EMPLOYER’S GUIDE TO AMERICAN SENTINEL UNIVERSITY
“American Sentinel University is uniquely positioned to create value for the companies and organizations we’ve served for nearly two decades —manufacturing, financial & service organizations, governments and the military—but we also increasingly address the unique human capital needs of high growth organizations in health care, bio-informatics, cyber security, and new digital media businesses. Our programs closely match today’s fiercely competitive and technologically-driven marketplace.”
American Sentinel University serves a wide variety of employees and their organizations. Many of the Fortune 1,000, as well as small and mid-size companies, have employees who have received their degrees or industry certifications at American Sentinel University. With over 1,200 students and 1,400 alumni, the university is also home to employees of federal, state and local governments, the military, research institutions and companies as diverse as technology start-ups and family businesses of all sizes. Students work for American and international companies in over 120 countries. Among organizations that have supported their employees’ education are: AFCO, Inc. ARA Services A.N.R. Pipeline Advanced Systems Technology, Inc. American Agrisurance, Inc. American Re-Insurance Company American National Can Company American Transit Insurance Company Avco Financial Services Apple Computer, Inc. Atlas Tool, Inc. AT & T Blue Cross Blue Shield BNP Paribas Group Brendgard Investments Bridgestone/Firestone Boeing Charter Communications Coors Conoco CONRAIL Danka Industries, Inc. DaVita Inc. DELPHI Diebold, Inc. Diversified Plastics Corporation Dupont Emerson Electric Company Energy Management Systems Federal Express Fina Oil & Chemical First National Bank (Tenn.) General Electric General Motors Georgia-Pacific Hewlett Packard Honeywell Interactive Data Systems, Inc. Interstate Nuclear Services Kaiser Aluminum Kokoku Steel Cord Corporation Lafarge Corporation Lockheed Martin LORAL Defense Systems Lucent Technologies Manulife Financial NCR Microsoft NorthPoint Software Ventures, Inc. Novell Inc. Occidental Chemical Pacer Systems, Inc. Pacific Bell Performance Group, Inc. Philips Consumer Electronics Proctor & Gamble JP Morgan Rockwell Industries SAP America, Inc. Scott Paper Specialty Underwriters, Inc. SVERDRUP Corporation State Farm Insurance Synetics Corporation Teledyne Time Warner Trident Data Systems United Technologies U.S. Trust Corporation Venture Technologies Verizon
State, City & County Governments
Arkansas Illinois Indiana Pennsylvania Montana Vermont Washington Wyoming City of Tucson City of Wilmington, Del. County of Riverside County of San Bernardino, California County of Platte, Missouri Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Palm Beach County, Florida Scotland County; State of North Carolina
Federal Government
U.S. Forestry Service U.S. Postal Service U.S. Department of Agriculture U. S. Veterans Administration US Embassy’s Abroad Bureau of Indian Affairs Defense Contract Management Dept. of Defense Dept. of Justice Federal Aviation Administration Military Sealift Command OSHA U.S. Air Force U.S. Army US Navy & Marines US Post Office
Schools, Colleges, Service & Research Organizations
Connaught Laboratory Grinnell College McKinney Public School District Montgomery College Noyce Computer Center South Eastern Institute of Research, Inc. St. Croix Country Day School The City College of the City University of New York Vecor Research, Inc.
To see the complete list of companies visit http://www.americansentinel.edu/Financial_Info/Employer_Reimbursement.php
Student Competencies
Students receive “best in class” instruction that allows for flexible studies around busy work schedules [mostly nights and weekends]. Instruction is geared to today’s most desired work skills. In addition, American Sentinel University embeds, special competencies most needed by high potential employees, throughour the curriculum: • ethical awareness • global-orientation • enhancing diversity • leadership • communications skills • statistical and numeric understanding • information search and fluency
MASTER’S PROGRAMS: MS Computer Science MS Information Systems MBA MS Business Intelligence MS Health Systems Management MBA Healthcare MS Nursing American Sentinel University offers the following certifications in coordination with Element K: • Microsoft • PMP • Cisco • CompTIA
Founders
Vanderbilt University Joe B. Wyatt, Chancellor Emeritus, Vanderbilt University Lamar Alexander [now US Senator] Dr. Richard W. Oliver
Mission Statement
American Sentinel University’s mission is to provide high-quality, innovative degree and certificate programs that enable students to enhance their professional and civic lives.
