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Stratford University

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Coordinates:38°54′26.53″N77°12′52.13″W/ 38.9073694°N 77.2144806°W/38.9073694; -77.2144806(Stratford University Main Campus)
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Stratford University
Stratford Seal
MottoScientia est potentia
Motto in English
Knowledge is power
TypePrivate university
Active1976;48 years ago(1976)–December 18, 2022(2022-12-18)
PresidentRichard R. Shurtz II.[1]
Total staff
56 full-time, 140 part-time
Undergraduates1,240
Postgraduates137
Location
US:Alexandria, Virginia,Woodbridge, Virginia,Baltimore, Maryland
India:New Delhi,India[2]
CampusUrban campuses
ColorsBlue & silver
MascotCardinal
Websitewww.stratford.edu
Stratford University is located in Northern Virginia
Stratford University
Location in Northern Virginia
Stratford University is located in Virginia
Stratford University
Stratford University (Virginia)
Stratford University is located in the United States
Stratford University
Stratford University (the United States)

Stratford Universitywas aprivate universitybased in Virginia. Founded in 1976, Stratford deliveredonline,classroom,andblended online/classroomprograms.[3]It closed at the end of the Fall 2022 semester after losing itsaccreditation.[4][5]

Stratford University had two campuses inVirginia(Alexandriaand[6]Woodbridge),[7]a campus inBaltimore,Maryland,[8][9]and a campus inNew Delhi,India.[10]The majority of the student body was non-traditional and worked full-time while attending school. Stratford'sinternational studentbody represented over thirty countries.[11]Approximately 20 percent of the student body was international and 20 percent was military.

The Stratford campus in India was a joint venture with theModi Group,created to offer residential American degrees in India. The legal name of the Indian joint venture is Modi Stratford Education Management (MSEM), Pvt. Ltd. The Modi Stratford Foundation, a wholly owned non-profit subsidiary of MSEM, delivered the academic programs in India as an overseas campus of Stratford University.[12]

History

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Stratford University signed a letter of intent for an affiliation withBaltimore International College(BIC) on August 12, 2011.[13]The university received approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission and Baltimore officially became an additional location of Stratford University on December 1, 2011.[8]

Stratford University signed a memorandum of understanding withSojourner-Douglass College(SDC) on April 2, 2015.[14]The memorandum outlined which SDC programs would transition to Stratford after June 30, 2015, the date that SDC would lose its accreditation. This location was renamed theSojourner-Douglass Center at Stratford University.

Stratford University received the Virginia V3 Perseverando Award for both 2015 and 2016. The awards were presented to Stratford by Virginia GovernorTerry McAuliffeof at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Workforce Conference in Richmond.[15][16][17][18]

In 2016, U.S. Secretary of CommercePenny Pritzkerpresented Stratford University with thePresident’s "E" Award for Exports.It is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. The 'E' Awards noted Stratford University's dedication to providing quality education to students around the world, particularly its investment in language training programs.[19][20][21]

In 2019, Stratford announced that it would be closing three of its campuses in Virginia, including campuses inNewport NewsandVirginia Beach.[22]Noting Stratford's problems with its accreditor, TheCenter for Immigration Studieslabeled the school as a "marginal university."[23]

In 2020, Stratford's accreditor, theAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools,was investigating the school for allegedly operating an unapproved program inIrbil, Iraq.[24]

In 2022, theUnited States Department of Educationdecertified Stratford's accreditor, causing the university to announce that it would cease operations following the end of the Fall 2022 term.[4]The following year, Stratford University filed forChapter 7 bankruptcy.[25]

Two years after its closure, in 2024,USA Todayreported that a mysterious online presence for Stratford University was created, likely indicating that someone was using its name to perpetuate a scam.[26]

Academics

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Stratford University building inFalls Church, Virginia
A Stratford University building in Baltimore, seen in 2012

Stratford awardedgraduateandundergraduatedegrees. Online, residential, and blended programs were available. All online and blended courses used the Stratford onlineMoodleplatform hosted in Stratford's data center.[27]

Stratford had established programs to help US military and former-US military personnel complete their education and was recognized by the Veterans Administration as a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program.[28] Stratford offered non-credit continuing education and professional development courses likeEvent Management Certificate Program,Culinary Workshopsand Certification Courses includingOracle,MSCE,.Net Framework,Cisco,Linux,andcomputer security-related topics for students and IT professionals.

Stratford's Language Institute offered an academic English as Second Language (ESL) program to help international students enter a degree program.[29]

Rankings

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Washington Monthly's 2020 rankings placed Stratford number 605 out of 614 masters-level universities in social mobility.[30]

Accreditation and affiliations

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Stratford University wasaccreditedby theAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools(ACICS) to award degrees through the master's level.[31]It was exempt from requirements of oversight to grant Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degrees byState Council of Higher Education for Virginia(SCHEV).[32]

Stratford's nursing program was approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing[33]and accredited by theCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education.[34]The university's medical assisting program was accredited by theAccrediting Bureau of Health Education Schoolsand its Language Institute was accredited by theCommission on English Language Program Accreditation.

