A lot of people get to a certain age and think that it is impossible for them to earn a degree because they have a lot going on in their lives such as their job, family and other commitments. Excelsior College is an institution of higher learning for individuals who know that acquiring education at a certain age is not a silly but a smart idea and want an institution that is accredited and is well known for removing obstacles to the learning objectives of adult learners by offering a number of paths to degree completion. So no matter how old a person is, they can still get the college education they have always wanted to get.
Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit institution that offers its students the opportunity to earn certificates, associate, baccalaureate and masters degrees in a number of disciplines which are all delivered through distance learning. Thanks to modern technology, students (regardless of their age) can get a college education from the comfort of their home and or office from any part of the planet! Students with children will not have to worry about travelling thousands of miles to get the education they need to take their career to the next level. They also do not have to worry about facing the horrible commute in order to attend their on-campus classes.
Excelsior College is among the “big 3” online-based institutions that are recognized for giving credits based on life experiences. Excelsior operates a really generous credit transfer policy and also creates an individual degree completion plan for every student enrolled. The students who decide to study at Excelsior College may be given credit for their present knowledge and their life experiences by simply sitting for examinations or filling out portfolio assessments. Because a lot of the study required of students is done with no direct supervision, students who are enrolled in Excelsior College should be self-motivated and able to carry out their work independently.
Excelsior College
Academics
The New York State Board of Regents founded the Excelsior College in 1971 as an external degree program, which was named Regents External Degree Program. The Carnegie Corporation and the Ford Foundation donated the major grants that funded the initial development of the institution’s program.
Regents College, from 1971 up until 1998, functioned as a Board of Regents program under The University of the State of New York’s authority by which the institution can award students with diplomas and degrees at that period. The college was granted total charter by the Board of Regents to function as a private, not-for-profit, independent institute in April 1998. Regents College became known as Excelsior College on January 1st, 2001. The Latin word for Excelsior is translated as ”Ever Upward”, which also happens to be New York state’s motto.
Presently, Excelsior College has enrolled over 30,000 students in an array of both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Programs Offered
Excelsior College offers its students the opportunity to earn associates degrees, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in programs such as Technology, Nursing, Liberal Arts, Business or Health Science. The programs of note at Excelsior College’s include its BS in Marketing program, Computer Technology and its online MBA. Excelsior students can take their classes online or simply transfer credit from other institutions that are regionally accredited. Students can get credit for sitting for different types of tests and this includes Excelsior College’s tests, American Council on Education reviewed tests and GRE (Graduate Record Examination). This institution also provides an assessment that is portfolio-based.
Memberships
The AGLSP (Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs) have accepted Excelsior College’s Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies program into full memberships. The college is also a proud member of SOC (Service-members Opportunity Colleges) Consortium of the American Association of State Colleges & Universities. Institutions that are SOC members are committed to assisting not only Service-members but also their families earn a college degree. Excelsior College military students can take their classes during the hours when they are off-duty or when they are at or close to military installations abroad, Navy ships or in the United States. In addition to this, Excelsior College has received nominations over and over again by numerous organizations as a top military friendly institution.
Accreditation
Excelsior College is an institution that has received regional accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools. National League Accrediting Commission accredits Excelsior College’s nursing programs. National League for Nursing has 2 times designated Excelsior College’s School of Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. The Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc. accredits college’s baccalaureate degree courses in nuclear engineering technology and electronics engineering. The IACBE (International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education) accredits the institution’s bachelor’s degree programs in business and accounting.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Excelsior College.
Students who wish to gain acceptance to Excelsior College will be glad to know that the process is not a difficult one because virtually every individual can gain acceptance into this institution of higher learning. All an applicant needs to do is to submit an online application form as well as his or her transcripts from all institutions that he or she has attended. A couple of programs at Excelsior College will require applicants to submit minimal additions like a resume or a short essay. Applicants are also required to pay an application fee as well.
Financial Aid
Not everyone can afford the cost of getting a college education; thankfully, students who wish to earn their degrees but think that it is impossible to do so can take advantage of financial aid programs. There are many types of financial assistance offered to students who are enrolled as undergraduates at Excelsior College, there are even financial aid available to the college’s graduate students. In order for students to be considered for many financial aid options, students must fill out and submit the US Department of Education’s FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. With this and a study plan and course approval, students can work with the college’s financial aid advisor in order to come up with the very best options for them.
Please Note: the process may actually take up to a couple of weeks. The college’s advisor will keep students informed of their financial aid application status.
Financial aid programs available at Excelsior College include: Federal Aids, Federal Grants, Federal Loans, Nursing Student & Nursing Faculty Loans, New York State Financial Aid, Private Loan, Excelsior College Scholarship Programs and so on.
Anthony Munroe – Chief Executive Officer of Munroe Management Group, LLC
Charles S Dedrick. Ed. D – Chief Executive Officer of Capital Region BOCES, Albany, NY and 81 District Superintendent
Anthony Saladino – Well known film maker
Edward H. Rensi – Team Rensi Motorsports co-owner
Erik Felmans – Author
James Terrence Karney – Award winning author, photo journalist and photographer.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Aycock – Inducted into the United States Army Special Forces Regimental Hall of Fame, Inducted into the United States Army Office Candidate School of Fame
Retired Chief Warrant Officer, Lawrence K. Rice Jr. – Inducted into the Special Agent United States Army Criminal Investigation Division United States Army Military Police Corps Regimental Hall of Fame and inducted into the Army Intelligence Hall of Fame
Excelsior College
Additional School Information
Disability Services
Excelsior College is an institution that is devoted to the principle that each person is entitled to an equal chance to enroll in the college’s degree program, to sign up for classes or tests so as to demonstrate his or her skills and knowledge under the right conditions and to earn a degree. Excelsior College seeks to guarantee access to the college’s programs by offering reasonable accommodation to students with mental, learning or physical disabilities that is recognized under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) of 1990.
Reasonable accommodation means providing aids or modifying testing, services or a course of study which allows people with disabilities to successfully access them.
Customized Flexibility
Excelsior College offers its students a customized flexibility that sure makes a whole lot of difference. At Excelsior College, they understand that every student has a learning path that is unique to him or her; these paths are what make each student different. They believe that taking alternative routes and rest stops are simply a fact of life which is why Excelsior College’s devoted, nationwide faculty members, and their caring expert staff assist working adults prevail over barriers in order to achieve personal, academic and professional success.
Excelsior is a proven leader in the validation and assessment of student knowledge by simply employing rigorous but flexible and individualized method; they work with each of their students in order to determine how best they can avoid backpedalling on their path to success. With what Excelsior College is offering to its students, it is impossible to complain about not being able to get a college education at a certain age or at a certain stage in one’s life.
Bibliography
Campus Explorer, Inc. ”Excelsior College School Description”. 2011.
Jamie Littlefield. ”Excelsior College Profile”. About.com Guide. 2011.
Excelsior College website. ”About Us”. 2011.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Excelsior College?
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Albany, NY 12203-5159
p. 518-464-8500
w. www.excelsior.edu