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Westwood College

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Westwood College
MottoA Place Where You Can Succeed
TypePrivate, For-profit
Established1953
Postgraduates24,000
Location
Southern California, Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Westwood College Online
,
California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Virginia
,
United States
WebsiteWestwood College

Westwood College, owned by Alta Colleges Inc., is an institution of higher learning with 17 campuses across the country and a top-ranked online college.[1]

Westwood College is accredited by two national accrediting bodies, both of which are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Depending on the campus, Westwood College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).[2]

Westwood offers what it describes as "career-focused" diploma, associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs through its Schools of Business, Design, Justice, Technology, Healthcare, and Industrial Services. In recent years Westwood College has been the source of much controversy; owing to a series of lawsuits and an inability for students to transfer credits to other colleges and universities due to a lack of regional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).[3]

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 College is part of Alta Colleges Inc. (Alta), a system of for-profit 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.

Westwood College Online offers 25 degree programs. Coursework is completed entirely over the Internet via audio/visual technology designed to mimic an actual classroom. The virtual classrooms are supplemented with real textbooks.

Accreditation

Westwood College's campus locations are nationally accredited by either the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)[2] or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).[4][5][6][7][8] In addition, each campus is licensed and approved to operate by the appropriate state regulatory bodies.[9] Westwood College is approved by all branches of the military to offer benefits and tuition assistance opportunities.[10]

Westwood College Online is accredited with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). [11]

Westwood College is also a candidate for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[12]

Ranking

The Online Education Database (OEDb) listed Westwood College in sixteenth place in its 2009 Online College Rankings, and in its top 10 for the second year in a row.[1] 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. Graphics and creative design students from the college's Anaheim campus took home 14 ADDY in June from the American Advertising Federation. [13][1]

Locations

In addition to its Westwood College Online program, Westwood College has locations in:

Curriculum

Westwood College operates on a term schedule. Degree programs start five times a year, and courses are offered year-round during the day, evening and online. Depending on the degree program in which they are enrolled, students can earn an associate degree in 20 months or a bachelor’s degree in three years.

Westwood College's degree programs are organized under six schools: School of Business, School of Design, School of Justice, School of Technology, School of Healthcare and School of Industrial Services. Each campus has a different program focus and some programs are not available at certain locations, depending on the regional economic variables and demand.

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.

Controversy

The Consumer Warning Network, a website that is operated by members of James, Hoyer, Newcomer, Smiljanich & Yanchunis[31] and 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.[32]

Westwood faces a class action arbitration filed by the firm, challenging its admissions and financial aid practices.[33] Al Lewis, a business columnist for Dow Jones Newswires, commented on the lawsuit for the Denver Post.[34] ABC World News featured the lawsuit in a report on schools run for profit.[35] The Denver Post has since reported that the Colorado Attorney General's office is investigating the college. [36]. The firm's tactics have come into question by The Wall Street Journal.[37]. Westwood filed a suit against James Hoyer, charging that the firm has defamed the school through "new media Internet weapons” as well as through traditional media.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "OED Top 10 Online Colleges". Online Education Database. 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-15. Cite error: The named reference "Online Education Database" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "ACCSCT Accredidation". n.d. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  3. ^ http://www.westwood.edu/facts/
  4. ^ "ACICS Accreditation" (PDF). August 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  5. ^ Jaschik, Scott (October 19, 2005). "Demanding Credit". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2008-12-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Lederman, Doug (February 26, 2007). "Tussling Over Transfer of Credit". Inside Higher ED. Retrieved 2008-12-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "What is the difference between regional and national accreditation?". Yahoo! Help. n.d. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  8. ^ "Education in the USA: Types of Accreditation". Education USA. n.d. Retrieved 2008-10-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Westwood College Accreditation". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  10. ^ "Westwood College Military Advantages". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  11. ^ "ACICS Directory of Accredited Institutions" (PDF). June 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-6-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "Higher Learning Commission Accreditation". Higher Learning Commission. n.d. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  13. ^ American Advertising Federation
  14. ^ "Westwood College - Anaheim Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  15. ^ "Westwood College - Inland Empire Campus info". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  16. ^ "Westwood College - Los Angeles Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  17. ^ "Westwood College - South Bay Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  18. ^ "Westwood College in Colorado - Denver North". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  19. ^ "Westwood College in Colorado - Denver South". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  20. ^ "Westwood College in Georgia - Midtown Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  21. ^ "Westwood College in Georgia - Northlake Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  22. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - Loop Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  23. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - DuPage Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  24. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - O'Hare Airport Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  25. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - River Oaks Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  26. ^ "Westwood College in Texas - Dallas Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  27. ^ "Westwood College in Texas - Fort Worth Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  28. ^ "Westwood College in Texas - Houston Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  29. ^ "Westwood College in Virginia - Annandale Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  30. ^ "Westwood College in Virginia - Arlington Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  31. ^ "Whois.net domain registration". Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  32. ^ "Westwood College has lessons to learn". Consumer Warning Network. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  33. ^ "Westwood College". James Hoyer Law Firm. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  34. ^ "Lewis: Qwest's Burnett now running school of hard knocks". The Denver Post. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  35. ^ "ABC News: Students Sue Over Alleged College Scam". ABC News. 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  36. ^ "AG reviews 51 complaints against Westwood College". The Denver Post. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-30.

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