Florida Tech University Online Makes Quality Undergraduate Education Accessible to Millions With Five New Associate’s Degree Programs

Enrollment Is Underway for 100% Online Associate’s Degrees in Accounting, Marketing, Healthcare Management, Criminal Justice and Computer Information Systems

TAMPA, FL (May 28, 2009) – With the national unemployment rate at its highest point in 26 years, many out-of-work and underemployed Americans are looking to higher education as their best chance to secure a stable job in a recession-resistant field. Florida Tech University Online (Florida Institute of Technology) makes it easy and convenient to earn a degree with five new associate’s programs offered 100% online. Students can earn their credentials in some of today’s hottest growth fields: accounting, marketing, healthcare management, criminal justice and computer information systems.

“For those who entered the workforce directly from high school, an associate’s degree is the first step toward better career opportunities and greater job security,” said Adrian Marrullier, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of University Alliance Online, which provides enrollment and support services to Florida Tech University Online. “Students can complete an online associate’s degree in less than 20 months and use that credential to move into a new career field, advance within their current job or transition into a bachelor’s degree program.”

Marrullier noted that online learning is a particularly appealing option for adults, for a variety of reasons. “The ability to attend class anytime and anywhere enables students to schedule their lectures around work, job interviews and family obligations. They don’t have to spend time and money commuting to campus. And they don’t have to worry about standing out in a sea of teenagers and 20-somethings; the Internet is a great equalizer.”

Each of Florida Tech’s new associate’s degree programs offers excellent career potential:

Associate of Arts in Accounting – Employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow 18%* through 2016, which is faster than average for all occupations. Florida Tech’s AA in Accounting combines the financial principles and liberal arts background employers seek.

Associate of Arts in Marketing – Entry- to mid-level marketing/public relations jobs are predicted to grow 18%* by 2016. While this represents faster than average growth for all careers, competition is keen in this popular industry. Florida Tech’s AA in Marketing provides the skills and credentials professionals need to get into or get ahead in this exciting field.

Associate of Arts in Healthcare Management – Medical and healthcare manager positions are anticipated to grow 16%* through 2016. This fast-growing career field requires specialized training, and Florida Tech’s AA in Healthcare Management delivers with a proven combination of healthcare education and business management principles.

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice – The job outlook for police, detectives, probation officers, correctional treatment specialists and private investigators ranges from 11% to 18%* growth through 2016. Florida Tech’s AA in Criminal Justice provides a pathway to a rewarding career in crime prevention, homeland security or court administration.

Associate of Science in Computer Information Systems – Employment of computer support specialists, systems administrators and computer information systems managers is anticipated to grow between 16% and 18%* through 2016. Florida Tech’s AS in CIS prepares students for this high-growth career field with a broad base of technical knowledge and a solid liberal arts foundation.

In addition to the five new associate’s degrees, Florida Tech’s online undergraduate programs include associate’s degrees in liberal arts and business administration plus eight different bachelor’s degrees.

To learn more about the online degree programs offered by nationally recognized Florida Tech, visit http://www.floridatechonline.com/.

About Florida Tech
Florida Tech is world renowned for its distinguished faculty, comprehensive curriculum and unyielding innovation. Florida Tech continues to be ranked a best national university by
U.S. News & World Report. It’s rated by the Fiske Guide to Colleges and named a best buy in Barron’s Best Buys in College Education. Among its more than 50,000 alumni include several astronauts, many CEOs of major corporations, Senior Executive Service (SES) members and nearly two dozen generals including three four-star generals, four three-star generals, nine two-star major generals and three one-star brigadier generals. Florida Tech’s main campus is located in Melbourne, Florida.

About University Alliance Online
The University Alliance (UA) facilitates the promotion and online delivery of associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as professional certificate programs from the nation’s leading traditional universities and institutions. Powered by UA’s technology and support services, our university partners have surpassed 300,000 online enrollments — making UA the largest facilitator of e-learning in the country.


* Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008–09 Edition

Contact:
Sandy Levine, VP of Marketing Services
Florida Tech University Online/University Alliance Partner
813-621-6200
http://www.floridatechonline.com/

###

University of San Francisco Introduces Industry’s First Customizable Internet Marketing Certificate Program for Companies and Agencies – 100% Online

New web site provides details on USF’s online interactive marketing training solutions and corporate incentive programs


Tampa, FL (May 11, 2009) -- Spurred by industry demand, the University of San Francisco (USF) has launched a revolution in interactive marketing education. Organizations can now leverage a standardized Internet marketing training program that covers a comprehensive range of topics, tools and strategies and is delivered 100% online by practicing real-world Internet marketing experts via a flexible, scalable platform.

USF’s new Web site – http://www.interactivemarketingtraining.com/ – reveals how agencies and companies can maximize their employees’ performance by empowering them to become digital marketing experts through a first-of-its-kind, end-to-end internet marketing certificate program.

