Stratford University
Encyclopedia
Stratford University is a private, higher education
al institution founded in 1976. Stratford specializes in adult education
and offers placement assistance for students and graduates. It delivers online, classroom
, and blended online/classroom
programs.
Stratford is a wholly owned subsidiary of The American Transportation Institute, Inc., a privately held Virginia corporation. Stratford has campuses in Virginia (Falls Church
, Woodbridge
, and Richmond
),
as well as New Delhi, India
,. The majority of the student body is non-traditional and works full-time while attending school. Stratford's international student
body is diverse and represents over thirty countries.
Stratford has partnered with the Global Land Coalition
to provide distance education services in developing countries and with the K. K. Modi Group to offer residential American degrees in India.
Dr. Richard R. Shurtz II, Stratford president, won the 2009 Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year award in Greater Washington for the Government/Education Services category. Stratford University was ranked as one of the Top 100 Graduate Degree Producers for All Disciplines in 2009 by Diverse Education.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) agency and Computerworld
reported that the Stratford University has a larger number of F-1 Visa students receiving post-graduate Optional Practical Training
(OPT) STEM
extensions (727) than any other school in the US, with twice the combined total of the entire Ivy League
— Brown (26), Columbia (105), Cornell (90), Dartmouth (18), Harvard (27), Princeton (16), Penn (50), and Yale (9).
and undergraduate degrees in a number of disciplines including business administration, computer information systems, health sciences, nursing
, culinary arts, and hotel management. Online, residential, and blended programs are available. All online and blended courses use the Stratford online Moodle
platform hosted in Stratford's data center. The learning outcomes embedded within the curriculum are employer-centric, while the teaching methods and delivery style are student-centric.
The University offers accelerated degree programs for those who wish to start their careers quickly. An associate's degree can be earned in 15 months, a bachelor's degree in 30 months, and a master's degree in 15 months. The table below lists all programs and indicates which are available online.
near Tysons Corner. It has a two additional US campuses in Woodbridge, Virginia
near Potomac Mills and in Richmond, Virginia
near Short Pump. In 2009, the University opened three learning sites in New Delhi, India
.
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
al institution founded in 1976. Stratford specializes in adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
and offers placement assistance for students and graduates. It delivers online, classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
, and blended online/classroom
Blended learning
Blended learning refers to a mixing of different learning environments. It combines traditional face-to-face classroom methods with more modern computer-mediated activities. According to its proponents, the strategy creates a more integrated approach for both instructors and learners. Formerly,...
programs.
Stratford is a wholly owned subsidiary of The American Transportation Institute, Inc., a privately held Virginia corporation. Stratford has campuses in Virginia (Falls Church
Falls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
, Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Virginia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
, and Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
),
as well as New Delhi, India
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
,. The majority of the student body is non-traditional and works full-time while attending school. Stratford's international student
International student
According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
body is diverse and represents over thirty countries.
Stratford has partnered with the Global Land Coalition
Global Land Coalition
The Global Land Coalition was formed by assembling a group of experts and researchers with extensive land-related experience. The Coalition's overall mission is to develop long-term solutions for effective land use in developing countries...
to provide distance education services in developing countries and with the K. K. Modi Group to offer residential American degrees in India.
Dr. Richard R. Shurtz II, Stratford president, won the 2009 Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
Entrepreneur Of The Year award in Greater Washington for the Government/Education Services category. Stratford University was ranked as one of the Top 100 Graduate Degree Producers for All Disciplines in 2009 by Diverse Education.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
(ICE) agency and Computerworld
Computerworld
Computerworld is an IT magazine that provides information for senior IT leaders. It is published in many countries around the world under the same or similar names. Its publisher is International Data Group. Computerworld serves the needs of IT management via print and online...
reported that the Stratford University has a larger number of F-1 Visa students receiving post-graduate Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than nine months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to work for at most one year on a...
(OPT) STEM
STEM fields
STEM fields is a US Government acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The acronym is in use regarding access to work visas for immigrants who are skilled in these fields. Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields...
extensions (727) than any other school in the US, with twice the combined total of the entire Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
— Brown (26), Columbia (105), Cornell (90), Dartmouth (18), Harvard (27), Princeton (16), Penn (50), and Yale (9).
Academic programs
Stratford University awards graduatePostgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
and undergraduate degrees in a number of disciplines including business administration, computer information systems, health sciences, nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
, culinary arts, and hotel management. Online, residential, and blended programs are available. All online and blended courses use the Stratford online Moodle
Moodle
Moodle is a free source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment...
platform hosted in Stratford's data center. The learning outcomes embedded within the curriculum are employer-centric, while the teaching methods and delivery style are student-centric.
