary deferral plan or any Code Section 125 cafeteria benefit program now or
hereafter established by the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate. However,
Cash Earnings shall not include any contributions (other than Code Section
401(k) or Code Section 125 contributions) made on the Participant's behalf by
the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate to any employee benefit or welfare
plan now or hereafter established.

C. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
----

D. Common Stock shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
------------

E. Corporate Affiliate shall mean any parent or subsidiary
-------------------
corporation of the Corporation (as determined in accordance with Code Section
424), whether now existing or subsequently established.

F. Corporate Transaction shall mean either of the following
---------------------
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:

(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons
different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to
such transaction, or

(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Corporation in complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Corporation, or

A-1
<PAGE>

(iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly by an person or
related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty
percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly
to the Corporation's stockholders.

H. Effective Time shall mean the time at which the Underwriting
--------------
Agreement is executed. Any Corporate Affiliate which becomes a Participating
Corporation after such Effective Time shall designate a subsequent Effective
Time with respect to its employee-Participants.

I. Eligible Employee shall mean any person who is employed by a
-----------------
Participating Corporation on a basis under which he or she is regularly expected
to render more than twenty (20) hours of service per week for more than five (5)
months per calendar year for earnings considered wages under Code Section
3401(a).

J. Entry Date shall mean the date an Eligible Employee first commences
----------
participation in the offering period in effect under the Plan. The earliest
Entry Date under the Plan shall be the Effective Time.

K. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
-----------------
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq
National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq
National Market or any successor system. If there is no closing selling
price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market
Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for
which such quotation exists.

(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per
share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the
Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of
transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the
Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be
the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such
quotation exists.

A-2
<PAGE>

(iii) For purposes of the initial offering period which begins at
the Effective Time, the Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to
the price per share at which the Common Stock is sold in the initial public
offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

L. 1933 Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
--------

M. Participant shall mean any Eligible Employee of a Participating
-----------
Corporation who is actively participating in the Plan.

N. Participating Corporation shall mean the Corporation and such
-------------------------
Corporate Affiliate or Affiliates as may be authorized from time to time by the
Board to extend the benefits of the Plan to their Eligible Employees. The
Participating Corporations in the Plan are listed in attached Schedule A.

O. Plan shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase
----
Plan, as set forth in this document.

P. Plan Administrator shall mean the committee of two (2) or more
------------------
Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

Q. Purchase Date shall mean the last business day of each Purchase
-------------
Interval. The initial Purchase Date shall be April 28, 2000.

R. Purchase Interval shall mean each successive six (6)-month period
-----------------
within the offering period at the end of which there shall be purchased shares
of Common Stock on behalf of each Participant.

S. Semi-Annual Entry Date shall mean the first business day in May and
----------------------
November each year on which an Eligible Employee may first enter an offering
period.

T. Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the
--------------
New York Stock Exchange.

U. Underwriting Agreement shall mean the agreement between the
----------------------
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the Corporation's
initial public offering of its Common Stock.

A-3

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 99.3

eCollege.com

WARRANT ISSUED TO MR. REDNER PURSUANT TO WRITTEN COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

Neither this Warrant nor the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
this Warrant have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and this
Warrant cannot be sold or transferred, and the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of this Warrant cannot be sold or transferred, unless and until
they are so registered or upon receipt of an opinion of Warrantholder's counsel,
satisfactory to the Corporation, that such registration is not then required
under the circumstances of such sale or transfer.