The USF Master Certificate in Internet Marketing is the only fully online program that covers all aspects of digital marketing – including Web site usability, blogs, Web 2.0, search engine optimization, paid search, Web analytics, viral marketing, affiliate marketing and social media – and teaches students how those distinct elements interrelate with each other as well as with traditional marketing strategies. Moreover, it prepares students for certification from two respected industry organizations: Google Advertising Professionals and the Web Analytics Association.

That interrelation is a key reason USF chose to establish the Master Certificate in Internet Marketing. According to a joint study by the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) revealed only 7% of U.S. marketers reported being very satisfied with their progress integrating online and traditional media. It’s a figure that is underscored by employers’ difficulty finding and retaining skilled, experienced Internet marketing professionals.

But now any traditional or online marketing organization can provide consistent, industry-standard training to its employees and bridge the gap between traditional and new media. USF’s three-course Internet Marketing training program offers corporations an easy, fast and affordable way to implement an agency-wide training solution, whatever their size or expertise. The entire program is led by practicing, real-world experts, university-backed and conveniently offered 100% online.

“A few years ago the question was, ‘is interactive marketing here to stay?’” said Maria Harrison, USF instructor and subject matter expert with the USF Master Certificate in Internet Marketing program. “Today the question is, ‘are you ready?’ Thanks to the USF interactive marketing training program, organizations are answering that question with a resounding yes.”

About the University of San Francisco

Acclaimed as one of America’s best universities by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, USF (http://www.usanfranonline.com/) is committed to becoming internationally recognized as a premier Jesuit Catholic, urban university with a global perspective. USF’s online programs are offered through its School of Business and Management, which includes the Masagung Graduate School of Management and the McLaren Undergraduate College of Business.

To learn more about the USF Master Certificate in Internet Marketing, visit http://www.interactivemarketingtraining.com/.

Contact:

Sandy Levine, VP of Marketing Services
University of San Francisco/University Alliance Partner
813-621-6200
http://www.usanfranonline.com/
http://www.interactivemarketingtraining.com/


# # #

Florida Tech University Online Answers the Demand for an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Enrollment has begun for first eight week term; online Criminal Justice degree classes start on May 4th

TAMPA, Fla., April 30, 2009 -- Despite today's uncertain economic climate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs in criminal justice will grow between 11% and 16% by 2016. Many job seekers are flocking to this career field, but research shows employers are increasingly seeking candidates with a formal education beyond high school. To fulfill the market demand, Florida Tech University Online (Florida Institute of Technology) is pleased to announce the launch of the new Associate's degree in Criminal Justice program.

"This online Associate's degree in Criminal Justice will provide students with the opportunity to attain a credential in the criminal justice discipline in a shorter period of time while on their way to earning an online bachelor's degree," said Adrian Marrullier, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of University Alliance Online, which provides enrollment services to Florida Tech University Online. "It will also allow entry-level job-seekers to explore various positions in this growing career field as well as enhance the knowledge and skills of others already working in the criminal justice field."

Based on a national curriculum model, Florida Tech's 100% online, in-depth Associate's degree in Criminal Justice program can be completed in less than 20 months. It includes a broad-based liberal arts education along with career-specific criminal justice courses, such as Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Law and the Legal System, Research Methods in Criminal Justice and much more.

Florida Tech University Online has developed this AA in Criminal Justice degree program for adult learners who are looking to attain a world-class degree -- 100% online. This program also takes into account students with little to no criminal justice work experience who are looking to gain a competitive edge in a variety of industry related positions. The areas of employment that an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice can lead to are:

• Social Services (Corrections, Counseling, Juvenile Justice, Casework, and Victim Advocacy)
• Judiciary and Law (Court Reporting, Legal Assistance, Legal Research, and Administration)
• Law Enforcement (Patrolling, Investigating, Probation and Parole, and Security
• Business (Private Security, Consulting, Private Investigation, Loss and Prevention)

For more information or to enroll at Florida Tech University online, go to

http://www.floridatechonline.com/. About Florida Tech
Part of a unique family of the nation's top forward-thinking universities like MIT, Georgia Tech, Caltech and others -- Florida Tech is world renowned for its distinguished faculty, comprehensive curriculum and unyielding innovation. Florida Tech continues to be ranked a best national university by U.S. News & World Report. It's rated by the Fiske Guide to Colleges and named a best buy in Barron's Best Buys in College Education. Among its more than 50,000 alumni include several astronauts, many CEOs of major corporations, Senior Executive Service (SES) members and nearly two dozen generals including three four-star generals, four three-star generals, nine two-star major generals and three one-star brigadier generals. Florida Tech's main campus is located in Melbourne, Florida.

About University Alliance Online
The University Alliance (UA) facilitates the promotion and online delivery of associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees as well as professional certificate programs from the nation's leading traditional universities and institutions. Powered by UA's technology and support services, our university partners have surpassed 300,000 online enrollments -- making UA the largest facilitator of e-learning in the country.

