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GENERAL INFORMATIONGENERAL INFORMATIONMISSIONHISTORYStratford University is a private institution of higher learning with a diverse student body that includes recent high school graduates, workingprofessionals, international students, and persons desiring to change their career fields. The mission of Stratford University is to preparestudents for rewarding careers through quality educational programs that meet the changing needs of employers and the community. In orderto meet this mission, the University offers a variety of certificate, diploma, associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate programs in emerging and highemployment demand fields. To meet the needs of a diverse community of learners, the University provides education that balances technical,professional, and critical thinking components. In pursuit of this mission, the University seeks to ensure that:Richard Shurtz Sr. established American Transportation Institute (ATI) in 1976. ATI offered certificate programs in the transportation industry.The programs included training for travel agents, hotel and restaurant management, and bartenders. The single Falls Church campus featuredan on-site travel agency which worked with airline and railroad travel. Dr. Richard Shurtz, II and Mary Ann Shurtz took over the company in1986. ATI became Stratford College in 1998 and began offering associate’s degree programs in culinary arts and information technology. Dr.Shurtz named the college after Stratford-upon-Avon and his love of literature and travel. In 2001, Stratford College began offering master’sdegrees and became Stratford University. The University is dedicated to changing with the times to provide its students with education in highdemand industries. Student’s career goals are met by matching students with appropriate programs of study A quality learning experience by employing faculty committed to learning and who demonstrateexcellent teaching skills Relevant curricula through input from the governing board, advisory boards, and graduates Student success through a comprehensive support program including financial planning, academicassistance, and other student servicesINSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHYThe face and climate of today’s business world is changing rapidly. Economic growth and the constantly changing needs of modern industriescan provide exciting and challenging opportunities for qualified graduates. Stratford University is at the forefront of these changes andis dedicated to assisting graduates with employment in the evolving job market. The University’s innovative approach to education helpsgraduates gain the skills and self-confidence needed to be successful.Stratford University seeks to maximize the personal and academic growth of students while providing relevant skills and knowledge leading tosatisfying careers. The University is able to achieve these goals through carefully-planned academic programs and career advising, includingtimely curriculum revisions, hands-on learning experiences in appropriate undergraduate courses, and individualized assistance.Instructional Focus: Programs are directed toward specific instructional goals coupled with small class size. All curricula, presentations,supportive reference materials, and student-teacher interactions are collectively driven by this strategyPUBLIC SERIVCEStratford University understands that community service contributes to its mission. To this end, the University maintains effective andcontinuous community relations. The University is involved in activities at the national, regional, and local levels. The program representativesare continually developing relationships with various persons and organizations. The University strives to provide and support organizationsfor the homeless, veterans, and women in need.ACCREDITATIONStratford University is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award certificate, diploma,associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. ACICS is listed as a nationally recognized accreditation agency by the U.S. Department ofEducation and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a national advocate and institutional voice for selfregulation of academic quality through accreditation. CHEA is an association of 3,000 degree granting colleges and universities and recognizes60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.Stratford University is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to operate campuses in Virginia. Communication: Effective use of communication reinforces the instructionalmessage. Creative seating arrangements and small group projects are used toencourage student to student and student to faculty interaction. Programs arestructured to cultivate an environment of teamwork.The undergraduate and graduate programs are approved for federal student financial aid by the U.S. Department of Education. The Universityhas the authority to issue I-20s by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for F-1 visas. This institution is approved to offer GI Bill educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency. The Virginia and the District of Columbia Rehabilitation Services approve manyprograms. Self-Discovery: Hands-on learning using actual equipment is essential to theUniversity’s instructional methodology. The University recognizes hands-onlearning as a key to long-term retention of information. In the final analysis, theUniversity combines sound instructional technology with an insight into thecareer market to produce a valuable and unique educational experience.The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has approved Stratford University to operate a campus in Baltimore, Maryland. StratfordUniversity carefully monitors developments in Maryland state law and acts promptly to meet all requirements.The Virginia Board of Nursing provisionally approves the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to accept students. Students are eligible tosit for the NCLEX-RN examination after graduating from the program. The baccalaureate program at Stratford University is accredited by theCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredits the Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting program at someof the Virginia campuses. ABHES is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education for the accreditation of private, postsecondaryPage 6Page 7

GENERAL INFORMATIONGENERAL INFORMATIONinstitutions in the United States. ABHES is located at 7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314N, Falls Church, VA 22043, (703) 917-9503, www.abhes.org.deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC) accredits the Associate of Applied Science inAdvanced Culinary Arts and the Associate of Applied Science in Baking and Pastry Arts programs at some campuses. ACFEFAC is located at180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095, (904) 824-4468, www.acfchefs.org.1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed ordiscontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete achosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.As a result of ACICS Council action on April 4, 2017, the Stratford University doctoral programs have been placed on permanent moratorium.ACICS will no longer accept applications for any of its accredited institutions to offer doctoral programs. Therefore, Stratford University’sexisting doctoral programs will be taught out by December 31, 2019. This includes Stratford University’s certificate programs which will nolonger issue any academic credit towards existing doctoral programs or any other programs. Current Stratford students with questions orconcerns are invited to contact compliance@stratford.edu.STATE AUTHORIZATIONOn October 17, 2014, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) approved Virginia as a member state to participate in National Council forState Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), and on February 25, 2015, Stratford University became an institutional participant inthe NC-SARA initiative.With this membership, Stratford University programs were automatically available to students who reside in the 49 participating states andWashington, D.C. Only California has not yet joined the NC-SARA initiative. Therefore, students located in SARA states are authorized to enrollin any online or face-to-face Stratford University

in any online or face-to-face Stratford University programs and courses. California: In July 2017, the Bureau began requiring for-profit institutions, regardless of physical presence, to register with the BPPE and collect Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) assessments from students. Stratford University completed registration with the CA BPPE on