American InterContinental University
Encyclopedia
American InterContinental University, commonly called AIU, is an international for-profit university with open admissions
owned by Career Education Corporation
(NASDAQ:CECO).
AIU is accredited
by The Higher Learning Commission
of the North Central Association
to award Associate's
, Bachelor's
, and Master's
degrees.
By 1978, the school had approximately 300 students, and began to expand its course offering beyond fashion to areas such as business. Today, AIU has about 24,000 students and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in programs such as business, IT, criminal justice and fashion design. More than 80 percent of AIU students attend AIU Online, an internet-based online campus that delivers degree programs 100 percent online.
The institution first received SACS
accreditation in 1987. Steve Bostic bought the school in 1996 and changed its name to American InterContinental University. In 2001, AIU was acquired by Career Education Corporation, a publicly traded operator of for-profit schools that was established in 1994.
In 2009, AIU was granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). AIU, which had been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) since 1987 , sought HLC accreditation to better reflect the fact that the majority of its students are served through its Internet-based campus which is based in the HLC geographic region. SACS and HLC are among the six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2011, AIU earned accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs .
AIU currently has six campuses in the United States and other countries.
On February 18, 2008, American InterContinental University announced plans to gradually close down its Los Angeles campus. The campus will no longer enroll new students and will employ a gradual teach-out process, allowing current students the opportunity to complete their programs. Dr. George Miller, former CEO of American InterContinental University, cited low student enrollment at the Los Angeles campus as the reason for this decision.
The AIU Houston building was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. It was remodeled, and a grand re-opening celebration occurred in February 2009.
Following the June 2009 consolidation of the AIU Buckhead and AIU Dunwoody campuses into AIU Atlanta, the new campus underwent a significant renovation. AIU Atlanta's campus now features an industry-current forensics lab; a virtual firearms training simulator (FATS) lab; drawing studio; dedicated math, science and writing labs; and newly-redesigned studios for fashion design, media production, visual communications and interior design.
, Illinois
, a suburb of Chicago. Stephen J. Tober, AIU's CEO, serves as president of AIU Online. The online campus is considered the main campus for AIU.
From 2009, American InterContinental University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission
of the North Central Association
. From 2011, American InterContinental University is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
In 2009, My Unique Student Experience (M.U.S.E.) was introduced to a number of courses to supplement learning outside the classroom. M.U.S.E. is a web-based tool that provides access to additional, interactive learning options that help students comprehend course material in a way that appeals to them. The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU), formerly the Career College Association, recognized AIU's parent company, Career Education Corporation ("CEC"), for M.U.S.E. with its 2010 CCA Innovation Award.
, and included in its enrollment numbers students who had never attended class. A CEC representative stated in July 2007 that the issues at AIU's Los Angeles campus "have been addressed and most have long been resolved."
One of the most outspoken critics of AIU and CEC has been AIU's founder Steve Bostic, who alleged in 2005 that "CECO's Board has allowed management to lose sight of the Company's primary mission of providing quality education services; under these directors, CECO management has sacrificed the quality of student programs, resulting in the severe escalation of student attrition - all for the sake of a 'top-line growth strategy' that cannot be sustained."
On June 21, 2005, the U.S. Department of Education put a freeze on approving CEC's new applications for additional campuses or acquisitions while it examined the company's financial records and compliance with federal student aid regulations. This restriction was lifted in January 2007.
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General questioned the Higher Learning Commission's decision to approve accreditation of American InterContinental University based on the examination of the commission's standards for measuring credit hours and program length. An assistant inspector general stated in the report, "This action by HLC is not in the best interest of students, and calls into question whether the accrediting decisions made by HLC should be relied upon by the Department of Education when assisting students to obtain quality education through the Title IV programs." NCA-HLC president Sylvia Manning responded that this accusation was "flimsy" because it focused on a single accreditation issue involving a single school. SACS president Belle Wheelan sided with NCA-HLC, calling the OIG report "scary" and emphasizing that American InterContinental University's accreditation under SACS had been in "good standing."
recruiting practices. One anonymous professor told The Chronicle of Higher Education
: "If you can breathe and walk, you can get into the school." In July 2008, former employees filed a lawsuit alleging that the school's admissions practices defrauded federal grant and loan programs.
Open admissions
Open admissions is a type of unselective and non-competitive college admissions process in the United States in which the only criterion for entrance is a high school diploma or a General Educational Development certificate.This form of "inclusive" admissions is used by many public junior...
owned by Career Education Corporation
Career Education Corporation
Career Education Corporation , founded in 1994, is a postsecondary education provider with campus-based and online curricula. On July 1, 2003, Career Education Corporation merged with competitor Whitman Education Group, Inc., gaining control over the latter's Sanford-Brown Colleges, Ultrasound...
(NASDAQ:CECO).
