Explore Strayer University

Admissions

Strayer University prides itself on student enrollment being based on individual merits and talents instead of a specific standard of achievement. The admissions process at Strayer involves submitting a completed application detailing personal information, demographic data (such as age, marital status, and ethnicity), academic history, as well as an application fee. Prospective students applying for undergraduate degrees must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent, while work experience, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores and an interview will also help to determine their acceptance into the university.

Some specific majors, such as the information systems program, may have additional admissions requirements..

Applying to graduate school involves submitting more information, including proof that you have completed a bachelor’s degree program from a college or institution that is accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education, and official copies of all postsecondary transcripts. In addition, you must have a 2.75 undergraduate grade point average on a 4.0 scale during the junior and senior years of your bachelor’s degree program. A minimum cumulative score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a minimum score of 450 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is also required. After considering your application, you may have to sit through a personal interview with a Campus Dean.

For some graduate programs like the Master of Science of information systems, you may need a bachelor’s degree in a related subject. If you have a degree in another subject, successful completion of foundation courses may be required in order to complete the graduate degree.

Strayer University also allows online applicants to transfer credits from other institutions and in some cases, allows students to earn credit for professional or life experience and use it toward their online degree. There are also credit options for applicants with military experience, applicants with certifications, licenses and other forms of professional development completion, and applicants who have passed challenge exams. Challenge exams are designed to demonstrate whether a student can meet the learning objectives of a particular course. Passing the challenge exam earns credit that can be counted towards completion of a degree.

The Online Classroom

iCampus is the online portal where Strayer students can register for classes, view grades, financial aid information, academic calendars, student publications, and access classes delivered via Blackboard learning management system. Widely regarded as the industry standard in Learning Management Services, Blackboard is a platform on which students submit assignments, participate in class discussions, and interact with fellow students and professors. For new students, a Blackboard tutorial is available.

Strayer students can also take part in the Smarthinking Tutorial Program, which is an online tutoring service that offers assistance in writing. Immediate live help is available for students who submit writing assignments to the Online Writing Lab, or students can be connected with an experienced tutor who will respond with notes on their written assignments within 24 to 72 hours.

While there is no mandatory online or on-campus orientation, students can familiarize themselves with Blackboard by using a program called “In-The-Classroom.” This program acquaints the student with Blackboard through video tutorials and is available on the iCampus Student Portal. Students can log in to view the syllabus for each of their classes and locate courses in Blackboard under the ‘My Institution’ tab group or My Courses module.

Students must log in online and actively participate in the classroom chat in order to be counted for attendance. Weekly class length varies. Strayer uses a quarterly system with four quarters a year. A quarter typically lasts eleven to twelve weeks. The length of a typical class depends on whether you are signed up for a synchronous or asynchronous course. Synchronous classes meet online at the same day and time each week using a voice or text chat. Students can typically follow class with a textbook. In fact, Strayer offers first-term students a $100 book voucher through MBS direct. A virtual bookstore is available at iCampus.

For asynchronous courses, a class can be broken up into parts to be resumed at a later time. It is recommended that students log in early in the week to see their weekly assignments. According to Herbert L. Sexton, a Strayer alum who earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 2009, Strayer was the optimal choice because it allowed him to complete his degree on his own schedule without being “limited by the traditional classroom setting.” While some professors may lecture with video clips, “most used slides and notes that you could download and go over.”

Skipping ahead is possible in some classes, but Sexton explained that others have a strict format to them where students must stick to the syllabus. Falling behind has the same consequences as it would at a traditional brick-and-mortar school, in that it makes it more difficult for the student to catch up. Strayer University student Ursula Garcia recommended contacting the professor when this happens, as some professors will try to work with you or offer opportunities for extra credit, such as challenge exams.

For an overview of technological necessities important for academic success, visit Strayer’s list of downloads and requirements.

Faculty

Strayer requires that potential faculty members have two years of teaching experience in addition to at least two to five years of work experience related to the subject they are teaching. Although doctorates are preferred to teach at the undergraduate level, professors must at least possess a master’s degree and 18 graduate credits in their teaching area. To teach at the graduate level, professors must possess a terminal degree and 18 post-graduate credits in their teaching area. According to Sexton, online students could be taught by professors from any of Strayer’s campuses, and not only their “designated home campus.”

Online professors at Strayer University are trained in Blackboard prior to teaching their first course. Professors are obligated to log into class at least five days a week to participate in discussions, answer questions, grade assignments and exams, and for general course management. Student questions must be responded to within 24 hours during the week, and within 48 hours during weekends. Midterm and final grades must be completed within a 48-hour window.

Teaching online has the same benefits as learning online for busy professionals. “Personally, I think online learning brings education and advancement to often-marginalized populations,” said Hannah R. Toney, a former instructor at Strayer. “It is portable, doesn’t care about weather, and is cheap.”

What Makes Strayer University Stand Out?

• For working professionals looking to earn a higher level degree, Strayer is very accommodating. Students can fit their studies into busy schedules by choosing between asynchronous and synchronous online classes.
• Strayer’s average student age is 34, and most online students maintain full-time careers while earning their degrees in their own time and on their own schedules. This means that students will be surrounded by other working professionals who truly understand the privilege of learning online.
• The on-time graduation rate for most programs at Strayer is more than 90% overall.
• Strayer University also boasts a reputation for fulfilling the educational needs of veterans, the disabled, and international students. Strayer University is a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges and is recognized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• An online network for alumni to exchange entrepreneurial resources. Graduates log in to connect with other alums, request and book guest speakers, or take part in discussions with other alumni. The Strayer University Alumni Entrepreneur’s Club also features an Alumni Business Directory listing businesses owned by Strayer alumni.
• As a kind of virtual library, the Learning Resources Center requires students to log in to access tutorials as well as online databases and resources. Students can also submit queries to librarians, search for specific books and texts, and request reading materials through an automated online system.
• Offered through Strayer’s Career Services Center, Career Insider gives students up-to-date information about business rankings, hiring practices, salaries, business and employer reviews as well as interview and corporate culture tips. With over 35,000 articles, blogs and discussion board topics, Strayer students can gather the necessary knowledge and skills to enter the business world before graduation.
• Strayer’s Alumni Volunteer Mentor Program helps create a support system between current students and graduates.
• Through various tutoring services Strayer University allows students to receive individual or group tutoring both on-campus and online. Trained tutors help students with specific skill development and accomplishing academic goals through a structured plan of action.

Financial Aid

Strayer offers federal grants and loans to students. You can apply for this assistance by filing out a FAFSA form every year. Military benefits are also available for active duty service members and veterans. Working professionals can also seek employer tuition assistance by checking with their employer’s Human Resources or Training and Education department to see whether they are eligible. Students can also borrow private loans when all other financial assistance options have been exhausted.

Strayer also offers institutional scholarships, such as the Bailey Family Foundation Scholarship. Founded in 1996, this need and merit-based scholarship is applicable for high school students who have been accepted to an online program at Strayer and current students in good academic standing.

Regarding its status as a for-profit institution, Strayer University believes in an emphasis on education and student achievement over funding. According to a 2010.