Virginia College

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Virginia College is a chain of for-profit post-secondary institutions located primarily in the Southeastern United States. Career colleges typically offer classes directly related to specific professions and do not offer enrichment or liberal arts classes such as might be found at traditional colleges or universities. As is typical of career colleges, Virginia College offers certificates, diplomas, and degrees in the areas of health and medical, information technology, business, office management, and criminal justice. The original Virginia College campus was founded in 1983 in Roanoake, Virginia . In 1989, the college was purchased by Education Futures. Inc. In Feburary 1992, Virginia College opened its first branch campus in Birmingham, Alabama. Another branch campus was opened in April 1993 in Huntsville, Alabama. Several more branches have opened since as the school has expanded. The company that currently owns and operates the schools, Education Corporation of America, is a privately held corporation headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. ECA also owns Virginia College Online, which offers distance education academic programs via the Internet, San Diego Golf Academy schools, and Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, offering degrees in the culinary arts. The schools most recently claimed an enrollment of about 5,000 students.

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[edit] About Proprietary Schools

Proprietary schools are operated to show a profit for their owners or investors. Because of this profit motive, some schools have in the past been investigated for or been charged with illegally admitting students to falsely obtain government financial aid. Legislation has tightened the parameters for proprietary education considerably in recent years. In most cases, schools with accreditation from an agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is authorized to distribute Title IV student financial aid must meet exacting standards. Students wishing to attend a proprietary school should consider the institution's accreditation.

It is also typical that a majority of students attending proprietary career colleges receive some form of government financial aid, such as Pell Grants or student loans. Perhaps the most visible proprietary colleges are the University of Phoenix, Capella University, ITT, Full Sail Real World Education, and the Art Institutes.

[edit] Virginia College Locations

On-ground campuses of Virginia College are located in Birmingham, Alabama, Huntsville, Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jackson, Mississippi, Biloxi, Mississippi, Pensacola, Florida, and Austin, Texas. The Culinard campus and teaching kitchens are located in Birmingham, Alabama. San Diego Golf Academy campuses are in Honolulu, Hawaii, San Diego, California, Phoenix, Arizona, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Orlando, Florida.

[edit] Curriculum

As with similar proprietary schools, Virginia College claims to prepare students for direct entry into the job market, with few of the classes that might be found at traditional liberal arts colleges or major universities that are designed to give individuals a more well-rounded education. Instructors are not tenured professors but tend to be people who are employed in the professions in which they teach, and may or may not hold advanced degrees. Students seeking a better-rounded education should typically choose a more traditional route.

Virginia College offers career programs in such areas as:

[edit] Graduates

Virginia College graduates from the Animation and Game Design program (Huntsville Campus) are known to work for companies like Disney, Fox Broadcasting, and a few others. Teachers are industry professionals aswell.

[edit] Software

Software used in the art programs are Maya, 3D Studio Max, Renderman, etc.

[edit] Accreditation

Virginia College programs are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

[edit] Other related links

[edit] Sources


Categories: Universities, Colleges, Distance education, Education

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