Strayer began operation in 1892 as Strayer's Business College of Baltimore City. It was named after the school's founder, Dr. S. Irving Strayer. In 1904 the school expanded to Washington, D. C., and renamed itself Strayer College. In 1969 it began awarding Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees that were not accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations.
In 1981, the school was finally accredited by MSCHE. Six years later t
he District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission authorized it to award Master of Science (MS) degrees. The school languished as a small, for-profit institution in the nation's capital until 1996, when a new corporation, Strayer Education, Inc., was formed to take the institution public. Thereafter, expansion was rapid. The school now has an estimated 31,000 students in its online division (Newington, Virginia) or attending one of 47 satellite campuses in 11 southeastern states and the District of Columbia. In 1998 it was renamed Strayer University.
Despite its rapid growth and a large infusion of investor money, however, the school has problems:
- Its business diplomas (BS, MS, MBA) are not accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Its public administration degree (MPA) is not accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
- The university does not have a library. Instead, it has Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) that share books and other publications.
- Although the school operates primarily in southeastern states, it is not accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Note: according to the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Strayer University is located in Arlington, Virginia--not Washington, D. C. Thus, SACS, not MSCHE, has accrediting authority.
The fastest-growing division at Strayer is its online division. It continues to attract large numbers of students who do not wish to attend actual classes and who prefer open-book exams. If such academic policies appeal to you, Strayer would be a good choice; otherwise, keep looking.
Comment Preview