Stratford's culinary programs were accredited by theAmerican Culinary Federation(ACF).[35] Stratford was a member of theInternational Association of Culinary Professionals.[36]

References

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  1. ^"Leadership Profile: Transformer-in-Chief"(PDF).Career Education Review. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-05-27.Retrieved2012-06-04.
  2. ^"The school is closing three campuses in Virginia".nbc12.com. 9 May 2019.RetrievedMay 9,2019.
  3. ^"Stratford University 2010-11 Catalog"(PDF).Retrieved2010-03-24.
  4. ^ab"Va.-based Stratford University to close down".WTOP News.2022-09-26.Retrieved2022-09-26.
  5. ^David, Halperin."For-Profit Stratford University Suddenly Shuts Down".Republic Report.Retrieved27 September2022.
  6. ^"Stratford University to open Alexandria campus".Retrieved2014-03-03.
  7. ^"Stratford University opens Woodbridge campus".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-08-09.Retrieved2010-03-15.
  8. ^ab"Baltimore International College set to hand control to Va.-based Stratford".The Baltimore Sun.29 December 2011.RetrievedDecember 29,2011.
  9. ^"Culinary School Stratford Cooks Up Big Plans for Baltimore".BmoreMedia.Retrieved2012-06-19.
  10. ^"Stratford University to set up campus in India".14 October 2009.Retrieved2010-03-15.
  11. ^"Stratford University International Student Booklet"(PDF).Retrieved2010-03-22.
  12. ^"Stratford University New Delhi Campus (MAII)".
  13. ^Childs Walker (14 August 2011)."Baltimore International College to merge with Stratford University".The Baltimore Sun.RetrievedAugust 14,2011.
  14. ^Joe Burris."Financially plagued Sojourner-Douglass may become part of Stratford University".The Baltimore Sun.RetrievedApril 2,2015.
  15. ^"Governor McAuliffe Celebrates Success of Virginia Values Veterans Program".Retrieved2018-04-11.
  16. ^"Governor McAuliffe Announces over 18,000 Veterans Hired Through the Virginia Values Veterans Program".Retrieved2018-04-11.
  17. ^"Stratford University Wins the Perseverando Award".Retrieved2018-04-11.
  18. ^"Stratford University Wins the Perseverando Award 2016 Again".Retrieved2018-04-11.
  19. ^"Stratford University Receives Presidential Award for Export Success".
  20. ^"U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Honors U.S. Companies with Presidential Award for Export Achievements".16 May 2016.
  21. ^"Stratford University Receives Presidential Award For Export Successes".
  22. ^Gilligan, Gregory (10 May 2019)."Stratford University shutting down three Virginia campuses including one in western Henrico".richmond.com.Retrieved13 March2021.
  23. ^North, David (30 May 2019)."Two Marginal Universities (Both Majoring in F-1 Foreign Students) Are in Trouble".cis.org.Center for Immigration Studies.Retrieved12 December2021.
  24. ^MacFarlane, Scott; West, Willard (28 February 2020)."Stratford University at Risk of Losing Accreditation".www.nbcwashington.com.Retrieved13 March2021.
  25. ^"Stratford University files for bankruptcy, president, vice president listed as biggest creditors".WTOP.March 1, 2023.RetrievedMarch 1,2023.
  26. ^Quintana, Chris (May 9, 2024)."Zombie colleges? These universities are living another life online, and no one can say why".USA Today.RetrievedMay 17,2024.
  27. ^"Stratford University Online Programs".Retrieved24 May2010.
  28. ^"Veterans Administration Yellow Ribbon Institutions in Virginia".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-24.Retrieved2010-03-23.
  29. ^"Stratford Language Institute Homepage".Retrieved2 July2010.
  30. ^"2020 Master's University Rankings".washingtonmonthly.com.Washington Monthly.Retrieved11 July2021.
  31. ^"ACICS Member Directory".Retrieved2020-09-22.
  32. ^"Private Institutions exempt from certification".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-10-03.Retrieved2011-11-23.
  33. ^"VBON Programs Preparing for Registered Nurse Licensure".Retrieved2010-03-22.
  34. ^"CCNE-Accredited Baccalaureate Nursing Degree Programs in Virginia".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-12-11.Retrieved2012-06-13.
  35. ^"ACF Accredited Postsecondary Programs in Virginia".Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2010.Retrieved2010-03-22.
  36. ^"Stratford Accreditation and Affiliations".Retrieved2010-03-23.
[edit]

38°54′26.53″N77°12′52.13″W/ 38.9073694°N 77.2144806°W/38.9073694; -77.2144806(Stratford University Main Campus)

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