Argosy University

Argosy University
Motto Tradition, Passion, Excellence
Established 2001
Type Private, for profit
President Craig D. Swenson, PhD[1]
Students 24,800 (2012)[2]
Location United States
Campus 28 campuses; online
Website argosy.edu

Argosy University is a system of for-profit colleges owned by Education Management Corporation.[3] The university maintains 28 locations in the United States, as well as an online division.[4] The university offers programs at the associates, bachelor's, master's and doctorate level through its seven colleges. The colleges include the College of Undergraduate Studies, College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, College of Education, College of Business, College of Health Sciences, Western State College of Law at Argosy University and The Art Institutes of California at Argosy University.

History

The origins of Argosy University trace to three separate institutions: the American School of Professional Psychology, the Medical Institute of Minnesota, and the University of Sarasota.[5][6] In the late 1970s, Michael Markovitz founded the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, which later changed its name to the American School of Professional Psychology. In 1976, Markovitz became the founding chairman of Argosy Education Group,[7][8] which acquired the University of Sarasota in 1992. The University of Sarasota was a business and education-focused school and was founded in 1969.[9][10] Six years later Argosy Education Group acquired the health profession training school the Medical Institute of Minnesota, which was established in 1961.[11][5]

In July 2001, Argosy Education Group was acquired by Education Management Corporation.[12][13] Two months later, Argosy Education Group brought together the American School of Professional Psychology, the Medical Institute of Minnesota, and the University of Sarasota under the Argosy University name.[5][6]

In 2012, the law school Western State University College of Law, which was founded in 1966 and originally acquired by Argosy in 2000, was renamed Western State College of Law at Argosy University.[14][15]

Programs and campuses

Argosy University offers degrees at the associates, bachelors, master's and doctorate level[16] through the school's seven colleges. The colleges include the College of Undergraduate Studies, College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, College of Education, College of Business, College of Health Sciences, Western State College of Law at Argosy University and The Art Institutes of California at Argosy University. Argosy University operates 28 campuses in the United States:[4] Students at Argosy University can attend classes on campus, online or a combination of both.[17]

Notable alumni of Argosy University include New York City councilman Fernando Cabrera,[18] Mrs. Corporate America 2009 Sonja Fisher,[19] and San Francisco district attorney George Gascón, who is a graduate of Western State College of Law.[20]

Accreditation and rankings

Argosy University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.[21] American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation varies by campus. Currently the Doctor of Psychology programs offered at the Atlanta, Chicago, Hawaii, Orange County, Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area, Schaumburg, Tampa, Twin Cities and Washington, D.C. campuses are APA accredited.[22]

Argosy's counseling programs are accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).[23]

In 2012, Argosy ranked 30th in Guide to Online School's "2012 Online College Rankings"[24] and 272nd by high school counselors in U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges Rankings.[25]

Legal issues and enrollment allegations

Students of the Argosy University in Dallas filed a Texas lawsuit in 2009 alleging they believed university recruiters inaccurately informed students that the school would soon receive accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). The school had not completed accreditation process by the time the students graduated. At the time of the lawsuit, Argosy University Dallas had not applied for APA accreditation. According to a response from Argosy University's parent company, EDMC, accreditation with the APA is not required for clinical psychology licensure in many jurisdictions, including Texas.[26] Argosy officials rejected charges of fraud, noting that pursuit of APA accreditation for the Dallas campus was still underway.[27][28] As of 2013, Argosy University in Dallas does not offer any degrees in clinical psychology and is not listed as part of the university's College of Clinical Psychology.[29][30] In December 2013, EDMC agreed to pay about $3.3 million as part of the lawsuit. The settlement did not require EDMC to admit liability.[31]

In 2010, Argosy University was one of 15 schools named in a Government Accountability Office report. The report stated that recruiters at the school were found to have "made deceptive or otherwise questionable statements" when speaking with undercover applicants.[32][26] The GAO later revised its report, with Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) saying the changes made "undermine many of the allegations" in the original report but the head of the GAO maintained that "Nothing changed with the overall message of the report, and nothing changed with any of our findings."[33]

