At The Top - May 2001

University of Phoenix Provides Education for Working Adults

by Kathleen Foley

For most working adults, going back to school to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree means juggling a schedule already filled with commitments to work and home. The University of Phoenix (UOP) enables them to earn the degrees they need to further their careers with a minimum of upheaval. It targets working adults over the age of 23 looking to start their education from scratch, change careers or simply enhance their résumés. The university offers professional undergraduate degrees in business, information technology, human services and health care service, as well as graduate degrees in business, organizational management, computer information systems and education. The most popular bachelor’s programs at its Nevada campuses are degrees in business and in information technology. Masters programs in several Education specialties appeal to teachers, and businesspeople appreciate its MBA program. Degrees in high-tech fields are in demand, and a new master’s program beginning this month offers a degree as Certified Internet Web Administrator.

Over 85,000 students are enrolled nationwide, making UOP the nation’s largest accredited private college or university. Each UOP class convenes one night a week for approximately six weeks, with an average class size of 15. UOP is one of the lower-cost schools when compared to similar private institutions across the nation. Most students obtain their degree in less than two years.

Higher education has evolved at the University of Phoenix to accommodate the growing trend of adults making education a priority in their lives. Students may transfer credits earned at other colleges, or may be awarded college credit for work and life experiences. University of Phoenix faculty members have each completed a master’s or doctoral degree. They must be currently employed and have a minimum of five years’ work experience in the field or area in which they teach. "By learning from people who have current experience in the workplace, students are able to take the knowledge they learn in class today and apply it to their company tomorrow," said Steve Soukup, vice president of the university’s Nevada campus. University of Phoenix teaches theoretical knowledge that students need to acquire in order to be successful in the workplace, as well as skills necessary for success, such as critical thinking, analysis and strategic planning.

Although classes meet once a week, students are also required to participate in a study group called a learning team, which meets outside classroom hours. Working in learning teams teaches students to work cooperatively, and enables them to learn from each other. The teams present reports to the entire class, allowing team members to refine writing competencies and develop presentation skills.

The University of Phoenix opened its Las Vegas campus in March of 1994, and the Reno campus started classes in November of 1997. Soukup now oversees four facilities in Las Vegas, including one at Nellis Air Force Base, as well as serving Northern Nevada’s rapidly-expanding population at the Reno campus. In the year 2000, the total enrollment at all the Nevada campuses exceeded 2,000 students, and the number keeps growing. The university leases classroom space, which gives it additional flexibility for meeting the demands of a growing student body. Since most enrollees are working professionals over the age of 23, they do not require amenities such as gyms and student union buildings, allowing the school to concentrate strictly on academics. In Las Vegas, UOP leases space in a nine-story office building on Rancho Road in the heart of town, a setting more suggestive of a high-profile corporation than an institution of higher learning. However, its businesslike appearance is perfect for the kind of students it targets.

The fastest-growing segment in higher education is the nontraditional population, according to Soukup. These are working adults ages 24 to 45 who are looking for an education that is accredited, flexible, convenient and affordable, and that can also be integrated into their busy schedules. Thanks to UOP, many working adults are finding that their dreams of having a bachelor’s or master’s degree are now within reach.

Kathleen Foley
Kathleen Foley is a freelance writer based in Southern Nevada.