AIU is accredited
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
by The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Higher Learning Commission oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and universities in nineteen Midwestern and South-Central states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa,...
of the North Central Association
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
to award Associate's
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
, Bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, and Master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
degrees.
History
American InterContinental University (AIU) was founded in 1970 in Lucerne, Switzerland by American couple Jack and Helen Barnette of Atlanta, and was first known as the American Fashion College of Switzerland. The school was recognized as an American degree awarding institution in 1971, initially offering associate and bachelor's degrees starting in 1974. In 1976 American Fashion College of Switzerland opened a campus in Atlanta and in 1978, the Lucerne campus moved to London, and changed its name to the American College for the Applied Arts.By 1978, the school had approximately 300 students, and began to expand its course offering beyond fashion to areas such as business. Today, AIU has about 24,000 students and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in programs such as business, IT, criminal justice and fashion design. More than 80 percent of AIU students attend AIU Online, an internet-based online campus that delivers degree programs 100 percent online.
• Atlanta - BuckheadBuckhead (Atlanta)Buckhead is the uptown district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, comprising approximately the northern one-fifth of the city. Buckhead is a major commercial and financial center of the Southeast, and it is the third-largest business district in Atlanta, behind Downtown and Midtown...
, Georgia campus 1976
• London, UK campus 1978
• Los Angeles, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
campus 1982
• Dubai campus 1995
• Atlanta - DunwoodyDunwoody, GeorgiaDunwoody is a city located in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. Dunwoody became incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008...
and South Florida campus 1998
• Online campus 2002
• Houston, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, 2003
• Dunwoody and Buckhead consolidate as AIU Atlanta, 2009
The institution first received SACS
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
accreditation in 1987. Steve Bostic bought the school in 1996 and changed its name to American InterContinental University. In 2001, AIU was acquired by Career Education Corporation, a publicly traded operator of for-profit schools that was established in 1994.
In 2009, AIU was granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). AIU, which had been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) since 1987 , sought HLC accreditation to better reflect the fact that the majority of its students are served through its Internet-based campus which is based in the HLC geographic region. SACS and HLC are among the six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2011, AIU earned accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs .
Campuses
United States
- Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(located at 12655 W. Jefferson Blvd., est. 1982, President: Alex Henn) - AtlantaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
(located at 6600 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd. in Sandy SpringsSandy Springs, GeorgiaSandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
; est. 1998, President: Peter Correa) - Weston, FloridaWeston, FloridaWeston is a suburb of South Florida located in Broward County, Florida, USA. Established as a city in 1996, much of the community was developed by Arvida/JMB Realty and is located near the western developmental boundary of Broward County. It is the most western city in Broward County, and its...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(located at 2250 N. Commerce Pkwy., est. 1998, President: Hisham Shaban) - HoustonHouston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(located at 9999 Richmond Ave., in the WestchaseWestchase, Houston, TexasWestchase is a business management district, with some residential and retail elements, located in western Houston, Texas, United States. The district is bounded roughly by Westheimer Road on the north, Gessner Road on the east, Wilcrest Drive on the west, and the Westpark Tollway on the south...
district, est. 2003, President: Steve Malutich)
On February 18, 2008, American InterContinental University announced plans to gradually close down its Los Angeles campus. The campus will no longer enroll new students and will employ a gradual teach-out process, allowing current students the opportunity to complete their programs. Dr. George Miller, former CEO of American InterContinental University, cited low student enrollment at the Los Angeles campus as the reason for this decision.
The AIU Houston building was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. It was remodeled, and a grand re-opening celebration occurred in February 2009.
Following the June 2009 consolidation of the AIU Buckhead and AIU Dunwoody campuses into AIU Atlanta, the new campus underwent a significant renovation. AIU Atlanta's campus now features an industry-current forensics lab; a virtual firearms training simulator (FATS) lab; drawing studio; dedicated math, science and writing labs; and newly-redesigned studios for fashion design, media production, visual communications and interior design.
Online campus
The online program started in 2001 but was recognized as a separate campus in 2002. The online campus offices are located in Hoffman EstatesHoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates is a northwestern suburb of Chicago in Illinois. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small section in Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 49,495 and estimated to be 52,520 in 2003...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, a suburb of Chicago. Stephen J. Tober, AIU's CEO, serves as president of AIU Online. The online campus is considered the main campus for AIU.
Accreditation
American InterContinental University was accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools from 1987 to 2009.From 2009, American InterContinental University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Higher Learning Commission oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and universities in nineteen Midwestern and South-Central states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa,...
of the North Central Association
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
. From 2011, American InterContinental University is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Academics
AIU offers Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in a variety of fields. Many instructors are professionals in their field and draw from their real-world experience to enrich classroom instruction and career training. AIU offers classroom instruction in person at the ground campuses and online via the Virtual Campus, or a hybrid of both. The AIU Virtual Campus gives online students access to course materials as well as nearly all the amenities of a traditional campus, such as a library, career services, student clubs and financial aid information. The Virtual Campus was named “Best of the Best” by the Computerworld Honors Program in 2009.In 2009, My Unique Student Experience (M.U.S.E.) was introduced to a number of courses to supplement learning outside the classroom. M.U.S.E. is a web-based tool that provides access to additional, interactive learning options that help students comprehend course material in a way that appeals to them. The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU), formerly the Career College Association, recognized AIU's parent company, Career Education Corporation ("CEC"), for M.U.S.E. with its 2010 CCA Innovation Award.
