Westwood College

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Westwood College
Motto:	A Place Where You Can Succeed
Established:	1953
Type:	Private, For-profit
Location:	Southern California, Denver, Atlanta, Chicagoland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Westwood College Online, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Virginia, United States
Website:	Westwood College

Westwood College is an institution of higher learning with 17 campus locations in six states and online learning options. Westwood is nationally but not regionally accredited (so credits earned at Westwood will most likely not be transferable to other colleges). Westwood became a candidate for regional accreditation in October 2007 and hopes to attain this level of accreditation in 2009. ^[1] Since its inception more in 1986^[2], Westwood has graduated more than 20,000 students. Westwood offers career-focused diploma, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs ranging from business administration to criminal justice to game art & design to computer network management to medical assisting.

Contents 1 Westwood College campus locations 1.1 California 1.2 Colorado 1.3 Georgia 1.4 Illinois 1.5 Texas 1.6 Virginia 2 Accolades 3 Complaints 4 History 5 Accreditation 6 Curriculum 6.1 School of Business programs 6.2 School of Design programs 6.3 School of Justice programs 6.4 School of Technology programs 6.5 School of Healthcare programs 6.6 School of Industrial Service programs 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Westwood College campus locations

• Westwood College Online

[edit] California

• Anaheim Campus (Anaheim)^[3]
• Inland Empire Campus (Upland)^[4]
• Los Angeles Campus (Los Angeles)^[5]
• South Bay Campus (Los Angeles)^[6]

[edit] Colorado

• Denver North Campus (Unincorporated Adams County)^[7]
• Denver South Campus (Denver)^[8]

[edit] Georgia

• Midtown Atlanta Campus (Atlanta)^[9]
• Northlake Atlanta campus (Unincorporated DeKalb County)^[10]

[edit] Illinois

• Chicago Loop Campus (Chicago)^[11]
• DuPage Campus (Woodridge)^[12]
• O'Hare Airport Campus (Chicago)^[13]
• River Oaks Campus(Calumet City)^[14]

[edit] Texas

• Dallas Campus (Dallas)^[15]
• Fort Worth Campus (Fort Worth)^[16]
• Houston Campus (Houston)^[17]

[edit] Virginia

• Annandale Campus (Unincorporated Fairfax County)^[18]
• Arlington Campus (Unincorporated Arlington County)^[19]

[edit] Accolades

The Online Education Database (OEDb) listed Westwood College in ninth place in its 2008 Online College Rankings, and in its top 10 for the second year in a row^[20]. The rankings highlight Westwood College's support provided throughout a student's educational career, the "real-world" experience of instructors and their training as educators. The report also pointed out Westwood's use of virtual classrooms, free tutoring and computer support, graduate retraining program and focus on career development.

[edit] Complaints

Westwood has come under attack on a variety of fronts. Byron Harris of News 8 Dallas reported on Westwood's possible "deceptive practices" since 2005 ^[21] and in 2009.

The Consumer Warning Network, a Web site owned by the James, Hoyer, Newcomer, Smiljanich & Yankunich law firm, that describes itself as an independent, consumer advocacy group, has reported on Westwood's recruiting tactics, its CEO's record and federal complaints as well. In May 2009, Westwood also settled a federal lawsuit over misrepresentation of its graduation statistics for $7 million. ^[22].

Westwood's legal troubles continued when a class action arbitration was filed by James, Hoyer, Newcomer, Smiljanich & Yankunich, Florida trial lawyers known for their affiliation with embattledMilberg Weiss Co Bershad Hynes & Lerach, challenging its admissions and financial aid practices. ^[23].

Al Lewis, a well-known business columnist, commented on the lawsuit for the Denver Post. ^[24].

[edit] History

Westwood College was founded in Denver, Colorado in 1953. For many years the school was known as Denver Institute of Technology, offering diploma and degree programs in a variety of technical fields. As the school expanded into other industries, the name was changed to Westwood College.

Today, Westwood is part of Alta Colleges, Inc. (Alta), a system of higher education institutions that also includes Westwood College Online and Redstone College (once known as Colorado Aero Tech in Denver). Currently, there are 17 Westwood College campuses located in six states. These campuses along with Westwood College Online support more than 15,000 students.

[edit] Accreditation

Westwood College's various locations are nationally accredited by either the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)^[25] or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).^{[26][27][28][29][30]}

Westwood is approved by all branches of the military to offer benefits and tuition assistance opportunities.^[31]

Westwood became a candidate for accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in October 2007.^[32] The HLC is an organization dedicated to serving the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher learning. To become HLC accredited, a school must meet five criteria: mission and integrity; preparing for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge; and engagement and service.

In addition, each campus is licensed and approved to operate by the appropriate state regulatory bodies.^[1]

[edit] Curriculum

Westwood College operates on a term schedule. Degree programs start five times a year, and courses are offered year-round with day, evening and online options. Depending on the degree program, students can earn an associate degree in 20 months or a bachelor’s degree in three years. The school also offers diploma programs in various fields. Westwood College offers degree programs in six schools: School of Business, School of Design, School of Justice, School of Technology, School of Healthcare and School of Industrial Services.

[edit] School of Business programs

• Business Administration: Concentration in Accounting
• Business Administration: Concentration in Marketing & Sales
• Business Administration: Major in Accounting and Financial Management
• Business Administration: Major in Business Management
• Business Administration: Major in Healthcare Management
• Business Administration: Major in Marketing Management
• Business Management
• Construction Management
• Fashion Merchandising
• Healthcare Management
• Hotel & Restaurant Management
• MBA – Master of Business Administration

[edit] School of Design programs

• Animation
• Computer-Aided Design/Architectural Drafting (CAD)
• Game Art
• Game Art & Design
• Graphic Design & Multimedia
• Interior Design
• Visual Communications
• Web Design & Multimedia

[edit] School of Justice programs

• Criminal Justice
• Paralegal

[edit] School of Technology programs

• Computer Network Engineering
• Computer Network Management
• E-business Management
• Game Software Development
• Information Systems Security
• Information Technology
• Information Technology: Major in Computer Forensics
• Information Technology: Major in Network Management
• Information Technology: Major in Systems Security
• Software Engineering

[edit] School of Healthcare programs

• Medical Assisting: Diploma
• Medical Assisting: Associate
• Medical Insurance Coding and Billing

[edit] School of Industrial Service programs

• Automotive Technology
• Surveying

Each campus has a different program focus and some programs are not available at certain locations.

Students that have graduated from Westwood can return for tuition-free retraining, which allows them to evaluate and review courses that were within their degree program. Westwood alumni can audit a class they took during their tenure, take an updated course after graduation and continue to learn about new equipment and software.

[edit] See also

• Distance education
• Online education
• Westwood College Online
• Redstone College
• Westwood College School of Business
• Westwood College School of Design
• Westwood College School of Justice
• Westwood College School of Technology
• Westwood college School of Healthcare
• Westwood College School of Industrial Services

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Westwood College
• Westwood College Online
• List of Westwood College locations
• Westwood College Texas
• Westwood College Georgia
• Westwood College California
• Westwood College Illinois
• Westwood College Virginia
• Westwood College Colorado