Fast Facts
• Licensed in 1988 (American College of Computer & Information Science) and 2000 (American Graduate School of Management) • Over 20 online degree programs with no residency requirements • 1,200+ students • 1,400 alumni • 40+ full and adjunct faculty (over 60% with PhDs) • 35+ academic administrators and staff • Offices: Denver, CO and Birmingham, AL • Accredited: Distance Education & Training Council • Student Satisfaction: average more than 90% across programs
Special Company Benefits
In addition to “best in class” education and training for their employees [research shows that access to further education is one of the benefits employees desire most], companies and organizations with multiple students at American Sentinel enjoy unique benefits: 1. Customized courses to address corporate needs 2. Special tuition rates and other corporate/student benefits with just one student by becoming a member of our Corporate Training Alliance [free membership & no further obligations].
Board of Trust Degrees and Certifications
American Sentinel University offers the following degrees: ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS: AS Computer Science AS Information Systems AS Geographic Information Systems AS Business Administration AS Criminal Justice AS Health Information Management (Medical Coding & Billing) BACHELOR’S PROGRAMS: BS Computer Science BS Computer Science, Game Programming Specialization BS Information Systems BS Information Systems, Geographic Information Systems Specialization BS Management Information Systems BS Information Technology BS Information Security Systems BS Web Design and Development BS Business with 4 majors: Administration, Management, Marketing, eBusiness BS Criminal Justice RN to BS in Nursing Dr. Kenneth McLennan, Chairman, former President and CEO, Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Natasha L. Blackshear, Founder and Member, Blackshear Capital & Legal, PLLC Dr. Germain B. Böer, Professor of Management, Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, Dean, Vanderbilt University, School of Nursing Dr. William A. Jenkins, Managing Director, Huron Consulting Group Dr. Christopher McKinney, Director, Vanderbilt University Office of Technology Transfer and Enterprise Development Robert M. Neumeister, Jr., Executive Vice President and CFO, Linux Networks, Inc. Dr. Richard W. Oliver, CEO, American Sentinel University Joe B. Wyatt, Chancellor Emeritus, Vanderbilt University
Key Staff & Faculty
Dr. Richard Oliver, CEO and Interim Provost Mary Adams, President Mary Howard, CFO Dr. Phillip Ash, Dean, Technology and Business Technology Programs Jeff Capplan, Dean, Strategic Enrollment Management Dr. Catherine Garner, Dean, Health and Human Srvices Natalie Nixon, VP Admissions Paul Capicik, VP Military
Dr. Richard Oliver, CEO
Meet Some of the American Sentinel Students & Alums
Brian T. Bowes has completed 18 courses of his Bachelor of Science in Information Systems while maintaining a 3.87 GPA. After graduating high school, Brian joined the United States Marines, and traveled the world for four years. After leaving the Marines, Brian graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor of Science in Technology Education. He then began teaching at a local middle school in Plano, Texas. Brian currently teaches courses related to technology such as robotics, computer aided design, digital video production, computer graphics, desktop publishing, and residential construction. Along with his teaching duties, he is also in charge of curriculum development for the district’s nine technology laboratories. In his “spare” time, Brian is an instructor at Collin County Community College in Allen, Texas, where he prepares adults who wish to teach technology education courses in middle and high schools. “Knowing that someday I would like to change careers, I began my search to find a way to further my education in a computer related field. I wanted a program that was of high quality, flexible and affordable. I found American Sentinel to be a perfect fit. I am able to schedule my time to study between work, family, and other commitments such as training for marathons.”
Mohamed Amine, a Master of Science in Information Systems student, graduated from a National Institute in Morocco in 1996 as an IT analyst. Since then, he has worked as a software engineer at a commercial bank for more than eight years where he is responsible for the accounting system development and various other projects. Since 2000, Mohamed had thought about pursuing his graduate degree. There were many choices, but in the end, he selected American Sentinel for various reasons, including accreditation, affordability, and the diversity of the MSIS program. It was exactly what he was looking for – a program with management, networking, database, marketing, artificial intelligence, and data warehousing. “As an international student, opting for distance education was very challenging. In addition to the language barriers (English is my third language), there are the cultural differences that can be a real barrier during the learning process. However, American Sentinel offers me the flexibility, the support and the patience needed to succeed in this experience. Therefore, I want to thank all American Sentinel staff for their compassion and their on-going efforts to guarantee a high quality education and to make the dream of many international students a reality.” - Mohamed Amine, Software Engineer, Mediha Informatique (a subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group)
Stephen Kaiser, a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems student, currently works as a manager of IT in his company’s corporate offices. Working in the telecommunications industry for the past 12 years, Stephen started out in customer service, but after six months he found his true calling in the IT group. Stephen says, “I loved working with computers and especially the billing systems we used. I learned as much as I could in various positions within IT but knew that if I wanted to achieve my goal of becoming a CIO, I would need a degree.” Stephen remarks that what started out as a quest to receive a degree became so much more. He continues, “The classes that I’ve taken at American Sentinel have helped me excel and even receive promotions at work. For example, using the skills learned in the Visual Basic class, I’ve developed numerous applications for my department.” One of Stephen’s tools is even used by one of his company’s billing vendors. This tool is an application to parse out binary hex encoded transactional data to and from billing interfaces and addressable controllers in their site headends. “I’ve really enjoyed my studies at American Sentinel. The flexibility of the online format and quick responses that I receive from the staff whenever I have questions or need clarification on assignments is outstanding.” - Stephen Kaiser, Manager of IT, Charter Communications
Victoria Brown, a dedicated lifelong learner, is a business consultant, who for the past ten years has worked with integrated ERP systems. An auto accident injury left her incapable of attending class in a traditional classroom setting. After carefully researching distance education alternatives over a six month period, she chose American Sentinel University for her graduate management degree. Victoria excelled in her program, graduating with a 3.97 GPA. This valuable degree program paid off even before her graduation, when she was laid off by her employer. Within two weeks, she had interviews with, and offers from, two “big 4” consulting firms. Skills she developed during her American Sentinel program gave Victoria the confidence to excel during the interviews, and were instrumental in setting her apart from other candidates. Her degree has yielded the kind of opportunities she hoped for when she enrolled. “American Sentinel University’s online management graduate degree program enabled me to achieve what had first appeared impossible. I was impressed by the quality of education I received, and by how much I have applied this new knowledge.” - Victoria Brown ,Senior Applications Consultant, SAP America, Inc.