Real Education, Inc.
Common Stock Purchase Warrant
Expiring June 11, 2000

No. 010
WARRANTHOLDER: Jordan Redner

NAME:
ADDRESS:

No. of Shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise in full: 5,000

Purchase price per share: $7.58

For Value Received, Real Education, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the
"Corporation"), promises to issue to the holder of this Warrant
("Warrantholder"), its nominees, successors or assigns the nonassessable shares
(the "Shares") of the Common Stock, no par value (as more fully defined in
Section 2.8 below), of the Corporation at any time on or prior to June 11, 2000
(the "Expiration Date") upon the payment by the Warrantholder to the Corporation
of the purchase price per share set forth above (the "Purchase Price") and to
deliver to the Warrantholder a certificate or certificates representing the
Shares purchased. The Warrantholder shall have the right to exercise this
Warrant in whole or in part at any time or times on or prior to the Expiration
Date. Subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, the Warrantholder may
sell, assign and transfer this Warrant, in whole or in part, and, in the event
of any such sale, assignment and transfer, the Corporation agrees to reissue a
Warrant or Warrants of like tenor for the unexercised portion hereof. The
number of Shares purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant and the Purchase
Price per Share shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth
herein.

1. Covenants of the Corporation. The Corporation will at all times
----------------------------
reserve and keep available out of its authorized shares of Common Stock or its
treasury shares, solely for the purpose of issue upon the exercise of this
Warrant as herein provided, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall then
be issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant. The Corporation covenants that
all shares of Common Stock which shall be so issued shall be duly and validly
<PAGE>

issued and fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and
charges with respect to the issuance thereof. The Corporation will take all such
action as may be necessary to assure that all such shares of Common Stock may be
so issued without violation of any applicable requirements of any federal or
state securities laws or of any national stock exchange upon which the shares of
Common Stock of the Corporation may be listed. The Corporation will not take any
action which results in any adjustment of the Purchase Price if the total number
of shares of Common Stock issuable after such action upon exercise of this
Warrant would exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock then authorized
by the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.

2. Terms of Warrant.
----------------

2.1. Dividends. No payment or adjustment shall be made upon any exercise
---------
of this Warrant on account of any previous cash dividends.

2.2. Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall be $7.58 per share or, in
--------------
case an adjustment of such price has taken place pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 2, then the Purchase Price shall be the price as last adjusted and
in effect at the date this Warrant (or any part hereof) is surrendered for
exercise.

2.3. Adjustment of Purchase Price. Upon each adjustment of the Purchase
----------------------------
Price, the Warrantholder shall thereafter be entitled to purchase at the
adjusted Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common Stock obtained by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment by
the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable immediately prior to such
adjustment and dividing the product by the Purchase Price as adjusted. No
adjustment of the Purchase Price shall be made in an amount less than $.01 per
share, but any such lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made
at the time and together with the next subsequent adjustment which together with
any adjustments so carried forward shall amount to $.01 per share or more.

2.4. Subdivision or Combination of Stock.
-----------------------------------

(a) In case the Corporation shall at any time subdivide its outstanding
shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares or declare a dividend or
make any other distribution upon the Common Stock of the Corporation payable in
Common Stock, the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
subdivision, dividend or distribution shall be proportionately reduced, and
conversely, in case the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation
shall be combined into a smaller number of shares, the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately increased.

(b) Record Date. In case the Corporation shall take a record of the
-----------
holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a
dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock, then such record date
shall be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common
Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend
or the making of such other distribution, as the case may be.

2.5. Reorganization, Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale.
---------------------------------------------------------------

(a) If any capital reorganization or reclassification of the capital stock
of the Corporation, or any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with
another corporation, or the

2
<PAGE>

sale of all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation shall be
effected in such a way that holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock,
then the Corporation agrees that, as a condition of such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale, it shall require that lawful
and adequate provisions be made whereby the holder of this Warrant shall
thereafter have the right to receive upon the basis and upon the terms and
conditions specified herein and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation immediately theretofore receivable upon the exercise of this
Warrant, such shares of stock, securities or assets as may be issued or payable
with respect to or in exchange for a number of outstanding shares of such Common
Stock equal to the number of shares of such stock immediately receivable upon
the exercise of this Warrant had such reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger or sale not taken place, and in any such case appropriate
provision shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of such holder
to the end that the provisions hereof (including without limitation provisions
for adjustments of the Purchase Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly
as may be, in relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant.