The following year, Argosy University was investigated by the Florida Attorney General following eight consumer complaints. The school cooperated in the investigation.[34]

Additionally, in May 2010, the PBS program Frontline aired a program about for-profit universities called "College, Inc." which featured Argosy University among others.[28]

In December 2013, EDMC agreed to pay $3.3 million in restitution and fines to settle charges with the Colorado Attorney General that Argosy University had engaged in deceptive marketing practices. Argosy led students to believe that the school was working to get its doctorate of education in counseling psychology degrees accredited by the American Psychological Association and that graduates would be eligible to be licensed psychologists in Colorado, but that was not the case.[35][36]

References

  1. ↑ "Administration". argosy.edu. Argosy University. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ↑ John Iannone (31 October 2013). "Education Management October 2012 Student Enrollment". media.corporate-ir.net. Education Management Corporation. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Lwin, Tamar (26 May 2011). "Questions Follow Leader of For-Profit Colleges". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Locations". argosy.edu. Argosy University. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Murphy, H. Lee (14 February 2000). "Stock market turn a lesson for Argosy". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Steve Stanek (11 November 2001). "For-profit colleges transform higher education landscape". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Why Argosy". argosy.edu. Argosy University. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Executive Profile: Michael C. Markovitz, PhD". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Davis, Lauren (2 July 1990). "University of Sarasota Passes Big Test". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  10. ↑ Bencivenga, Dominic (31 December 1993). "The Souther Association has taken the University of Sarasota off probation". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  11. ↑ Smith, Scott D. (29 December 2002). "Argosy U building new campus". Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Company News". The New York Times. 10 July 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  13. ↑ Modzelewski, Eve (11 July 2001). "Education Management Buys Rival". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Western State Argosy University". argosy.edu. Argosy University. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  15. ↑ Gottlieb, Jeff (16 February 2005). "O.C. Law School Gets Accreditation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Programs". argosy.edu. Argosy University. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Flexible Learning Options". argosy.edu. Argosy University. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Council Members: Fernando Cabrera". New York City Council. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
  19. ↑ "Sonja Fisher Crowned Mrs. Corporate America 2009" (Press release). 24-7pressrelease.com. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  20. ↑ Rivera, Carla (10 January 2011). "San Francisco Police Chief George Gascon named district attorney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Statement of Accreditation Status, Argosy University". wascsenior.org. Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Accredited Programs in Clinical Psychology". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Directory". Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "2012 Online College Rankings". guidetoonlineschools.com. Guide To Online Schools. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "Arogsy University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Hechinger, John (5 August 2010). "Goldman Schools Students on Debt". BusinessWeek. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  27. ↑ "Education Management Corporation Letter". Frontline. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Smith, Martin. "College, Inc.". DVD Transcript. PBS. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Argosy University, Dallas - Applied Psychology Non-Licensure Programs". Argosy University. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  30. ↑ "Argosy University Programs - Clinical Psychology". Argosy University. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  31. ↑ Coyne, Justine (10 December 2013). "EDMC settles suit for $3.3M". Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  32. ↑ de Vise, Daniel; Kane, Paul (5 August 2010). "GAO: 15 for-profit colleges used deceptive recruiting tactics". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  33. ↑ Anderson, Nick (8 December 2010). "GAO revises its report critical of practices at for-profit schools". The Washington Post.
  34. ↑ Travis, Scott (10 February 2011). "For-profit colleges: Everest, Kaplan have highest number of complaints before Florida attorney general". Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale). Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  35. ↑ Cotton, Anthony (5 December 2013). "Argosy University Denver fined $3.3 million for deceptive practices". The Denver Post. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  36. ↑ "Attorney General Suthers Announces Consumer Protection Settlement with Argosy University" (Press release). Colorado Department of Law. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2014.

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