Christine Robson is an alumnus of American Sentinel’s Bachelor of Science in Information Systems program and a current student in the Master of Science in Information Systems program. Christine is the manager of an Information Technology Department for Durham Regional Police in Oshawa Ontario, Canada. Christine remarks, “I am one course away from completing my Masters in Information Systems and I have found that the courses have helped me master my own profession in the I.T. industry. With the help of American Sentinel, I can manage my own schedule and complete the courses based on my own time. If it wasn’t for American Sentinel I would never have been able to juggle so many things. Having the ability to work on my time was critical. Finding the right curriculum based on my own profession was equally important and American Sentinel was able to accomplish both of these needs for me.” Christine, like most American Sentinel students, has sacrificed her weekends to work on her assignments. However, she adds, “They were done in the luxury of my own home, so my kids could still see and talk to me and they also gained an appreciation for when mom was doing homework.” Christine says her children have learned from her discipline and they are now eager to finish their homework before she does.
“I’ve been an MBA student with American Sentinel University for nearly a year and have had a professional and educational experience throughout. Since my first inquiry with the university as toabout programs offered and the academic structure, I have been treated professionally, with service excellence not found at other learning establishments. The professors are extremely well educated and experts in their field with the ability to project and instill information for the most rewarding and educational experience possible. Another unique aspect of American Sentinel University is being online in a live classroom setting, whereby the students can ask questions and converse with the entire class and the professor in real time. This style of interaction is conducive to a complete learning experience that is not possible with other formats. The counseling staff assists in all matters of registration, securing books and materials and there is relentless follow up by all members of the well trained staff to insure a seamless process from their office to the classroom. I have had the pleasure of sharing my experience at American Sentinel University with several colleagues and will comfortably recommend the university to anyone interested in higher learning.” -Steve Jones, Regional Director, DaVita Inc.
Mike Knych is a graduate student in information systems. With 30 years of experience working with and supporting information technology, Mike has worked in various industries as both a customer and a vendor. He is an active member of several computer industry user groups and organizations. Mike is currently a technical consultant in UNIX and Windows technical support for a global paper company specializing in systems performance and capacity planning. He became fascinated with computers back in college in the mid 70’s while obtaining a BS degree in math at the University of Arkansas. When speaking of his graduate degree, Mike states, “I pursued a master’s degree in information systems to obtain a broader understanding of management issues associated with IT and IS that I deal with on a technical level every day. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could get back into the academic world after being away from for so long.” As his 3.9 GPA shows, Mike has proven himself up to the task and then some! Mike acknowledges, “I have thoroughly enjoyed working through the American Sentinel degree program and appreciate the top support provided by the American Sentinel staff. I would also like to thank my family for their support that’s allowed me to complete my degree.”
Accreditations and Approvals
American Sentinel University is accredited by the U.S. Secretary of Education-recognized Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), authorized to operate as a degree granting institution by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, and licensed by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. DETC, the premier global accrediting association for distance learning institutions, is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. American Sentinel University is approved by the Colorado and Alabama State Approving Agencies for Veteran’s Benefits. This allows students to use their VA benefits at American Sentinel University and receive the maximum tuition reimbursement amounts.
For More Information
Contact Natalie Nixon, at 1-800-729-2427 or natalie.nixon@americansentinel.edu or visit our web site at www.americansentinel.edu American Sentinel University 2260 South Xanadu Way, Suite 245 Aurora, CO 80014 www.americansentinel.edu 1-800-729-2427