National American University (NAU) is a
private for-profit online university with locations at
Ellsworth Air Force Base and
Naval Submarine Base King's Bay. It is owned by National American University Holdings, Inc. (NAUH). In 2018, NAU acquired the assets of
Henley-Putnam University and now offers strategic security programs. Most of NAU's academic programs are on the 11-week
quarter system
An academic quarter refers to the division of an academic year into four parts.
Historical context
The modern academic quarter calendar can be traced to the historic English law court / legal training pupillage four term system:
* Hilary: Ja ...
and have monthly starts. The school is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
.
History
Originally called "National School of Business" in 1941, National American University changed its name to National College of Business, then National College, before adopting its current name.
[
]
In 1996 National American University began developing
online courses and degree options for students across the United States and internationally. Online programs include associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting, business, information technology, strategic security, and health care. Students are also provided access to classes and extensive campus resources including learning resource center services, tutoring services, counseling services, and computer support through a student portal.
In 2012, 53% of NAU's students were studying online, with an additional 17% taking some classes online.
In 2018, 77% of NAU's students were studying online, with an additional 12% taking some classes online.
Financial issues and retrenchment
In 2018, NAUH mortgaged real property to secure an $8 million loan which was subsequently paid in full. Campus closings were planned as NAU transitioned to an online university and the NAUH agreed to voluntarily delist from the NASDAQ.
The following year, NAUH announced that "the Company had $0.5 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and a working capital deficiency of $8.7 million. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern."
On February 15, 2019, NAUH announced Thomas Bickart as their new
Chief Financial Officer. Bickart was CFO at
TCI College of Technology from 2013 to 2016 and later worked at
EdisonLearning
EdisonLearning Inc., formerly known as Edison Schools Inc., is a for- profit education management organization for public schools in the United States and the United Kingdom. Edison is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
School districts hire t ...
, Inc. to restructure its operations. In March, the university announced that most of its 24 ground campuses would be closed, except for
Ellsworth Air Force Base and
King's Bay Naval Submarine Base.
On April 15, 2019, National American University reported that they must post a letter of credit for either 50% ($36.7 million) or 15% ($11 million) of its
Title IV
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) covers the administration of the United States federal student financial aid programs.
American colleges and universities are generally classified with regard to their inclusion under Title IV, ...
awards to continue participating in the program.
It faced further pressure with an $800,000 debt payment due the following month and an ongoing federal False Claims lawsuit.
NAU's students were surprised that the campuses were closing.
National American University received $1,453,446 under the first round of the 2020
CARES Act
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, is a $2.2trillion Stimulus (economics), economic stimulus bill passed by the 116th U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27, ...
, $390,269 under the second round of the Covid Relief Bill, and $207,146 under the 2021
American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package or American Rescue Plan, is a economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to s ...
.
In October 2021, Minnesota Office Plaza filed a lawsuit against NAUH, claiming that NAUH hid assets to avoid paying $2.3 million in back and future rent.
In January 2022, NAUH reported $8.2 million in assets, $15.9 million in liabilities, and less than $400,000 in cash. The school is currently on
Heightened Cash Monitoring
Higher education in the United States is an optional stage of formal learning following secondary education. Higher education is also referred as post-secondary education, third-stage, third-level, or tertiary education. It covers stages 5 to ...
by the US Department of Education. A class action lawsuit by 43 former students is also pending. In April 2022, NAUH reported less than $50,000 in cash.
Academics
Programs
National American University is organized into four academic divisions:
* College of Undergraduate Studies
* Henley-Putnam School of Strategic Security
* Harold D. Buckingham Graduate School
* College of Legal Studies
National American University offers Bachelor of Science degrees, Associate of Applied Science degrees, and diplomas in
accounting, management,
business administration, allied health,
criminal justice
Criminal justice is the delivery of justice to those who have been accused of committing crimes. The criminal justice system is a series of government agencies and institutions. Goals include the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other ...
, healthcare management, health and beauty management, and
information technology
Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of Data (computing), data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information te ...
. In August 2008, NAU's graduate studies program was renamed the Harold D. Buckingham Graduate School, in honor of the late owner. Graduate degree programs include an
M.B.A.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as account ...
, a Master of Management degree, a Doctor of Education (EdD), and Master and Doctoral degrees in Strategic Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies, and Intelligence Management.
Faculty
According to the College Navigator, National American University has 1 full-time instructor and 249 part-time instructors.
Enrollment
Total student enrollment has declined from 9,519 students in 2015 to 3,398 students in February 2019.
In March 2019, National American University announced that it was closing most of its remaining 24 physical locations, including campuses in Rapid City
and Sioux Falls.
and is now an online university. The
College Navigator College Navigator is a consumer tool created by the US Department of Education and its National Center for Education Statistics so that people can evaluate US colleges that receive Title IV funds. College Navigator includes institutional data on pr ...
reports NAU's total enrollment at 1,610 students.
Student outcomes
According to the College Scorecard, NAU's Rapid City campus has a 16 percent graduation rate. Salary after completing ranges from $25,484 (AA in health and administrative medical services) to $56,163 (BSN). Two years after completion, student loan debt borrowers were 31% in forbearance, 26% not making progress, 17% defaulted, 9% in deferment, 8% delinquent, 5% making progress, 2% discharged, and 1% paid in full.
Accreditation
NAU is regionally accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
. Several NAU programs are separately accredited by multiple national, educational and professional associations.
Locations
Remaining locations
*Online (1,440 students)
*Georgia
*Kings Bay Naval Base (40 students)
*South Dakota
*Ellsworth Air Force Base (118 students)
Closed campuses
Colorado
*Centennial (Denver Metro)
*Colorado Springs (North)
*Colorado Springs (South)
Indiana
*Indianapolis
Kansas
*Garden City
*Overland Park
*Wichita (East)
*Wichita (West)
Minnesota
*Bloomington
*Brooklyn Center
*Burnsville
*Rochester
*Roseville
Missouri
*Independence
*Lee's Summit
*Zona Rosa (Kansas City)
Nebraska
*Bellevue
New Mexico
*Albuquerque (East)
*Albuquerque (West)
Oklahoma
*Tulsa
South Carolina
*Charleston (Joint Base Charleston)
South Dakota
*Rapid City
*Sioux Falls
*Watertown
Texas
*Austin
*Georgetown
*Houston
*Killeen
*Lewisville
*Mesquite
*Richardson
National American University Holdings, Inc.
National American University Holdings, Inc., was a publicly traded corporation (NASDAQ: NAUH) holding company for NAU and other assets. The corporation is located in Rapid City, South Dakota. National American University Holdings, Inc. is now an "Over The Counter" traded company listed on the OTCQB since January 2019.
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
For-profit universities and colleges in the United States
Private universities and colleges in Colorado
Universities and colleges in Denver
Education in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Private universities and colleges in New Mexico
Education in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Private universities and colleges in Minnesota
Universities and colleges in Bloomington, Minnesota
Universities and colleges in Hennepin County, Minnesota
Universities and colleges in Ramsey County, Minnesota
Private universities and colleges in Kansas
Educational institutions established in 1941
Education in Wichita, Kansas
Private universities and colleges in South Dakota
Education in Rapid City, South Dakota
Education in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Education in Meade County, South Dakota
Education in Codington County, South Dakota
Private universities and colleges in Texas
Universities and colleges in Austin, Texas
Education in Overland Park, Kansas
Education in Sandoval County, New Mexico
Education in St. Charles County, Missouri
Private universities and colleges in Missouri
1941 establishments in the United States