Graduate School USA

This article is about a particular educational institution. For the type of school generally, see Graduate school.
Graduate School USA
Type Private University
Established 1921
President Elaine Ryan (interim)
Location Washington, D.C., United States
Website graduateschool.edu

Graduate School USA, formerly referred to as the Graduate School, USDA, is a private non-profit educational institution headquartered in Washington, DC with regional campuses around the United States.

Its stated mission is to "develop people and to make government more efficient and effective by offering a wide variety of classes and programs, ranging from government-based specialties such as governmental accounting and auditing, human capital management and acquisition to foreign languages, economics, leadership and landscape design." The school has approximately 200,000 participants per year with over 600 courses, including 300 evening and weekend courses.

History

The Graduate School was created in 1921 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide adult continuing education. The Graduate School remained a part of the USDA as a Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) until February 2009. At that time the school severed ties with the Department of Agriculture and became a private, nonprofit institution. Following the privatization, the school announced it would seek accreditation that would allow it to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees.[1][2]

Nearby Southeastern University began seeking proposals for a merger in summer 2008. Southeastern was facing financial difficulties and a possible loss of accreditation. In March 2009, Southeastern announced that it would be purchased by Graduate School USA. Southeastern asked the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to delay any adverse action on accreditation pending the merger with Graduate School USA. The request was denied, and Southeastern was stripped of its accreditation for a number of administrative failures, including a lack of strategic planning, financial resources, and data systems. There was a delay in the purchase until Southeastern made a final agreement with Federal officials for fines the university had incurred.[3] The asset purchase was completed in March 2010.[4][5]

In March 2011, Graduate School USA announced plans to open a new campus in a planned redevelopment of Washington DC's Southwest waterfront. Plans called for the school to be a major anchor in the redevelopment known as The Wharf, with the school leasing 190,000 square feet of space at the corner of Maine Avenue and Ninth Street SW for its new campus. In October 2013, the school announced it would pull out of the new campus project "due to government cutbacks and budget uncertainty."[6][7][8]

In October 2013, Graduate School USA's presidential search committee began accepting nominations and applications to fill the position of president and CEO, which was vacated when Dr. Jerry Ice retired on September 13, 2013 after more than ten years as president. Dr. Elaine Ryan was appointed interim president until a permanent president has been selected.[9]

Programs and Divisions

Government Training and Professional Development

It offers expert training and workforce development for federal, state and local government. The services include quality training courses, individual assessments, custom course design, assistance with organizational development and career center operations, coaching and mentoring development, and career counseling.

Academic Programs Division

The Academic Programs Division offers individual courses, certificates, and degree programs. It is organized into three departments: the Department of Management, the Department of Health Sciences, and the Department of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.[10]

Degree Programs Certificate Programs
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Accounting Accounting Certificate
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Accounting, Federal Accounting Concentration Auditing Certificate
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Accounting, Auditing Concentration Contracting Certificate
Associate of Science Degree in Management Federal Accounting Certificate
Associate of Science Degree in Management, Government Program Management Concentration Internal Revenue Agent Certificate
Associate of Science Degree in Management, Nonprofit Management Concentration Government Program Management Certificate
Associate of Science Degree in Legal Studies Nonprofit Management Certificate
Associate of Science Degree in Legal Studies, Law and Government Concentration Paralegal Studies Certificate
Associate of Science Degree in Legal Studies, Mediation Concentration Law and Government Certificate
Medical Assistant, Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) Mediation Certificate
Medical Laboratory Technician, Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) Electrocardiographic (ECG) Technician Certificate
Medical Office Administrative Assistant Certificate
Phlebotomy Technician Certificate

Center for Leadership and Management

The Center for Leadership and Management conducts leadership and management courses, long term leadership programs, and leadership effectiveness assessments. Most leadership development programs are geared specifically toward federal government leaders.

Global Solutions

The International Institute, as "the global arm of the Graduate School," administers grant programs on behalf of the International Visitor Leadership Program of the U.S. Department of State, the Open World program of the Library of Congress, the Pacific Islands Training Initiative and the Virgin Islands Training Initiative of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and USAID staff development.

Accreditation

Effective November 2012, Graduate School USA is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Upon approval of Candidacy by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Graduate School USA voluntarily withdrew its accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education.

The departments of Management and Health Sciences grant Associate Degrees (as well as certificates, like the other departments).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "USDA Graduate School". Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  2. ↑ http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-03-09/local/35261085_1_school-leases-2nd-campus-graduate-school
  3. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/06/AR2009100602741.html?wprss=rss_education Daniel de Vise, "Fine Could Hamper Southeastern U. Merger", Washington Post, October 7, 2009, Accessed February 7, 2012.
  4. ↑ Daniel de Vise, "Southeastern U. Acquired by Another School in D.C.", Washington Post, March 6, 2010.
  5. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/01/12/daily84.html
  6. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2011/03/graduate-school-to-anchor-sw-waterfront.html?page=all
  7. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/09/AR2011030904918.html
  8. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/graduate-school-usa-shelves-plans-to-open-campus-in-southwest-waterfront-development/2013/10/16/f478de6e-35cb-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_story.html
  9. ↑ http://graduateschool.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=758
  10. ↑ http://www.graduateschool.edu/sub/AcademicProgram.php

External links

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