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American Public University System
Introduction
The American Public University System (APUS) is an online learning institution offering associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees from American Military University and American Public University.
In 1991, American Military University was formed by Major James P. Etter to educate military members and veterans. At first, the university mostly taught classes such as military intelligence and terrorist combat at the graduate level. Classes for undergraduates began in 1996. In 1998 the school went to a completely online format. In 2002 it was renamed American Public University System. In the years since, APUS has won several awards for the quality of education offered.
Unlike most colleges and universities, APUS is a for-profit institution. It is owned by the publicly traded company American Public Education, Inc. APUS administrative offices are located in Manassas, Virginia, while the academic offices are in Charles Town, West Virginia. APUS is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. There are currently over 83,000 students enrolled.
American Public University System
Academics
Today, APUS offers over 130 degree and certificate programs in seven schools: School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business, School of Education, School of Management, School of Public Safety and Health, School of Security and Global Technologies, and School of Science and Technology. The most popular degree programs are:
• Associate Degree in General Studies
• Homeland Security
• Criminal Justice
• Management
• Strategic Intelligence
• Information Technology Management
• Sports and Health Management
• Business Administration
• Intelligence Studies
• Psychology
Managing Academics Online
The APUS course system works best for students who are self-directed and can reasonably complete their course requirements within the set time frames.
Although students have the flexibility to complete their classwork when and how they are able throughout the term, they are expected to log in during the first week of class, check in with their professors, and participate in class discussions. At minimum, students should communicate with their professors on a weekly basis. Professors are expected to respond to student emails within 72 hours. APUS also encourages students to “buddy-up” and work with a fellow student on coursework—in person when possible, and online when not.
Professors post their syllabi online before courses begin. Students and prospective students may review the syllabi to ensure that each course is a good fit and to plan their work for the term. Nonregistered students must submit their reasons for wishing to see syllabi in order to receive them.
APUS protects and seeks to improve their academic standards and relevancy by asking students to complete confidential online class critiques after every term. Students who do not do well their first term at APUS may receive an academic warning; this warning serves as a notice to the students to raise their grade point averages (GPA) above a 2.0 during the next term to avoid academic probation.
Library Resources
The online library at APUS contains millions of resources for student use, including training in web-based information literacy skills, monthly news about library resources, a tutorial department, article and subject databases, and manuscript repositories. APUS makes strong use of interlibrary loan programs as well, and will do their best to provide students with the resources they need to perform their classroom work and research, no matter how remotely the students are located. The library tutorial center also offers collections of particularly well-written student papers to serve as examples of well-done research as well as plagiarism checkers.
The library also maintains department study portals, a joint project of the library and the faculty. These portals are a shortcut to reliable and trustworthy resources for research in each department.
Exams
Many, although not all, of the exams administered through APUS classes are proctored. Before a proctored exam, the professor will mail a password to the proctor. The proctor will then monitor the exam process in person as the student takes it online. Students are responsible for helping to identify a suitable proctor. Non-proctored exams can be taken by the student in private.
Appropriate proctors include college or university administrators, faculty members, superintendents, or principals. Other acceptable options include public librarians, school librarians, and military base education officers. Other professionals may be approved by APUS, particularly if none of the aforementioned professionals are available for proctoring. The proctor must have an email address and the ability to provide computer access to the student for up to four hours. If it is not possible to meet these conditions, a proctor may print the exam out for the student to take, monitor the exam, the mail it to the professor. APUS understands that many of their students study and take exams under less-than-ideal conditions, and are open to negotiation concerning conditions for exam-taking.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at American Public University System.
Admissions at APUS are open. The system seeks to provide education for any person, and especially any member of the military, who wishes to pursue it.
Financial Aid
The financial aid office at APUS works with all their students to ensure that their education is affordable. Military students who use the tuition assistance components that are part of their benefits package often end up paying nothing out of pocket at all.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
American Public University System 1119th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best West Virginia scholarships and financial aid
About 85% of the student body at APUS are either active or reserve military personnel. Most are continuing education learners who already work in the profession they are studying. 80% of students are male, while 20% are female. The average age of students is 31 years old. Students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries study through APUS.
Clubs and Organizations
The Office of Student Affairs connects students to different aspects of student life, including social networks, personal development, and student clubs and organizations. Those clubs and organizations include the Student Veterans of American (SVA), the Society of Human Resources Management, the International Association of Emergency Managers, and more. There are several academic honor societies at APUS. Such as Alpha Phi Sigma, Delta Epsilon Tau, Epsilon Pi Phi, Golden Key, Pi Gamma Mu, and Sigma Iota Rho.
Communications
The APUS Student Lounge is a website of both private and open discussion forums. Students, alumni, faculty, and staff have personal, professional, and academic conversations in the Student Lounge.
The student newsletter is published quarterly. It is full of university news and events, including art exhibitions, career fairs and opportunities, and alumni events.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at American Public University System?
Several distinguished members of the military have attended APUS. United States Air Force officer Nicole Malachowski is a graduate of APUS. She was the first woman pilot chosen to fly in the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, aka the Thunderbirds.
Faculty
Noted faculty who teach through APUS include co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp Alan Hale, geologist and former astronaut James F. Reilly, and Fox News contributor Dani Babb.
American Public University System
Additional School Information
Professional Development
The Careers Services office fosters relationships with employers to help connect students with the careers where their educations will be put to best use. They provide career planning counseling, networking opportunities to current students and alumni. The career services office also offers resumé review service, helping students to fine-tune their resumés to best highlight their strengths and experiences and target the careers they want. They feature the Vault Career Library and Focus-2, an interactive online program to help students choose an education plan and career path.
The school holds regular career fairs, both on location and online, helping students, alumni, and prospective employers begin their relationships. The Employer Partnership Program takes these relationships one step further, matching qualified students with mentors and internship supervisors who can guide them into employment that best suits them. As befits an online educational program, APUS networks communities of peers through university-affiliated groups on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites.
Honor Code
The system of education at APUS depends upon student integrity. Both students and faculty members are required to sign and uphold an honor code which entails accepting responsibility for actions, practicing and promoting academic integrity, showing consideration and respect for all persons, and upholding the APUS policies.
Solicitation from students is prohibited by APUS; this means you cannot sell goods or services to your professors, administration, or fellow students (not even Girl Scout cookies!) The only exceptions are informational documents about activities or charitable causes.
Most of the terms of the honor code are fairly commonsense and similar to what would be found on any other college or university campus, with one possible exception: the use of obscenities is not allowed in any classroom, online discussion, or other contact with university faculty and staff—not even in the online student lounge.
Students may choose to keep their contact information private—a sometimes necessary condition for active members of the military. Any student in this position should request a directory information block. Other students and faculty must respect requests for discretion.
Bibliography
Classroom. Student Handbook. American Public University System. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.
Fiske, Edward B. Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. Chicago: Sourcebooks, 2010. Print.
Pope, Loren. Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That’s Right for You. New York: Penguin. 2007. Print.
Tips . Student Handbook. American Public University System. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Charles Town, WV 25414
Surrounding community
Distant town (between 10 to 35 mi. away from an urban cluster)
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Charles Town, WV 25414
p. 877-468-6268
w. www.apus.edu