Argosy University

History

Argosy University was formed in 2001 by the merging of three separate academic institutions: the American Schools of Professional Psychology, the University of Sarasota, and the Medical Institute of Minnesota.^[4] Dr. James Otten was named the founding President.
The American School of Professional Psychology was founded in the early 1970s by Dr. Markovitz and a group of psychologists, educators, and other professionals who called for a clinical psychology degree that emphasized teaching and practical training over the research-oriented approach of the traditional PhD degree. Thd University of Sarasota had for more than 30 years offered degree programs in business and education to working adults through a delivery format that mixed distance learning and brief, intensive on-campus study periods.
The Medical Institute of Minnesota was established in 1961 to prepare allied health care personnel for careers in the booming medical technology fields. Argosy University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools^[5]
Argosy University today comprises five colleges within 19 campus locations across the U.S., and also offers degree programs online through their Phoenix campus. The colleges include the College of Undergraduate Studies, College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, College of Education , College of Business and College of Health Sciences.^[6]

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Fraud Allegations

In 2009, 15 students sued Argosy University's Dallas campus, accusing the school of fraud.^[7] They allege that Argosy representatives lied to them in order to get them to enroll in the college, saying that the college was in the process of becoming accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and would be accredited by the APA by the time the students graduated. When the students graduated, the university had still made no progress toward accreditation by the APA, which the students claim significantly hindered their employability and thus their ability to pay off their student loans.^[8]

[edit] Florida Attorney General investigation

The Office of the Florida Attorney General is currently conducting a civil investigation of Argosy University and seven other proprietary schools regarding "[a]lleged misrepresentations regarding financial aid; alleged unfair/deceptive practices regarding recruitment, enrollment, accreditation, placement, graduation rates, etc."^[9] Of the 183 consumer complaints received, eight were against Argosy.^[10]

Plagiarism controversy

Argosy Chicago received attention within academia for its handling of a plagiarism incident that began in early 2006 when a student accused an Argosy University professor of plagiarizing Charles Ford's book Lies! Lies!! Lies!!! in the professor's 2000 Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) thesis at Argosy. Initially, the school found "no merit" in the accusations, and scolded the accuser, noting her accusation in her academic record.^[11] Later, however, the university reversed its position, fired the professor and rescinded her doctoral degree.^[12] A year later, Argosy reinstated her doctoral degree after she completed and defended a new Clinical Research Project (CRP).^[13]

Enrollment Adviser controversy

Argosy University's enrollment advisers and counselors have been accused of using high-pressure and deceptive sales tactics on prospective students. In May 2010, the PBS program Frontline aired an expose about for-profit universities called "College, Inc." which featured Argosy University among others.^[14] The Director of Admissions at Argosy wrote an email to enrollment counselors instructing that they should "Create a sense of urgency. Push their hot button. Don't let the student off the phone. Dial, dial, dial."^[15] Argosy was also one of 15 for-profit colleges cited by the Government Accountability Office in 2010 for deceptive or questionable statements that were made to undercover investigators posing as applicants.^[16] The GAO later revised its report, with Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) saying the changes made "undermine many of the allegations" in the original report but the head of the GAO maintaining that "Nothing changed with the overall message of the report, and nothing changed with any of our findings."