Trident University International
Former names | TUI University, Trident University International |
---|---|
Motto | Aspire, Believe, Achieve |
Type | Private for-profit online university |
Established | 1998 |
President | John Kline |
Vice-president | Travis Allen |
Students | 6,861 |
Undergraduates | 4,409 |
Postgraduates | 2,452 |
Location | , , United States 33°48′20″N 118°01′53″W / 33.805572869800265°N 118.03133810994592°W |
Campus | Online |
Website | www.trident.edu |
Trident University International is a private for-profit online university based in Cypress, California. It is a member of the American InterContinental University System, and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[1]
Trident offers 5 doctoral degrees,[2] 8 master's degrees, 8 bachelor's degrees, 1 associate degree, and 6 professional certificate and diplomas programs. Enrollment as of 2014 was about 75% military.[3]
History
Founded in 1998, it has its headquarters in Cypress, California. Currently the university has more than 30,000 alumni.[4]
Trident at AIU’s story starts with the founding of Touro University International a branch campus of Touro College, New York,(Private not-for-profit) in July 1998, by its founders Dr. Yoram Neumann and Edith Neumann. It was the first university in the world to offer a regionally accredited doctorate program online with no residency requirement. Touro University International was initially accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Touro College - including the Touro University International branch campus - was subsequently re-accredited by MSCHE in 2004. Because of its location in California, robust growth, fiscal and operational stability, and unique online delivery model, Touro University International was separately accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) [Now called the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)] in February 2005. In October 2007, Touro University International was sold to Summit Partners for 190 million dollars and a new institution, TUI University (now Trident at AIU) was formed and incorporated as a private for profit.[5] Under the new ownership, the management team continued to lead the institution while the learning model, faculty, and staff maintain their central roles in the quality and vitality of the university. In January 2011, TUI University officially changed its name to Trident University International. On March 29, 2015 Jones International University (JIU) announced it would close in 2016 and that it had entered into a formal transfer agreement with Trident University International that would provide all JIU students with individualized, custom learning plans and the opportunity to transition their studies to Trident. Trident also announced plans to rename its business school The Glenn R. Jones College of Business Administration.[6] In March 2019, Career Education Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire Trident University International for $35 – 44 million from Summit Partners and merged this acquisition into Career Education Corporation's American InterContinental University as a branch campus. Trident at AIU was officially granted accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission - North Central Association of colleges & Schools on February 19, 2020. Trident withdrew accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) on March 2, 2020.[7]
Investigations and controversies
In June 2011, the WSCUC Commission received information that Trident awarded baccalaureate degrees to students who had not fulfilled the University's general education (GE) requirements. In addition, Trident failed to notify WSCUC of this problem when it was first brought to the institution's attention by the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOCNAV), an organization that works with the United States Navy to assure that the colleges that Navy personnel attend are appropriately accredited and military friendly. Because of the serious breach of Standards One and Two related to integrity and general education, the Commission issued an Order to Show Cause why Trident's accreditation should not be terminated effective March 30, 2012. The following year, the commission confirmed that Trident had satisfactorily addressed the issues and reaffirmed Trident’s accreditation.[8]
As of 2015, Trident was under heightened cash monitoring by the US Department of Education "to provide additional oversight of cash management."[9]
In 2017, the Veterans Education Success organization alleged that Trident had used misleading information to recruit "survivors" who had Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Survivors are the children of a father or mother who was killed while on active duty and their widows or husbands.[10]
On March 9, 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suspended G.I. Bill reimbursement eligibility for American InterContinental University and several other for-profit schools due to what the V.A. said were "erroneous, deceptive, or misleading enrollment and advertising practices", giving the schools 60 days to take "corrective action".[11] Later that year, the VA reversed its action.[12]
Academics
Trident at American InterContinental University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[13] Trident offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level degrees in a 100% online environment in the following colleges:
- Glenn R. Jones College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Health and Human Services
- College of Information Systems
Rankings
Trident University International placed #80 in Washington Monthly's 2019 National University Rankings Report[14] and #19 in The Military Times Best: Colleges of 2018.[15]
Student outcomes
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Trident at AIU has a 6-year graduation rate of 19% and a 3-year default rate of 17 percent.[16]
Notable alumni
- Robyn J. Blader, United States National Guard Brigadier General
- William Gainey, United States Army Command Sergeant Major (R), the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC)
- David O'Donahue, Deputy Adjutant General-Civil Support of the Wisconsin National Guard
- Kenneth Preston, 13th Sergeant Major of the Army.
- Stephen Templin, bestselling author of "Seal Team Six"
- Tony Tinderholt, Texas Congressmen of District 94
- John W. Troxell, United States Army Command Sergeant Major (R), the third Senior Enlisted Chairman to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC)
See also
References
- ^ "November 2019 Actions". Higher Learning Commission. Retrieved 12-08-2020.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Online Doctor of Business Administration". Trident University International. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
- ^ "Best for Vets: Colleges 2016 - Military Times". bestforvets.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Why Trident–Online Learning: Trident University". Trident University International. 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
- ^ https://www.chronicle.com/article/Touro-College-Sells-Online/39863
- ^ "First accredited online school, Jones University,to shutter in 2016". Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ "Top Ranked Universities: Trident University International". 20 September 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ https://www.trident.edu/download/WASC_031113.pdf
- ^ "Heightened Cash Monitoring | Federal Student Aid". Studentaid.ed.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/556718b2e4b02e470eb1b186/t/5bc2295fe79c7060b0688f39/1539451232485/Trident+Report.FINAL.pdf
- ^ "VA to suspend some GI Bill enrollments, holding back more than $200 million from 'deceptive' universities". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ "VA backs down from plan to suspend University of Phoenix and other colleges from accessing GI Bill benefits". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ "Trident at AIU - The Higher Learning Commission". www.trident.edu/why-trident/accreditation/. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "2019 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly. August 26, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ "Military Times Best: Colleges 2018 Online & Nontraditional Schools". Military Times. October 20, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Trident&s=CA&id=450979#retgrad
External links
- For-profit universities and colleges in the United States
- Online colleges
- Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Educational institutions established in 1998
- 1998 establishments in California
- Touro College and University System
- Distance education institutions based in the United States