Contact Information:
Sandy Levine, VP of Marketing Services
Bisk Education/University Alliance Online
9417 Princess Palm Avenue, Tampa, FL 33619
813.621.6200

# # #

Education Next: State Legislators Consider Bill to Restrict Florida Virtual School Despite Growing Enrollment

Florida Virtual School Reports 10-fold Increase in Enrollments over Past Ten Years; Nearly 50 Percent Growth among African-Americans Since 2007

STANFORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Legislation to limit course offerings and funding for the state-run Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is making its way through the state Senate despite the fact that the online education program continues to see dramatic increases in enrollment, especially among minority students, according to a new article published in the summer issue of Education Next and available online at www.EducationNext.org.

In the 2008–09 school year, approximately 84,000 students will complete 168,000 half-credit courses, more than a tenfold increase since 2002-03, points out Bill Tucker, managing director at Education Sector and author of the Education Next article. Between June 2007 and July 2008, African-American enrollments grew by 49 percent, Hispanic enrollments by 42 percent, and Native American enrollments by 41 percent.

The legislation under consideration would eliminate enrollment in any elective courses through FLVS as well as funding for any courses beyond a standard six periods. FLVS officials have warned that the provision could cut enrollment by as much as 24 percent.
“If this bill passes, students would no longer have an option to take electives, including some AP courses, beyond those offered at their traditional schools nor could they enroll in extra courses to catch up on graduation requirements,” Tucker said.

FLVS is a supplemental education program that allows students to customize their learning. Students attend brick-and-mortar schools and take FLVS courses in addition to their traditional classes. The school employs more than 715 full-time and 29 adjunct teachers -- all Florida-certified and “highly qualified” under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Given the school’s flexible pacing, there isn’t a set class size, but full-time teachers are limited to 150 students each.
While the vast majority of FLVS students come from district schools (82 percent in 2007-08), the school is open to charter, private, and home-schooled students. Students choose an accelerated, traditional, or extended pace for a particular course, taking extra time if needed to review and receive additional guidance on lessons. Additionally, FLVS students don’t have to wait for the semester to begin to start their learning; they can choose the month in which they would like to start.

With its focus on customized learning, online education in the United States is growing at a fast pace: According to the North American Council for Online Learning, enrollment in online courses in 2000 totaled 45,000. In 2007, enrollments reached 1 million, about 70 percent of which were for high school courses.

Popularity of online education courses is also growing. According to a 2008 national survey conducted by Education Next and the Harvard Kennedy School Program on Education Policy and Governance, more than two thirds of American parents say they would be willing to have their children take some of their high school courses over the Internet. And in most instances, the American public supports public funding for online courses that high school students take for credit. The breadth of their support, however, depends on the purpose of the online education. A majority favor funding for high schools offering advanced courses for students online and for high schools that offer rural students a broader range of courses online. A plurality of 40 percent support funding online classes that help dropouts gain credits.

Read “Florida’s Online Option” now available online at www.EducationNext.org.

Bill Tucker is managing director at Education Sector.

Education Next is a scholarly journal published by the Hoover Institution that is committed to looking at hard facts about school reform. Other sponsoring institutions are the Harvard Program on Education Policy and Governance and the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation.

Contacts:
Education Sector
Bill Tucker, 202-552-2848
or Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Caleb Offley, 585-319-4541www.hoover.org

University Alliance Online Joins President Obama’s Urgent Call for Higher Education

The Nation’s Largest Facilitator of E-Learning Reaffirms its Commitment to Lifelong Education

TAMPA, FL (March 24, 2009) – With three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations requiring more than a high school diploma, it is critical for each American to achieve at least one year of higher education or career training. That’s the challenge President Obama issued recently in a speech to Congress that ushered in a renewed commitment to education.

Higher Education for All
University Alliance (UA) is proud to join the President in this critical endeavor of offering every American access to a high-quality education beyond high school. Providing delivery of 100% online degree and certificate programs from some of the country’s leading institutions, UA extends a broad range of benefits including answering questions about financial aid and offering technical support.

The importance of providing every working adult with convenient access to a quality degree or credential should never be underestimated. Adrian Murrullier, Executive Vice President of Student Services from University Alliance said, “Countless studies show education directly translates to higher salaries, greater career mobility and fewer periods of unemployment. In fact, we’ve seen enrollments spike as more adults re-examine their credentials in light of rising unemployment rates and a shaky economy. President Obama’s speech repeatedly stressed the importance of preparing Americans for career success, and UA is dedicated to arming every American with sought-after skills and critical knowledge to compete in today’s competitive job market.”

About University Alliance Online
The University Alliance facilitates the promotion and online delivery of associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as professional certificate programs from the nation’s leading traditional universities and institutions. Powered by UA’s technology and support services, our university partners have surpassed 300,000 online enrollments — making UA the largest facilitator of e-learning in the country. University Alliance partners include Villanova University, the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, Thunderbird School of Global Management, the University of San Francisco, the University of South Florida, Florida Institute of Technology, The University of Scranton, Dominican University and Jacksonville University. Students can choose from Master Certificate programs in a variety of disciplines including Six Sigma and Internet Marketing – and degrees ranging from a Master of Arts in Education to one of the most popular online RN to BSN degree programs in the nation.


Contact Information:
Sandy Levine, Vice President of Marketing Services
University Alliance Online
9417 Princess Palm Avenue, Tampa, FL 33619
800-404-7355, ext. 328

###