University Of Phoenix

Managed by a seventy- nine year old individual, University of Phoenix (U of P) is the concrete result of former history professor, John Sperling. His last name may sound homonymous to the famous Hollywood director, Steven Spielberg, but do not think they are blood related because that would just be plain hilarious. Well in one way or another, they have a common denominator and that is, making a difference in the society. Yes, it may appear once again like a cliché but truth can never be squeezed out from what has already been established- Sperling in education and Spielberg in entertainment.

As what was mentioned, University of Phoenix (U of P) is the conception of the brilliance of John Sperling. He actually takes pleasure in going against the conventional especially when it comes to education. His school currently has fifteen thousand students taking up University of Phoenix online degrees as well as seventy- five thousand students enrolled in the on- site campuses scattered in fifteen American states. Add to the number the buildings located Netherlands, Puerto Rico and Canada. U of P has been accredited since 1978 where in the previous years, it developed as one of the country’s biggest private institutions.

It has been said that the growth rate of University of Phoenix (U of P) in the next five years will end up with one hundred thousand students taking University of Phoenix online classes. Predictions also have it that the on- site campuses will have more students that will even double the number in public schools located in New York or California. John Sperling actually calls the individuals enrolled in U of P as “customers” who are trained by seven thousand part- time “facilitators.” The seventy- five thousand “customers” attend to on- site campuses that appear aki to generic office buildings. It would even be hard to spot libraries, stadiums and quadrangles.

Over the years, John Sperling’s University of Phoenix (U of P) has received a lot of criticisms. It has been accused to furnish degree mills and worst, a phony school. The grounds were due to the fast- track programs that permit students to obtain diplomas as quickly as possible. A lot of individuals noted that U of P is more interested in favoring shareholders while observing the profit increase than guaranteeing students of a credible education. If you carefully go over the history of the institution, that would be absolutely unfair. This academic foundation actually implements strict qualifications before a person will be granted a certificate.

One of the strict qualifications implemented by University of Phoenix is that the “customer” has to be twenty- three years old. The age is already beyond legal in terms of law as well as in the society as a whole. The school actually responded to its “customers’” complaints that their lives are full of activities that it is almost impossible for them to obtain a diploma from their desired program. As a matter of fact, the training system of the school has been gaining high respect from others in the scholastic arena. Defenders of U of P say that the animosity felt is because of the exceptional performance of the institution that has drawn a lot of individuals to enroll.

University of Phoenix’s total number of about ninety thousand students both taking up University of Phoenix online courses and those enrolled in on- site campuses may not appear that much. However, if you realize the fragmented situation of advanced pedagogy, you will come to understand. With the overall figure of students, the school receives a staggering annual profit of two hundred twenty- five billion dollars. The amount is carves up four thousand institutions, public and private combined. Such industry acquires a big clientele base of more than fourteen million individuals.