The American intercontinental university [AIU] is a higher educational institution offering associate bachelor’s and master’s degrees. This institution is owned by the profit-making Career Education Corporation. This institution was established in 1970 and is located in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. Some of the degrees offered by the AIU online program include bachelors and master’s in marketing, criminal justice, and education among others. Enrollment to AIU online is open was by; all those who apply are admitted based on their academic qualifications. Within this institution, all students are given equal opportunities and optimum fairness is practiced in the process of admission.
Based on the discussion, student satisfaction should be the main objective of the AIU; which can be achieved through several strategies like increasing the number of degree programs offered by the institution. By so doing, this will meet the increasing demand for higher education and also ensure adequate vacancies to meet students’ choices. A wide diversity of online degree programs by AIU; will also ensure the admission of students adequately across the globe. Being an international institution; the AIU is bound by an unlimited demand of degree programs in different areas, thus the need for its expansion (Braxton et.al. 1997).
Integrity in the university operations is very essential to students’ satisfaction in various aspects like enrolment, grading of graduates, good control and also the monitoring of learning. There has been an allegation of misrepresentation of programs and classes especially by the Los -Angeles campus; which included the admission of students who never graduated from high school or who never attended school. This misconduct by the university leads to the loss of the trust put on the institution by students; thus leading to a diminishing students’ level of satisfaction. Misconducts of this nature taint the university’s image and lead to the lack of realization of goals and objectives, leading to the offering of low-quality education thus failing to meet its client’s needs (Braxton et.al. 1997).
Widening of the online campuses can be very helpful; from which the application of advanced technology would increase the students’ enrollment. Online campuses promote distance learning and also increase efficiency in resources use. With online enrollment and learning, economies of scale are applicable since only a few tutors are required to serve a wide range of students. Online campuses are much accessible thus helping to meet the global demand and breaking global boundaries (Braxton et.al. 1997).
The AIU online should set new standards and measures to guide its operations. Their Criteria on admissions should be revised and keenly adopted to ensure they abide by international standards. The current openness to admissions should be well checked and monitored; since it creates loopholes to the admission of unqualified students. The setting of standards ensures easy control and fairness in the giving of vacancies since only those who are qualified are given admission opportunities in the university (Braxton et.al. 1997).
For the AIU to achieve optimality in both productions of graduates and student online satisfaction; the implementation of the above-highlighted ideas and strategies will be very essential. New management is very crucial as well the training of the current management; to meet the global demands for education. The implementation of these ideas by the AIU will require a combined effort by the career educational corporation (NASDAQ: CECO); which is the owner of the AIU, the government, and financial institutions to ensure required resources are mobilized. The implementation of these ideas will also require the setting of targets, which will be achieved in phases (Braxton et.al. 1997).
After keenly following the role played by the AIU online in the global education sector it will be recognized that; the role of the AIU online programs are inevitable to the global society. Nevertheless, the above-highlighted areas of concern must be addressed by the AIU to help realize its objectives.
Reference list
Braxton, J., Shaw Sullivan, A. V., & Johnson, Jr., R. M. (1997). Appraising Tinto’s theory of College student departure. In J. C. Smart (Ed.), Higher education: Handbook Of Theory and research, Vol. 12. New York: Agathon Press.
Brown, J., & Kayser, T. (1982). The Transition of Special Needs Learners into Post Secondary Vocational Education. St. Paul: University of Minnesota.
Iverson, K. (1995). The Telecourse Success Prediction Inventory. Chicago, IL: Loyola University.
Kember, D. (1995). Opening learning courses for adults: A model of student Progress. Englewood Cliffs, NJ; Education Technology Publications.