Published December 2006

University of Phoenix
rolls out Axia
New college focuses services on recent
high school grads, those new to higher education

Snohomish County Business Journal/JOHN WOLCOTT The University of Phoenix, known for its online programs, also operates campuses, including this site in Mountlake Terrace.

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

The University of Phoenix, the nation’s largest accredited private university, has some surprises for those who think it’s only an online education program or that it’s only interested in older, working adults who have time only for evening, Web-based programs.

While the university’s virtual online campus is the focal point for earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, there also are real campuses. The Phoenix site in Mountlake Terrace, adjacent to I-5, is one of four in the Puget Sound area, along with Bellevue, Renton and Tacoma.

While older students may make up most of the school’s enrollment nationally, the university has just launched a new venture — Axia College — to focus on high school students and those who are new to higher education.

The college provides a unique online associate’s degree program that has been developed over several decades of research and planning. Now, Axia College is available for Washington residents.

Student stories Typically, University of Phoenix students come from a variety of careers and education backgrounds. Here is a sampling of recent graduates of the online university who also attended some classes at the school’s Mountlake Terrace campus. n A 34-year-old Dutch woman who relocated to Seattle for her husband’s career with Microsoft earned her MBA over a four-year period and now plans to start her own consulting firm or to serve an arts organization full time. n One 27-year-old woman, who initially went to college to inspire her younger brother to continue his education, found that when she enrolled at the University of Phoenix to get her bachelor’s degree, she formed a friendship with one of her classmates. They supported and inspired each other, making a pact to continue to earn their MBAs together. For the past eight years, she has worked in a marketing capacity for architectural and engineering firms. n Another student, despite a decade of professional experience under his belt in procurement, found the threat of a layoff made him come to grips with the need for a college degree to stay competitive and ensure his job stability. Once active in the U.S. Air Force and the Army, the 36-year-old veteran was the first of four siblings to graduate from high school and, last June, earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. He said that being a good role model for his children helped to keep him focused on his long-term goals.

Axia College provides support and a special curriculum designed to provide students with the skills they need to achieve success in college and after school. Axia offers six associate’s degrees in areas such as accounting, business, criminal justice, health administration and information technology. Students also can pursue a degree in general studies.

To ensure steady progress toward graduation, Axia College students take two nine-week classes at a time, and the demands of each class are coordinated to maximize student success. Faculty members are aware of the workload students are experiencing in other courses. Content also is managed so that during a given week, one class will emphasize reading and discussion while the other focuses on completing a work project.

A hallmark of University of Phoenix programs has been unparalleled student support. Through Axia College, that same attention to student success is being put into practice. University leaders recognize that students with little college experience, and those entering as first-generation college students, benefit from more guidance, academic counseling and a learning model specifically designed to meet their needs.

“Axia College takes time to understand students’ individual needs and works with them to design a plan to meet those needs,” said Mark Alexander, dean of Axia College. “An Axia College education focuses on building blocks: writing, critical thinking and information utilization. Our experience has shown that helping students acquire these essential proficiencies is the best way to help them succeed in their first two years of college and beyond.”

All Axia College courses are online, where students have the opportunity to interact with their faculty members, fellow students, and timely and interactive curriculum resources. Axia College’s online format is critical to engaging students in the learning process, and students do more than just absorb information, Alexander said. The challenging curriculum requires them to debate and share their ideas with other motivated learners.

“The open, inclusive online format at Axia provides a dynamic social environment that encourages student participation and engagement in which increasing numbers of students are known to thrive,” he said.

Every student who enrolls at Axia College is assigned a team of counselors to assist them with everything from financial aid to academic issues. The counselor support model at Axia College also includes ongoing proactive outreach to students, which is key to academic persistence for new college students.

Additionally, Axia College students have access to their faculty members 20 hours per week, the equivalent of 180 hours per course. These extended office hours provide students with the additional contact time they may need as they progress through their initial entry into higher education.

Upon successful completion of the associate degree, Axia College graduates can transition to one of University of Phoenix’s 180 local campuses, including the one in Mountlake Terrace, or sign-up to continue in the online bachelor’s degree programs. So far, more than 90 percent of Axia College students plan to complete their bachelor’s degrees, according to a 2005 student survey.

The University of Phoenix, now 30 years old, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. In May 2006, there were more than 323,000 students involved in University of Phoenix programs.

As for the campus environment vs. the online environment, Regional Director Alexis Lim said, “We provide the same services online and in the classroom environment. … While some schools dabble online, we provide full-service classes as well as counseling and support.”

The Axia College program has been launched in Washington state, she said, because the anticipated growth in high school graduate numbers is at an all-time high, both nationally and locally, and is expected to peak in 2008.

“We’re seeing that need and offering an opportunity to gain experience toward a degree and in learning how to learn in a college environment,” Lim said. “For those who need to work and go to school, the Axia programs will meet those needs. Our faculty is geared toward helping students be effective, and they’re available to our students.”

The online environment, she said, gives students an opportunity to make a useful contribution to the class, even though all the students are not in the classroom at the same time.

“There’s a feeling of equal opportunity to participate that sometimes gets lost in the regular classroom,” she said.

Lani Rodica, who has been the Learning Center manager at the Mountlake Terrace campus since it opened nearly seven years ago, said many students also want some physical experience with the university and other students.

“Many of them attend the first few classes, then come only as they need to for supplementing their online studies. Then, at the end of the class, many come back for a campus meeting with everyone. It’s always optional, but it’s a real help to many students,” she said.

The benefits of the Axia programs, Lim said, are based on studies that have found that 75 percent of the university’s students who want to earn an associate degree also want to complete a four-year degree.

“Normally, it takes about six years, on average, to get an associate degree for students who are also working full-time but have to attend classes on a campus. With the online Axia programs, students can complete an associate degree in 20 months and go on to their B.A. degree. The advantage is the flexibility of the online program, having faculty and advisers available, resources for financial aid and the whole online community they can access,” she said.

“Coming to one of our campuses enables students to add the physical, high-touch element to their education as well, so it’s not all online,” she added. “Also, our programs emphasize not only the coursework but also learning thought processes, study habits and the building blocks that make good students.”

The Mountlake Terrace campus of the University of Phoenix is at 6100 219th St. SW. For more information, call 206-268-5811 or go online to www.universityofphoenix.com.