The University of South Carolina is home to more than 200 years of history and tradition, rising from a single building in 1805 on what would become the heart of the campus, the Horseshoe. The 11 buildings that now make up the Horseshoe frame a lush lawn that is an irresistible gathering place. The university is expanding west toward the Congaree River in support of its research initiatives in nanotechnology, health sciences, Future Fuels™, the environment and information and knowledge technologies. Three separate sites, each specializing in its own research area, will comprise this new innovation district, called Innovista. It will initially cover 500,000 square feet spread over about six city blocks but is projected to grow to five million square feet, mixing University and private research buildings, parking garages, and commercial and residential units around a public plaza called Foundation Square. By creating space for residences, retail, restaurants, and recreation that will complement the research, Innovista will be a place to live, learn, and work. Joining the flagship campus in Columbia, are four-year campuses in Aiken, Beaufort and Upstate (Spartanburg-Greenville). Four two-year campuses—Lancaster, Sumter, Salkehatchie (Allendale and Walterboro) and Union—help the university cover the state.
Western Washington University is the state’s third-largest higher education institution. Consistently ranked the top master’s-granting public university in the Pacific Northwest by U.S. News and World Report. FACULTY: Faculty in fall 2012: 784. Full-time faculty: 517, 90.1 percent with terminal degrees. Student-faculty ratio: 20.8 to 1. STUDENTS: Fall 2012 enrollment: 14,833 full- and part-time students. Students of color: 21.3 percent. First-year students: 2,688 freshmen and 1,045 transfers. 2011 full-time freshmen returning: 85.1 percent. Six-year graduation rate: 67.2 percent.
Valdosta State University offers the best of both worlds — the extensive academic, cultural, and social opportunities of a major university and the small classes and close personal attention found at smaller institutions. Students are attracted to the close-knit community where learning occurs in a supportive environment and faculty members challenge each student’s potential. VSU has a legacy as a major provider of educational services for South Georgia. As a comprehensive university, the university focuses on the long-term, total educational experience, providing a variety of catalysts for student growth in all areas of life. Study abroad and exchange opportunities at institutions around the world give students exceptional opportunities for learning. Closer to campus, VSU offers internships and experiential learning opportunities to expand students’ horizons.
Apollo Education Group, Inc. was founded in 1973 in response to a gradual shift in higher education demographics from a student population dominated by youth to one in which approximately half the students are adults and over 80 percent of whom work full-time. Apollo`s founder, John Sperling, believed -- and events proved him right -- that lifelong employment with a single employer would be replaced by lifelong learning and employment with a variety of employers. Lifelong learning requires an institution dedicated solely to the education of working adults. Today, Apollo Education Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, the University of Phoenix, the College for Financial Planning, and Western International University, has established itself as a leading provider of higher education programs for working adults by focusing on servicing the needs of the working adult.
For 45 years, we’ve provided tools and opportunities to help lifelong learners reach their personal and professional goals. And since 1995, we’ve helped universities advance their commitment to education through the development of online degree and certificate programs. We take action and focus on impact. We speak openly with candor and respect. We focus on results over process. We make smart decisions and execute effectively. We’re difficult to offend and quick to forgive. We work as a team. If the floor is dirty, we pick up a broom. We’re quick to admit mistakes and are egoless when searching for the best solutions. We are self-motivated, self-disciplined and self-aware. Going the extra mile isn’t a rarity, it’s standard practice. We create incredible products and deliver memorable experiences.