Thousands of online courses are to be dropped from the Navy’s E-learning program this fall, the Navy announced.

The catalog of business and information technology courses on the Navy Knowledge Online Web site from vendors, Naval Education and Training Group, and SkillSoft will be discontinued Sept. 30 due to a cut in funding, according to a news release.

Cmdr. Dan Gage, public affairs officer for Naval Education and Training Command, said that nearly 4,000 courses, primarily intended for personal enrichment, will be cut.

"Unfortunately, the funding that supported this catalog of courses was part of a $25 (million) cut during the POM-10 budget cycle," Gage said in an e-mail Friday to Stars and Stripes. "As a headquarters, we have received significant budget cuts and have had to make some hard choices on what programs to discontinue now and in the future."

Gage said the NETg catalog offers courses on business and professional development, desktop computing and information technology. SkillSoft’s courses include topics like business skills, information technology, federal government, legal compliance and test preparation for IT certifications.

The E-learning programs are open to all active-duty and reserve sailors, ROTC students, delayed entry program members and Navy civil service employees as well as Navy retirees and qualified family members.

Gage says that nearly 100,000 people a year complete courses from the catalog.

"At this time, there is no alternative source of funding available that would enable us to continue offering these courses via Navy E-Learning," Gage said.

According to the release, enrollments will be accepted through Sept. 15, but students must complete the courses by Sept. 30 to receive transcript credit.