Notable alumni
- Zee AviZee AviZee Avi is a Malaysian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and ukulele player. She was born in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. She moved to Kuala Lumpur when she was 12...
, Malaysian musician - Ronald BriseRonald BriseRonald A. Brisé is the Florida State Representative from District 108. He is an Haitian-American and a strong supporter of the Haitian-American Community...
, Haitian-born U.S. politician, Florida House of Representatives - James Heath, British film director (non-graduate)
- Aronicimo RichottiAronicimo RichottiAronicimo Carl Richotti is an American boxer.-Early life:Born on January 9, 1979 in Rahway, New Jersey. Attended high school at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey and Pinelands Regional School District in Tuckerton, New Jersey. Attended college in Atlanta, Georgia...
, American boxer - Tatiana Santo Domingo, U.S.-born Colombian-Brazilian socialite
- Zohra SarwariZohra SarwariZohra Sarwari is a Muslim author, business coach, entrepreneur, and international speaker living in Indiana, USA. She is the author of 10 books,and many E-books. "9 Steps To Achieve Your Destiny" was her first published book.-Biography:...
, Muslim author - Christian SirianoChristian SirianoChristian Siriano is an American fashion designer. Siriano first gained attention after winning the fourth season of American reality show Project Runway, becoming the series' youngest winner...
, American fashion designer - Tony SpinosaTony SpinosaTony Spinosa is an American theatre director, choreographer and actor.-References:...
, Broadway director, choreographer, and actor - Kelvin Washington, U.S. Marshal for the District of South Carolina
Controversies related to CEC
AIU's parent company CEC has been investigated by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Allegations specific to AIU include reports that the Los Angeles campus misrepresented its programs and classes, made a practice of admitting students who had not graduated from high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, and included in its enrollment numbers students who had never attended class. A CEC representative stated in July 2007 that the issues at AIU's Los Angeles campus "have been addressed and most have long been resolved."
One of the most outspoken critics of AIU and CEC has been AIU's founder Steve Bostic, who alleged in 2005 that "CECO's Board has allowed management to lose sight of the Company's primary mission of providing quality education services; under these directors, CECO management has sacrificed the quality of student programs, resulting in the severe escalation of student attrition - all for the sake of a 'top-line growth strategy' that cannot be sustained."
On June 21, 2005, the U.S. Department of Education put a freeze on approving CEC's new applications for additional campuses or acquisitions while it examined the company's financial records and compliance with federal student aid regulations. This restriction was lifted in January 2007.
SACS probation
SACS placed the university on probation in December 2005. In 2006, SACS renewed AIU's probation for failure to comply with various Principles of Accreditation. On December 11, 2007, CEC announced that SACS had removed AIU's probation and that the university's accreditation remained in good standing.OIG report regarding NCA-HLC accreditation
On May 15, 2009, AIU received initial approval for accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools-The Higher Learning Commission and is now listed as an accredited institution by NCA-HLC rather than SACS.The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General questioned the Higher Learning Commission's decision to approve accreditation of American InterContinental University based on the examination of the commission's standards for measuring credit hours and program length. An assistant inspector general stated in the report, "This action by HLC is not in the best interest of students, and calls into question whether the accrediting decisions made by HLC should be relied upon by the Department of Education when assisting students to obtain quality education through the Title IV programs." NCA-HLC president Sylvia Manning responded that this accusation was "flimsy" because it focused on a single accreditation issue involving a single school. SACS president Belle Wheelan sided with NCA-HLC, calling the OIG report "scary" and emphasizing that American InterContinental University's accreditation under SACS had been in "good standing."
QAA audit
In June 2008, The Quality Assurance Agency closed an audit published in May 2005 based on an examination of the London Campus in 2004. This report had noted that at the date of the Agency's review in 2004, there were "fundamental concerns regarding the academic standards being achieved." Following successful efforts on the London campus to remedy deficiencies, the QAA noted that, "Since the audit QAA has been provided with information that indicates that appropriate action has been taken by the American InterContinental University in response to the findings of this report. As a result the audit was signed off in June 2008."Enrollment policies
AIU's critics have scrutinized the university's studentStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
recruiting practices. One anonymous professor told The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a newspaper and website that presents news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty, staff members and administrators....
: "If you can breathe and walk, you can get into the school." In July 2008, former employees filed a lawsuit alleging that the school's admissions practices defrauded federal grant and loan programs.