(b) In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or
into another corporation as a result of which a greater or lesser number of
shares of common stock of the surviving corporation are issuable to holders of
Common Stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or
consolidation, then the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation shall be adjusted in the same manner as though there
were a subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of
the Corporation. The Corporation will not effect any such consolidation, merger
or sale, unless prior to the consummation thereof the successor corporation (if
other than the Corporation) resulting from such consolidation or merger or the
corporation purchasing such assets shall assume by written instrument executed
and mailed or delivered to the registered holder hereof at the last address of
such holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, the obligation to deliver
to such holder such shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with
the foregoing provisions, such holder may be entitled to receive.

(c) If a purchase, tender or exchange offer is made to and accepted by the
holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation, the Corporation shall not effect any consolidation, merger or sale
with the person having made such offer or with any affiliate of such person,
unless prior to the consummation of such consolidation, merger or sale the
holder hereof shall have been given a reasonable opportunity to then elect to
receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, either the stock, securities or assets
then issuable with respect to the Common Stock of the Corporation or the stock,
securities or assets, or the equivalent, issued to previous holders of the
Common Stock in accordance with such offer.

2.6. Notice of Adjustment. Upon any adjustment of the Purchase Price,
--------------------
then and in each such case the Corporation shall give written notice thereof,
which notice shall state the Purchase Price resulting from such adjustment,
setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon
which such calculation is based.

2.7. Other Notices. In case at any time:
-------------

(a) the Corporation shall declare any dividend upon its Common Stock
payable in stock;

3
<PAGE>

(b) the Corporation shall offer for subscription pro rata to the holders
of its Common Stock any additional shares of stock of any class or other rights;

(c) there shall be any capital reorganization, or reclassification of the
capital stock of the Corporation, or consolidation or merger of the Corporation
with, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation;
or

(d) there shall be a voluntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of
the Corporation; then, in any one or more of said cases, the Corporation shall
give, (i) at least 20 days prior written notice of the date on which the books
of the Corporation shall close or a record shall be taken for such dividend,
distribution or subscription rights or for determining rights to vote in respect
of any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up, and (ii) in the case of any such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up, at least 20 days prior written notice of the date
when the same shall take place. Such notice in accordance with the foregoing
clause (i) shall also specify, in the case of any such dividend, distribution or
subscription rights, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled thereto, and such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause (ii)
shall also specify the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property
deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as the case may be.

2.8. Definition of Common Stock. As used in this Section 2, the term
--------------------------
"Common Stock" shall mean and include all of Corporation's authorized Common
Stock, no par value, of any class as constituted on the effective date hereof,
and shall also include any capital stock of any class of the Corporation
thereafter authorized which shall not be limited to a fixed sum or percentage of
par value in respect of the rights of the holders thereof to participate in
dividends or in the distribution of assets upon the voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

2.9. Issue Tax. The issuance of certificates for shares of Common Stock
---------
upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the holder hereof
for any issuance tax in respect thereof, provided that the Corporation shall not
be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer
involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than
that of the holder of this Warrant.

2.10. Closing of Books. The Corporation will not close its books against
----------------
the transfer of any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise
of this Warrant.

3. Transferability and Registration Under Securities Act.
-----------------------------------------------------

3.1. (1) The Warrants have not been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), or the securities laws of any state, based upon an
exemption from such registration requirements for non-public offerings pursuant
to Regulation D under the Act; (2) the Warrants are and will be "restricted
securities", as said term is defined in Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations
promulgated under the Act; (3) the Warrants may not be sold or otherwise
transferred unless they have been first registered under the Act and all
applicable state securities laws, or unless exemptions from such registration
provisions are available with respect to said resale or transfer; (4) the
Corporation is under no obligation to register the

4
<PAGE>

Warrants under the Act or any state securities laws, or to take any action to
make any exemption from any such registration provisions available; and (5) stop
transfer instructions will be placed with the transfer agent for the Warrants;

