Information about Devry University

DeVry University
Established	1931
Type	Private, For-profit
Location	Chicago
Campus	Multiple: United States, Canada
Website	[1]

DeVry University and DeVry Institute of Technology are divisions of Devry Inc.^[1] (NYSE: DV), a private for-profit university^[2] institution composed of 23 major campuses, 3 subsidiary institutions, and numerous minor service centres in the United States and Canada.^[3] Member campuses offer programs from the Associate's to Master's level in professional studies and business administration. As of 2001, 5 of the top 10 producers of information technology degree graduates in the US were DeVry campuses^[4].

History

DeVry Chicago opened in 1931 as the DeForest Training School, named after Lee DeForest, a colleague and friend of founder Herman A. DeVry. Since then the company has undergone a number of name changes. In 1966 a controlling share was acquired by the Education Group of Bell and Howell, which then sold that share to the Keller Graduate School of Management in 1987. DeVry acquired Becker Professional Review in 1996, Ross University in 2003, and the Deaconess College of Nursing in 2005. DeVry did not acquire rights to use the name "Deaconess College of Nursing", so it was renamed "Chamberlain" in 2006.^[1][5][6][7]

DeVry began operations in Canada in 1956.

Corporate Structure

DeVry Inc is a holding company for DeVry University, Ross University, Chamberlain College of Nursing, and Becker Professional Review. Becker Professional Review in turn holds a number of CPA training assets.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}

Curriculum

DeVry University offers courses in business administration, engineering, communication, bioinformatics and management.^[15]

DeVry also offers professional certification programs in business, office management and health information technology.

DeVry's marketing material states that the curriculum puts less emphasis on a broad base of study in the traditional liberal arts and research training, and greater emphasis on pragmatic and experiential-based skills, including early hands-on training in career-specialty areas of study.

The university operates on a trimester course schedule and, if taken full-time year round, a student can graduate with a Bachelor's degree in about three years (depending on the program). Most degree programs are offered at both the Associate's and four-year Bachelor's level. In addition, the institution offers various certificate programs such as for specific subfields in Information technology.

Courses and programs are also offered online.^[16]

Accreditation

DeVry is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.^[17]

DeVry does not meet the standards and licensing requirements in Alberta and New York State to function or advertise as a University. In these regions DeVry continues to operate as its former name DeVry Institute of Technology. In New York it is accredited as a college (similar to community college accreditation).^[18]

Engineering

Engineering Technology programs are accredited on a campus-by-campus basis. Accreditation is only sought for programs after the first cohort has graduated, which precludes all Biomedical Engineering Technology programs.^[19] The table in #Locations lists accreditation status of Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology programs by the the US Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology ^[20] and the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board ^[21].

Locations

The following table lists major campuses and approximate interior size.^[22]

Location	Institution	Area in m2	Engineering Accreditation
Long Island City	Institute of Technology	14,400	ABETNY[›]
Calgary	Institute of Technology	6,500	CTABAB[›]
Arlington	University	8,000	ABET
Chicago	University	14,500	ABET
Columbus	University	10,600	ABET
Decatur	University	10,000	ABETGA[›]
Addison	University	10,500	ABETIL[›]
Federal Way	University	9,500	ABET
Fort Washington	University	9,800	ABET
Fremont	University	9,200	ABET
Irving	University	8,800	ABET
Kansas City	University	7,000	ABET
North Brunswick	University	9,200	ABET
Orlando	University	6,700	ABET
Phoenix	University	11,100	ABET
Westminster	University	6,700	ABET
Pomona	University	9,300	ABETCA[›]
Long Beach	University	9,100	ABETCA[›]
West Hills	University	10,000	ABETCA[›]
Miramar	University	9,200	None
Alpharetta	University	6,000	ABETGA[›]
Tinley Park	University	6,500	ABETIL[›]
Houston	University	9,400	None

Former

DeVry had 3 campuses in the Greater Toronto Area. The North York campus at Finch Avenue West and Highway 400 moved to Progress Avenue in Scarborough (closed 2003). Another campus was located in Mississauga on Chedworth Way was opened in 1997. Both locations closed and operations re-located to Calgary in 2003.

Controversies

In 1995, DeVry was suspended from Ontario's student loan program after a large number of its students misreported their income. DeVry was reinstated after paying fines of CAD$1.7 million and putting up a bond of CAD$2 million.^[23]

In 1996, students of DeVry's Toronto campus filed a class-action suit claiming poor educational quality and job preparation; the suit was dismissed on technical grounds.^[24][25][26]

In November 2000, Afshin Zarinebaf, Ali Mousavi and another graduate of one of DeVry University’s Chicago-area campuses filed a class-action lawsuit accusing DeVry of widespread deception, unlawful business practices and false advertising and alleging that students were not being prepared for high tech jobs.^[27] The lawsuit contributed to a 20% slide in the company's stock.^[28] The stock has since recovered. The class was not certified and the case was resolved for less than $25,000 in June 2006. ^[28]

In 2001, DeVry obtained permission from the Alberta government to grant degrees, on recommendation by the Private Colleges Accreditation Board.^[28] This decision was opposed by the Alberta New Democratic Party (sitting in opposition), the University of Calgary Faculty Association, the Canadian Federation of Students, and the Canadian Association of University Teachers. (The concerns raised are similar to those about the University of Phoenix and other private institutions).^[29] The NDP claimed conflict of interest as John Ballheim served as both the president of DeVry's Calgary campus and a member of the Premier of Alberta's special advisory council on postsecondary education.^[30]

In January 2002, Royal Gardner, a graduate of one of DeVry University’s Los Angeles-area campuses, filed a class-action complaint against DeVry Inc. and DeVry University, Inc. on behalf of students in the post-baccalaureate degree program in Information Technology. The suit alleged that the nature of the program was misrepresented by the advertising. The lawsuit was dismissed and refiled. During the first quarter of 2004, a new complaint was filed in the same court by Gavino Teanio with the same general allegations. This action was stayed pending the outcome of the Gardner lawsuit. The lawsuits were in the process of being settled in late 2006.^[31]

References