American Military University: Understanding its Accreditation and Legitimacy
Navigating the world of higher education can be complex, especially when considering online institutions and their accreditation status. American Military University (AMU), part of the American Public University System (APUS), is an institution that often comes up in discussions about online education, particularly for military personnel and veterans. Understanding AMU's accreditation and legitimacy is crucial for prospective students.
The Importance of Accreditation
Accreditation is a process where institutions and programs are evaluated to ensure they meet certain standards of quality and educational effectiveness. Accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are considered reliable authorities on the quality of education offered by the institutions they accredit. Accreditation plays a vital role for several reasons:
- Federal Student Aid Eligibility: Accreditation by a recognized agency is often a prerequisite for institutions to participate in federal student aid programs.
- Employer Recognition: Many employers in the United States only recognize degrees earned from institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. The federal government's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has taken steps to prevent diploma mill degrees from being accepted for federal positions or student loan repayment.
- Transferability of Credits: Attending an accredited institution can be helpful if you want to transfer academic credits to another institution. While APUS credit is considered transfer-eligible based on its accreditation, APUS cannot guarantee that its credit will be accepted, as acceptance of credit is always the prerogative of the receiving institution.
Any institution can claim to be accredited, so it is important to verify the legitimacy of the accrediting agency.
Understanding Accredited vs. Unaccredited Institutions
Accredited institutions have agreed to have their institution and its programs reviewed to determine the quality of education and training being provided. If an institution is accredited by a recognized agency, its teachers, coursework, and facilities, equipment, and supplies are reviewed on a routine basis to ensure students receive a quality education and get what they pay for.
Unaccredited institutions are not reviewed against a set of standards to determine the quality of their education and training. This does not necessarily mean that an unaccredited institution is of poor quality, but earning a degree from an unaccredited institution may create problems for students.
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American Military University: A Legitimate Institution
American Public University (APU), along with the American Military University (AMU), is part of the American Public University System. AMU began in 1991 to provide online educational opportunities to military personnel who frequently moved, making it difficult for them to attend college on campus. In 2002, APU was added to provide working adults with the same online educational opportunities that AMU offered to military personnel. The two universities remained separate schools but became the two parts of the American Public University System (APUS), which is an accredited system through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The U.S. Department of Education, as well as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), recognize accreditations from HLC.
Accreditation Details for APUS
The American Public University System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation demonstrates APUS's focus on providing academic excellence and a quality experience for its students. As an accredited institution, APUS universities are eligible to participate in federal educational entitlement programs such as military tuition assistance, government tuition reimbursement programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill®, and many corporate education assistance programs.
Programs Offered
APU offers over 200 certificates and degrees, including programs for undergraduates as well as graduate students at both the masters and doctorate levels. APU is comprised of multiple schools covering arts and humanities, business, science, technology, mathematics, engineering, and other disciplines.
Considerations for Prospective Students
While AMU/APU is a legitimate and accredited institution, prospective students should consider the following:
- Online Learning Environment: As AMU's programs are online, you should consider whether this format works for you. If you feel like you thrive better in an on-site, classroom environment, you may want to explore other options too.
- Personal Working Style: The quality of an online education can vary greatly, and AMU is no exception. It's important to understand that AMU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is a gold standard for colleges and can vouch for the quality of education provided. It's worth noting that these courses are designed with a flexible timeline to accommodate those with hectic schedules, such as service members, making it easier for students to complete their studies at their convenience.
- Effort and Engagement: Your experience will be heavily influenced by factors such as your personal working style, how well you handle self-paced learning, the effort you put into the material, and your interaction with faculty and fellow students.
- Career Goals: For students who aspire to serve, it's worth knowing that certain military positions and post-military careers do value degrees from well-known civilian institutions.
- Transfer of Credits: Credits and degrees earned through APUS may be recognized for promotion, assignment, and position qualification standards within the military, federal government, and the private sector.
Grade Appeals
If a student believes that a final grade does not accurately reflect their coursework in a course, they must first contact their course instructor for possible resolution. Only a student's final grade in a course or project may be appealed; appeals for individual assignments during an active course are not permitted. A grade appeal should be limited to specific charges of unfair action towards the student and may not involve a challenge of their instructor’s grading standard. Students have the right to expect thoughtful and clearly defined approaches to course grading but they must recognize that varied standards and individual approaches to grading are valid. A grade appeal considers whether a grade was determined in a fair and appropriate manner; it does not attempt to grade or re-grade individual assignments or projects.
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In an appeal, students will need to substantiate their claim that their final grade represents unfair treatment compared to the standard applied to other students. In the absence of compelling reasons, such as clerical error, prejudice, or capriciousness, the grade assigned by their instructor is to be considered final. In a grade appeal, only arbitrariness, prejudice, and/or error will be considered as legitimate grounds for an appeal.
If a student still wishes to appeal their final grade, they may appeal their instructor's decision by requesting that an Academic Appeals Specialist open an official Grade Appeal. A student's appeal must be submitted using the official campus appeal form and should include the written correspondence between a student and an instructor regarding the initial request for a review of the student's grade. The Academic Appeals Specialist will send the student a grade appeal questionnaire that must be completed before a grade appeal will be escalated to the Department Chair for review.
State Authorization
The American Public University System is engaged in a continuous process to certify that it is recognized as an accredited institution of higher learning by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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