Trying to understand Harrison Middleton University...

I was not being antagonistic, I was being critical -- there's an important distinction. I have no axe to grind, I simply I relayed my experience, questions, and impressions. I also cushioned my responses with the suggestion that the program could be excellent for the right person. I just don't happen to be that person.

By the way, are you sure they're a non-profit? Wikipedia has them listed as for-profit but without a supporting source.

 

I know that HMU is "owned", if you will, by The Great Books Foundation, which is a non-profit educational foundation. I might possibly be confused by the distinction, but I suppose it's possible that HMU itself could be classified as "for-profit" despite being owned by a foundation, but I'm not enough of an expert in the legal aspects to comment on the distinction.

 

HMU certainly supports The Great Books Foundation, but so do many other companies. What makes you think that the GBF owns HMU?

It's true that the President of HMU is a member of the GBF Board of Directors, but so are representatives of other schools (inicluding Apollo Global, the international division of the company that owns University of Phoenix).

 

HMU is licensed as a business (i.e. for-profit) corporation in the State of Arizona. HMU does not appear to be owned by the GBF, although the two organizations do seem to have a working relationship.

 

My apologies. I was told while doing some research for an article I was writing that HMU was owned by the foundation itself. My source material for the article was later destroyed by a computer virus so I have no way to access it to verify my claim.

Therefore, I retract it due to my inability to back up my claim. My apologies for any confusion.

 

Though, for what it's worth, HMU lists the Foundation's HQ as an address for HMU itself. Take that for whatever you wish.

 

Almost -- but not quite.

The HMU website lists two contact addresses. The primary address is in Tempe, AZ, which is consistent with their business license. But the second address is in Chicago, IL at "35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 440."

The GBF website also lists a contact address in Chicago, IL, at "35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 400". So the same building, but a different (presumably neighboring) suite number (Suite 400 vs. Suite 440).

The HMU Catalog, pp. 139-141, indicates that a large percentage of the HMU faculty are explicitly associated with the GBF. It may well be that GBF staff are, in practice, responsible for much of the instruction at HMU. However, the GBF and HMU appear to be distinct legal entities: the former is a non-profit organization in Illinois, the latter is a for-profit business in Arizona. The HMU Catalog, by the way, only shows the Arizona address.

 

Yes, Harrison Middleton University is very unique. I only know of two who are attending, Phillip and myself.

 

My only question is, if it is purely for personal enrichment then why not just buy the books and study them on your own and save 16,000+ dollars?

 

Sorry, found this thread through a search... Didn't realize it was so old