Strayer University

Strayer University is a United States-based private, for-profit higher education institution. It was founded in 1892 as Strayer's Business College and later became Strayer College before being granted university status in 1998. Strayer University operates under the holding company, Strayer Education Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA), which was established in 1996.

The university enrolls about 40,000 students through its online learning programs, and at 78 campuses located in 15 U.S. States and Washington D.C. The university specializes in degree programs for working adults and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in subjects such as accounting, business administration, criminal justice, education, health services administration, information technology and public administration. Stayer works with over 300 Fortune 500 companies to educate their employees. Stayer University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Early history

Dr. Siebert Irving Strayer founded Strayer's Business College in Baltimore, Maryland in 1892. ] Strayer established the college to teach business skills to former farm workers including shorthand, typing and accounting. Thomas W. Donoho joined the school in 1902. In its first decade of operations, enrollment at the school gradually increased, attracting students from other states, and in 1904 Strayer opened a branch of the school in Washington, D.C.

Enrollment further expanded as demand for trained accountants grew after the passage of the Revenue Act of 1913 and World War I increased the need for government clerks with office skills. During the 1930s, the college was authorized to grant collegiate degrees in accountancy by Washington, D.C.'s board of education. The school founded Strayer Junior College in 1959, when it was given the right to confer two-year degrees. In 1969, the college received the accreditation needed to grant four-year Bachelor of Arts degrees and was renamed Strayer College.

1980s and 1990s

From the 1980s to the late 1990s, Strayer College grew rapidly; enrollment increased from approximately 1,800 in 1981 and 2,000 in 1983 to around 9,000 by 1997. The college expanded the range of degree programs and courses it offered to include subjects such as data processing management and health care management. In 1987, the college was given authorization to grant Master of Science degrees. During the 1990s, the college began to focus on offering information technology courses. According to The Washington Times, high demand for computer training due to the increased use of computers in offices and movement toward "knowledge-based" employment led to higher enrollment at Strayer. In addition, Strayer began providing training programs in computer information systems for companies including AT&T Corporation and government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service. In 1996, the college launched Strayer Online to offer classes via the Internet.

2000s to present
Strayer University, Miami Florida

In 1998, Strayer College was granted university status by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission and became Strayer University. An increased demand for college degrees among working adults led to Strayer's continued expansion during the early and mid-2000s, establishing its first campus locations outside of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Florida. According to the university's website, Strayer University now operates additional campuses in Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas.

Sondra Stallard was named the thirteenth president of Strayer University in May 2007. Stallard had been dean since 1996. Stallard previously served as dean of the school of continuing and professional studies at the University of Virginia.

Strayer enrollment grew dramatically in the decade 2001–2010, from 14,009 in the fall of 2001 to 60,711 in the fall of 2010. Enrollment dropped to 42,975 by 2015.

In December 2011, the university acquired the Jack Welch Management Institute from Chancellor University for about $7 million. The institute offers a fully online Executive MBA program, as well as certificate programs. In 2012, Michael Plater was named fourteenth president of Strayer University. Previously, he served as provost and chief academic officer. Before joining Strayer, Plater was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at North Carolina A&T State University.

In October 2013, the university initiated a major change in its physical operations by announcing the closure of its 20 Midwest campus locations. All students currently enrolled in programs in the Midwest were able to continue their education through Strayer's online only program offerings.

Comedian and game show host Steve Harvey was a spokesperson for Strayer and has appeared in several advertisements and spoke at Strayer's commencement ceremony in May 2015. In August 2014, Strayer opened its largest campus in Suitland, Maryland. The building is 37,500 square feet. Most Strayer campuses are only 12,000 square feet. The new building includes 28 classrooms.

In 2015, Brian Jones, who had previously been Strayer University's General Counsel, was named the university's fifteenth president. Prior to joining Strayer University, Jones was a lawyer and higher education entrepreneur. He served as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Education from 2001 until 2005.

In February 2015, Strayer partnered with Daily Mail to produce a new section of the Daily Mail site named Strayer Business News. As part of the deal, Daily Mail would co-produce education and business content for its new business section. In January 2016, Strayer Education announced that acquired the New York Code + Design Academy (NYCDA). NYCDA operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Strayer Education offering web and mobile development courses.