The University offers accelerated degree programs for those who wish to start their careers quickly. An associate's degree can be earned in 15 months, a bachelor's degree in 30 months, and a master's degree in 15 months. The table below lists all programs and indicates which are available online.
School of Business Administration
School of Computer Information Systems
|
School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality
School of Health Sciences
School of Nursing
|
| * Also Available Online | |
Continuing Education Programs
Stratford University offers a number of non-credit continuing education and professional development courses as part of its community outreach initiative.- Event Management Certificate Program The mission of the Professional Event Management Certificate Program at Stratford University is to support the events profession by offering superior educational courses and practical experiences for career advancement within the industry, including special events, meetings, tradeshow, entertainment, sports management and fundraising.
- Culinary Workshops Stratford University's Culinary Workshops offers first timers and experienced cooks the opportunity to learn a few outstanding recipes and to make some new friends while having fun on a Saturday morning. The schedule includes special classes for couples and singles.
- Certification Courses including OracleOracle DatabaseThe Oracle Database is an object-relational database management system produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation....
, MSCE, .Net Framework.NET FrameworkThe .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability...
, CiscoCiscoCisco may refer to:Companies:*Cisco Systems, a computer networking company* Certis CISCO, corporatised entity of the former Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation in Singapore...
, LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, and computer securityComputer securityComputer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
-related topics for students and IT professionals.
Scholarship Programs
Stratford University has a number of general scholarship programs for undergraduate studies.- Graduating High School Senior Scholarship Program -- This program is designed for high school seniors who begin a program of study during the summer after graduation. In order to qualify a student must complete a scholarship application before May 1 and be admitted to the institution to start classes in July or August annually. The scholarship requires evidence of recent high school completion, and the desire to achieve success in the selected program. The scholarship pool under this program is limited to a maximum of $25,000 to be awarded in the Spring and Summer.
- Private Scholarship Programs -- Stratford University accepts private scholarships from foundations, service clubs, and other organizations. Examples of these programs used by Stratford students include Culinary Scholarship Programs such as the scholarship from Careers in Culinary Arts (C-CAP) Culinary Competition, American Culinary Federation Scholarship Fund, Virginia Culinary Competition, Northern Virginia Culinary Competition, or Discover America.
Programs for US Military Personnel
Stratford University has established a number of programs to help US military and former-US military personnel complete their education.- Stratford is recognized by the Veteran's Administration as a military-friendly institution and a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Stratford has programs to assist military students on Tuition Assistance (TA) to eliminate out-of-pocket tuition expenses.
- Stratford is a member of the DoDUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Servicemembers Opportunities Colleges (SOC) Consortium, and the Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP). - Transfer credits are accepted from AARTS, SMART, CCAF,ACE, DANTES, CLEP exams, as well as from other SOC colleges and universities.
- Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is used to grant credit for military experience and training programs.
- Stratford is approved for the training of veterans, reservists, and other eligible persons under US Code, Title 38 (Veteran's Benefits), including Chapter 30 (Active Duty), Chapter 31 (Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities), Chapter 32 (Post-Vietnam Era Educational Assistance), Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 Educational Assistance), and Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance), as well as, Title 10 (Armed Forces), including Chapter 1606 (Selected Reserve Educational Assistance), and Chapter 1607 (Reserve Educational Assistance).
Campuses
Stratford University has campuses in Virginia and India. Stratford University's main campus is located in Falls Church, VirginiaFalls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
near Tysons Corner. It has a two additional US campuses in Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
near Potomac Mills and in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
near Short Pump. In 2009, the University opened three learning sites in New Delhi, India
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
- Falls Church, Virginia campus near Tysons Corner is located on Leesburg Pike within ten miles of Washington DC. The Falls Church campus features a broad range of laboratories and classrooms equipped with the latest technology.
- The Woodbridge, VirginiaWoodbridge, Virginia-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
campus is located on Gideon Drive. The campus, designed using green technology throughout, has culinary arts, health science, nursing, and computer laboratories. The specially designed classroom environment is conducive to learning. - The Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
campus at Short Pump is located on Broad Street. In addition to an on-site restaurant, the campus has culinary arts, health sciences, and computer laboratories. - Stratford has a main learning site and one satellite learning site in the New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
region. The main learning site is located in South DelhiSouth DelhiSouth Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.It is bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, the districts of New Delhi to the north, Faridabad District of Haryana state to the southeast, Gurgaon District of Haryana to the southwest, and South West...
