Everest University

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Everest University, formerly Florida Metropolitan University is a system of for-profit universities in the state of Florida in the United States. They offer career college programs, as well as a Graduate School of Business which offers a Master of Business Administration and Master of Criminal Justice.

The schools are owned by Corinthian Colleges International, Inc.

1 Accreditation
2 Licensure, approvals, and memberships
3 Controversy
4 Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Accreditation

The University is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award Associate's degrees, Bachelor’s degrees and Master's degrees.^{[citation needed]} However, Everest University, formerly known as Florida Metropolitan University does not currently hold regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Consequently, many regionally accredited universities in Florida and other states have declined to accept transfer of FMU's credits.^[1] ^[2]

[edit] Licensure, approvals, and memberships

The University is a nonsectarian, coeducational institution with authority to confer associate, bachelor, master degrees and diplomas. The University is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education.

Undergraduate and graduate programs are approved by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization and by the Florida State Approving Agency for Veterans Training. All campuses are members of the Career College Association.

[edit] Controversy

A class-action lawsuit was filed against FMU, now Everest University, in Broward County, Florida in 2004 alleging that they misrepresented their accreditation to potential students during the admissions process, specifically, assuring them that FMU's credits would transfer to regionally accredited schools.^[1]^[2] The enrollment contracts had an arbitration clause, thus the case was sent to arbitration and eventually dismissed. The arbitrator stated that contract and catalog had language stating that the school could not guarantee that the credits were transferable. This language trumped the allegations of many students and former employees that students were told verbally that the credits would transfer.^[3] In December 2005, the Florida Attorney General opened up an investigation of FMU's recruitment practices. ^[4]

[edit] Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges

Everest University-Jacksonville and Everest University-Lakeland are members of SOC (Service members Opportunity College) Consortium. SOC Consortium colleges and universities are dedicated to helping service members and their families get college degrees. Military students can take courses in their off-duty hours at or near military installations in the United States, overseas, and on U.S. Navy ships.