3.2. The Warrants or any interest therein may not be sold or transferred
unless and until: (1) said Warrants shall have first been registered under the
Act and all applicable state securities laws; or (2) the Warrantholder shall
have first delivered to the Corporation a written opinion of counsel (which
counsel and opinion (in form and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to
the Corporation), to the effect that the proposed sale or transfer is exempt
from the registration provisions of the Act and all applicable state securities
laws. The restrictions of this Section 3.2 shall also apply to the
transferability and registration of any shares of Common Stock or other
securities acquired upon exercise hereof.

3.3. The Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to the
provisions of a certain Registration Agreement, dated June 11, 1997 between the
Corporation and certain investors.

4. Notice. Any notice or other document required or permitted to be given
------
or delivered to the Warrantholder(s) and holder(s) of shares issued upon
exercise of this Warrant shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, to the Warrantholder at the address now shown on this Warrant
or at such other address as the holder(s) shall furnish to the Corporation in
writing. Any notice or other document required or permitted to be given or
delivered to the Corporation at 9000 E. Chenango Avenue, Greenwood Village,
Colorado 80111 or such other address as shall have been furnished to the
Warrantholder(s) and holder(s) of Shares by the Corporation.

5. Manner of Exercise of Warrant. In order to exercise this Warrant, the
-----------------------------
Warrantholder shall deliver to the Corporation (i) a written notice of such
holder's election to exercise this Warrant, specifying the number of shares of
Common Stock to be purchased, and (ii) payment in cash or by a certified or
cashier's check of the required Purchaser Price. The Corporation may require
the Warrantholder to furnish a written statement that the Shares are being
purchased for its own account and not with a view to the distribution thereof.
Upon receipt of written notice, the Corporation shall as promptly as practicable
execute or cause to be executed and delivered to such holder a certificate or
certificates representing the aggregate number of Shares purchased. If this
Warrant shall have been exercised only in part, the Corporation shall also
deliver a new Warrant of like tenor evidencing the rights of such holder to
purchase the remaining Shares called for by this Warrant.

6. Limitation of Liability. No provisions hereof, in the absence of
-----------------------
affirmative action by the Warrantholder to purchase Shares hereunder, and no
mere enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Warrantholder shall
give rise to any liability of such holder for the Purchase Price or as a
shareholder of the Corporation (whether such liability is asserted by the
Corporation or creditors of the Corporation).

7. Mutilated Or Missing Warrant. In case the certificate or certificates
----------------------------
evidencing the Warrant shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the
Corporation shall, at the request of the Warrantholder, issue and deliver in
exchange and substitution for the certificate or certificates lost, stolen or
destroyed a new Warrant certificate or certificates of like tenor and
representing an equivalent right or interest. The Warrantholder shall indemnify
the Corporation for the reasonable cost of issuing and delivering any
certificate under the terms of this Section 7 and

5
<PAGE>

for any direct and foreseeable damages incurred by the Corporation with respect
to such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates that do not arise from the
Corporation's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

8. Miscellaneous.
-------------

8.1. Amendment and Waiver. No modification, amendment or waiver of any
--------------------
provision of this Warrant shall be effective against the Corporation or the
Warrantholder unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in
writing by the Corporation and the Warrantholder. The failure of any party to
enforce any of the provisions of this Warrant shall in no way be construed as a
waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party
thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Warrant in accordance
with its terms.

8.2. Applicable Law. This Warrant shall be deemed to be a contract made
--------------
under the laws of the State of Colorado and for all purposes shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of said State.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Warrant to be executed
by its President or a Vice President, thereunto duly authorized, the execution
hereof to be attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary; and the
affixing of its corporate seal on this 11th day of June, 1997.

Real Education, Inc.

_______________________________
Jonathan Dobrin, Vice President

ATTEST:

______________________________
John V. Helmick, Secretary