. The satellite learning site is located in GurgaonGurgaonGurgaon is the second largest city in the Indian state of Haryana. Gurgaon is the industrial and financial center of Haryana. It is located 30 km south of national capital New Delhi, about 10 kilometers from Dwarka Sub City and 268 km south of Chandigarh, the state capital...
.
Supporting Services
Stratford University offers a wide range of services to assist the students and faculty some of which include:- Stratford's Welcome Center offers a range of services including free gym memberships, housing assistance, information about health insurance plans. Welcome Center personnel assist students with any non-academic problems which they may encounter while completing their degree. Student activities and events are organized by the Welcome Center year round.
- Stratford's International Student Office provides support for international students, including: admissions assistance; obtaining F-1/J-1 Visas; transferring from another school; securing housing; travelling within and outside the US; obtaining CPT/OPT employment authorization; and advice for securing an H-1 Visa. This office serves as the gateway to all Stratford services for the international student community.
- Stratford's Language Institute offers an academic English as Second Language (ESL) program to help international students enter a degree program.
- Stratford's Career Services Office provides placement assistance for students through a large network of employers who hire Stratford graduates.
- Stratford's Academic Services provides tutoring and developmental mathematics and English to assist students academically.
- Stratford's Continuing Education Office offers many non-credit workshops and courses in business, health sciences, technology, culinary arts, and event management.
- Stratford's Food Services are managed by the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. The School of Culinary Arts offers fine dining to the public as part of its culinary curriculum. The School operates the Escoffier Dining Room, the Careme Dining Room, and the Library Cafe.
- Stratford's Media Office produces and broadcasts a weekly radio show, Tech Talk Radio, which is aired on WFED (1500 AM) each Saturday from 9 to 10 am EST. The show is streamed live over the Internet from the WFED home page. Audio files of the show and a podcast feed are posted each week to the Tech Talk Radio home page. The podcast is also available via iTunes. Tech Talk Radio first aired in January 2000 and has been previously broadcast on WMAL (630AM), WJFK-FMWJFK-FMWJFK-FM, known on-air as 106.7 The Fan, is a sports radio-formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Manassas, Virginia, serving the metro Washington DC area...
(106.7FM), WTWPWTWPWFED is a full-power radio station in the Washington, D.C. region, broadcasting from just outside the District line in Wheaton, Maryland. The signal is relayed on WWFD on 820 kHz in Frederick, Maryland. The stations broadcast a news, talk and information format targeted towards U.S...
(1500AM, 107.7FM), and WWWT (1500AM, 107.7FM) radio stations.
Accreditation and Affiliations
Stratford University has been endorsed and/or accredited by an broad range of organizations and agencies.- Stratford University is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and SchoolsAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and SchoolsThe Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is a non-profit education corporation recognized by both the United States Secretary of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation as an independent and autonomous national accrediting body that accredits institutions of...
(ACICS) to award degrees through the master's level. - Stratford and ACICS are recognized by the United States Department of EducationUnited States Department of EducationThe United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
and by the Council for Higher Education AccreditationCouncil for Higher Education AccreditationThe Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
(CHEA). - Stratford has been authorized to award degrees and diplomas by the State Council of Higher Education for VirginiaState Council of Higher Education for VirginiaThe State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is the Commonwealth's coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV was established by the Governor and General Assembly in 1956...
(SCHEV). - Stratford is authorized by U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
to issue a Form I-20I-20 (form)Form I-20 is a United States Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE and SEVP, document issued by colleges, universities, and vocational schools that provides supporting information for the issuance of a student visa or change of status...
for an F-1 Visa and to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. - Stratford is listed in the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs which identifies it as an institution or program which "is accredited by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority as to the quality of postsecondary education within the meaning of the Higher Education Act of 1965."
- Stratford is authorized to award Federal Student Aid, including both loans and grants for eligible US citizens and permanent residents.
- Stratford's nursing program has been approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
- Stratford's culinary programs have a second accreditationAccreditationAccreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
(programmatic) with the American Culinary FederationAmerican Culinary FederationThe American Culinary Federation was established in 1929 and is the largest professional chefs' organization in North America.ACF, which was the progeny of the combined visions of three chefs' associations in New York, comprises more than 22,000 members in 230 chapters across the United States,...
(ACF). - Stratford is a member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council.
- Stratford is a member of the International Association of Culinary ProfessionalsInternational Association of Culinary ProfessionalsThe International Association of Culinary Professionals is a United States based not-for-profit professional association whose members work in culinary education, communication, or the preparation of food and beverage....
. - Stratford is a member of the United States-India Educational FoundationUnited States-India Educational FoundationThe United States-India Educational Foundation is an international foundation dedicated to higher education in India and the United States...
.