http://www.apus.edu Last month, I had the privilege of previewing and critiquing the new site. I think they have done a great job.
I think the site is great improvement. My only beef with it is on the AMU Degree Programs page; it always irks me to no end to have to scroll to the right to see everything; I prefer to have the whole page fit on my screen from left-to-right, and then I can just scroll down. But maybe that's just me. Cheers, Adrienne
During my, um, discussions with them late last year, they asked me if I'd seen the website, and what I thought of it. I took a chance and told them that I felt a lot of information was there, but navigating it was difficult, that the look-and-feel was very busy. They nodded in agreement, one of them muttering "That's what we think." I guess they've attempted to address this, a vital issue for an online school.
I don't mean to hijack this line, but since I've found a link of AMU (Better name than APUS or APU I think) fans, has anyone heard whether or not they will be debuting a doctoral program soon? They definitely have enough of a variety in courses and professors to explore it. I think they are ideally suited for some sort of interdisciplinary doctorate program. Earlier postings referred to a previously planned Doctor of Military Studies program that was evidently shelved due to DETC accreditation. OK... I really just posted to look at my new CV signature line...
Some time ago (2001-2003?), they had simultaneously mentioned in their newsletter that they were pursuing regional accreditation and planning on instituting doctoral programs. I did, of course, see on this board that the great state of Virginia had approved them to offer the DMS degree, which, as a professional degree, would be acceptable for DETC's pilot doctoral accreditation project. In telephonic communication with an individual in the Registrar's Office, it seems that they are waiting on regional accreditation in order to roll out PhD programs, and they say that there will be a big announcement when that happens. They recently moved business operations to Charles Town, WV, perhaps in order to pursue regional accreditation through the North Central Association, with whom they have achieved candidacy status. Their main campus is still in Manassas Park, VA (home to 1st and 2nd Bull Run), which falls under the purview (sp?) of the Southern Association, which, to the best of my knowledge, does not accredit any distance-only universities. As for moving from accreditation candidate to fully accredited, I believe that I have been told that: (a) it normally takes about two years and (b) with NCA, once a candidate, accreditation is almost assured.
I CAN'T WAIT! As soon as they acheive RA I will be in that great initial rush to enroll in an M.A. program there and I anticipate by the time I'm finished with that to pursue a PhD.
Here is a question: Say you start at AMU before RA status is granted. Once they get RA status is your degree Regionally Accredited?????
It looks like we've got two issues going here: 1. Is your degree regionally accredited? Technically, if your school gets RA by the time you graduate, even if only one day before, you have a degree from a regionally accredited school. 2. Will your degree be perceived as RA? For those employers who are even smart enough to know about accreditation issues, they will probably look it up in some education guide and find out whether it is accredited as of the time of the interview. In other words, suppose that you were to fill out your online admissions application for AMU's MA in Civil War Studies April 21, 2005, receive your letter of acceptance via email April 22, 2005, register for your first class May 4, 2005, and register for one new course per month through April 2006, thus graduating August 2006, but AMU's NCA accreditation does not go through until 2007, then when you apply for a history professorship at your local community college later in 2007 in order to pay for your PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences/History at the Union Institute (or even your PhD in Military History at AMU, once that gets off the ground), your department chair might not even notice that your degree was only DETC at the time of your graduation.
I'm still a little hazy on what the difference is between American Military University and American Public University. They seem to be the same programs, the same administration, the same faculty and the same accreditation. (The NCA/HLC candidacy was awarded to APUS.) AMU's programs. APU's programs. So are these really just separate marketing front-ends put on what is basically one school?
American Public University System owns three schools: American Military University, American Public University, and American Community College. I'm guessing that the military types will go to AMU while the general public will go to APU. Just my theory.
It is one administration. The re-branding occured when AMU wanted to broaden its image to non-military students, and because they'd expanded their offerings beyond military-related programs. But it is really one school. Having visisted their campus when they were in Virginia, and again when they moved to West Virginia, I can assure you of that. And since I was one day away from joining them as a dean (a competing offer swept me away), I think I have this one right.
It is one administration. The re-branding occured when AMU wanted to broaden its image to non-military students, and because they'd expanded their offerings beyond military-related programs. But it is really one school. Having visisted their campus when they were in Virginia, and again when they moved to West Virginia, I can assure you of that. And since I was one day away from joining them as a dean (a competing offer swept me away), I think I have this one right.
