United States Open University

I withdrew for a couple of reasons, which I’ll elaborate on:

1) I attended the American Technological University. When they changed their name to the University of Central Texas, I was pleased with the name change. But when they went under 10 years later, I was unpleasantly shocked. It never crossed my mind that a large university would go out of business. I was stupefied and now my selection of schools is based, in part, on their potential to be around in 25 years.

When I considered enrolling in the University of Sarasota, I noticed that their original name was Lawrence University. They changed names a few years ago. However, when the counselor at the University of Sarasota told me that they were changing their name again to Argosy University, it sent up red flags of remembrance of the American Technological University, which went belly-up.. It left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt uncomfortable with investing my time and money with them. Besides, Argosy is such a stupid, cumbersome, albatross of a name.

2) Another reason for desiring to enroll in the University of Sarasota was pride in the name of my county and my city, namely Sarasota. When the counselor said they were dumping the beautiful name of Sarasota for the albatross Argosy, I was dumbstruck and disgusted.

3) The University of Sarasota already has a national reputation, be it good or bad. Are they trying to hide from it by changing names? Or can they solicit more students to enroll under a new name that has no reputation following it? Who knows!!!

 

4) Oh and number 4 – I almost forgot. Recently, they ran into trouble with accreditation with the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. While they maintained their regional accreditation, it was the talk of the town.

 

I have just note the following from the back cover of a popular UK accounting book 'Advanced Financial Accounting' by Richard Lewis and David Pendrill, FT/Prentice Hall, 6th edition:

"Richard Lewis MSc, FCA is the Associate Chancellor of the United States Open University and was previously Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Open University. He was formerly Sir Julian Hodge Professor of Accounting at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, a visiting professor at the Univeristy of Washington, Seattle, and head of the accountancy and taxation department at London Guildhall University."