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Westwood College

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Westwood College
MottoA Place Where You Can Succeed
TypePrivate, For-profit
Established1953
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 a United States for-profit institution of higher learning with 17 campus locations in six states and online learning options. Westwood is accredited by national organizations including the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSC)[1] and the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). Since its inception in 1986, Westwood has graduated more than 24,000 students.[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 subject of controversy related to a series of lawsuits and some students' inability to transfer credits to other colleges and universities.

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 (ACCSC)[1] or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).[3][4][5][6][7] In addition, each campus is licensed and approved to operate by the appropriate state regulatory bodies.[8] Westwood College is approved by all branches of the military to offer benefits and tuition assistance opportunities.[9]

Westwood College Online is accredited with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).[10]

Locations

Westwood College Houston is in the Arena Place complex

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.

Admissions and financial aid

Westwood has an open admissions policy.[28] Applicants are eligible for both Pell grants and federal student loans. In an August 4, 2010 report from the Government Accountability Office, Westwood College was named as one of four institutions that "encouraged fraudulent practices" when meeting with undercover investigators posing as applicants. Fraudulent practices cited in this report included encouraging applicants to overstate financial need and hide assets.[29] These practices would increase an applicants' eligibility for government loans and grants.

Recognition

In 2009, graphics and creative design students from the college's Anaheim campus received three Student ADDY Awards from the American Advertising Federation's regional competition.[30]

Controversy

In recent years Westwood College has been the subject of controversy related to a series of lawsuits and some students' inability to transfer credits to other colleges and universities. 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 Hoyer firm's use of social media to connect with Westwood students was reported in The Wall Street Journal, which also reported that Westwood filed a suit against James Hoyer, alleging defamation through "new media Internet weapons".[37]

On its website, Westwood has responded in detail to many of the allegations against it.[38] Regarding credit transfer problems, Westwood acknowledges that its credits "are typically not transferable to other colleges or universities," but asserts that the program is focused on giving students "the skills and tools necessary to meet their employer’s needs from day one."[38]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ACCSC Directory". n.d. Retrieved 2010-10-07. Cite error: The named reference "ACCSC Directory" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ http://www.westwood.edu/why-westwood/about-us/
  3. ^ "ACICS - Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools". October 12, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ "What is the difference between regional and national accreditation?". Yahoo! Help. n.d. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  7. ^ "Types of Accreditation". WorldWideLearn. n.d. Retrieved 2010-10-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Westwood College Accreditation". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  9. ^ "Westwood College Military Advantages". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  10. ^ "ACICS Directory of Accredited Institutions" (PDF). June 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  11. ^ "Westwood College - Anaheim Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  12. ^ "Westwood College - Inland Empire Campus info". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  13. ^ "Westwood College - Los Angeles Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  14. ^ "Westwood College - South Bay Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  15. ^ "Westwood College in Colorado - Denver North". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  16. ^ "Westwood College in Colorado - Denver South". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  17. ^ "Westwood College in Georgia - Midtown Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  18. ^ "Westwood College in Georgia - Northlake Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  19. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - Loop Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  20. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - DuPage Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  21. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - O'Hare Airport Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Archived from the original on 2007-12-29. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  22. ^ "Westwood College in Chicago - River Oaks Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  23. ^ "Westwood College in Texas - Dallas Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  24. ^ "Westwood College in Texas - Fort Worth Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  25. ^ "Westwood College in Texas - Houston Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  26. ^ "Westwood College in Virginia - Annandale Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  27. ^ "Westwood College in Virginia - Arlington Campus". Westwood College. n.d. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  28. ^ National Center for Education Statistics (2008). "College Navigator - Westwood College". Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  29. ^ Vise, Daniel de (2010-08-05). "GAO: 15 for-profit colleges used deceptive recruiting tactics". The Washington Post. ISSN 0740-5421. Retrieved 2010-08-05. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "Westwood College Students Win 14 Addy Awards". Westwood College. 2009. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  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.
  37. ^ a b Just the Facts About Westwood College, Westwood College website, accessed July 20, 2010

External links

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