Rasmussen University

Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college ^[1] dedicated to changing lives and the communities it serves through high-demand and flexible educational programs. Rasmussen College offers Certificate and Diploma programs through Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs online and across its 22 campuses in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Rasmussen College is a pioneer in online education and is helping lead advancements in innovations such as competency-based education and comprehensive student support services that help working adults advance their careers. Rasmussen College was founded in 1900, and is headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota.^[3][4]

History

Green Bay, Wisconsin campus

The College was founded in 1900 by Walter Rasmussen as Rasmussen Practical School of Business. The first campus, located in Stillwater, Minnesota, opened its doors in September, 1900.^[6][7] Rasmussen believed the need for skilled professionals in the local business community was not being met.^[8] He believed his secretarial and accounting programs would equip students with the expertise and skills needed to be successful in the new business climate.

With the advent of women's suffrage in 1920 through the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, the College’s female enrollment began to increase.^[10] When the Great Depression hit in 1929, Rasmussen College remained a strong establishment in Minnesota and continued to serve students. In 1945 Walter Rasmussen retired and named Walter C. Nemitz to succeed him as director of the College. Nemitz had been with the College since 1934, as both a teacher and an assistant principal. Under his leadership, the College underwent a number of upgrades.^[11] By 1950, the College’s 50-year anniversary, Rasmussen College had graduated more than 22,400 students.^[12]

Between 1961 and 1980, it became clear that the traditional educational path was not always the most effective route for all students. Because of their unique approach to higher education and the high demand for skilled business college graduates, Rasmussen College flourished and opened two additional campuses and expanded its curriculum. By 1980, Rasmussen College was placing a high percentage of its students in the workplace - a trend that continues through the present day.

The College operates eight campuses in Minnesota including locations in: Blaine (2010), Bloomington, Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove, Eagan (1989), Lake Elmo/Woodbury (2010), Mankato (1983), Moorhead and St. Cloud (1997). It also has four campuses in Illinois: Aurora/Naperville, Mokena/Tinley Park (2010), Rockford (2006) and Romeoville/Joliet. The College also operates campuses in Green Bay (2007) and Wausau (2010), Wisconsin and one in Fargo, North Dakota. In Florida, Rasmussen College operates campuses in: Fort Myers, New Port Richey/West Pasco, Ocala, Land O’ Lakes/East Pasco and Tampa/Brandon. Additionally, the College also has two campuses in Kansas in both Kansas City/Overland Park (2013) and Topeka (2013). In addition to its brick-and-mortar campuses, the College also created its national online presence in 2002 and now offers more than 30 fully online degree programs.^[16]

In 2009, Rasmussen College began working with the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) by providing dual-enrollment opportunities at no cost to students from five Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high schools. To date, more than 1,199 high school students have taken dual-credit courses through the Rasmussen College-AUSL partnership. In April 2017, Rasmussen College launched its first full-service learning center in southwest Chicago. The center, called El Centro de Aprendizaje, is staffed with academic advisors and support staff dedicated to expanding access to higher education in the community. The Center is equipped with computer workstations, internet connectivity, academic coaching and advising to local, dual-enrollment high school students and degree-seeking adults.

Academics

The College offers more than 50 programs across its seven schools of study including: Health Sciences, Design, Business, Justice Studies, Education, Nursing and Technology.^[22] The College offers Certificates, Diplomas, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master's degree programs for in-demand professions and provides students with convenient learning options.

Students at Rasmussen College can choose a mix of online and on-campus courses that work best for them. The College also designed Flex Choice® learning options to help make a degree more flexible and affordable. Flex Choice® allows students to earn credits for prior learning, take self-directed assessments and enroll in Competency-Based Education (CBE) courses. As a national leader in CBE, the College prioritizes student learning over time giving students greater control of balancing their work, life and college schedules. In 2017, Rasmussen College has seen its CBE program grow to become one of the 10 largest in the country.

Accreditation

Rasmussen College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Regional accreditation is only awarded to colleges that meet criteria set by the association in their respective region, and can provide assurance that an organization has been found to meet strict requirements and criteria, and that there are reasonable grounds for believing it will continue to do so according to the HLC's "Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions: An Overview" (2007 Edition). The College also holds programmatic accreditation for select nursing and healthcare-related programs. For full accreditation information please visit: www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/accreditation/.

External links

• Official website