Fairfax University of America#Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy
{{Short description|Private university in Fairfax, Virginia, United States}}
{{distinguish|Fairfax University|University of Fairfax}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Fairfax University of America (FXUA)
| image = FXUA Seal19 Spot.png
| established = 1998
| closed = 2024
| accreditation =
| type = Private university
| president = Ahmed Alwani
| students = 17 (2021–22)
| city = Fairfax
| state = Virginia
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|38.8496|-77.3478|dim:50000_region:US-VA_type:adm1st|name=Fairfax University of Virginia|display=inline}}
| colours = Red and blue
| mascot = Tiger
| website = {{url|https://www.fxua.edu}}
| logo = FXUA LogoHorizontal LargerCMYK.jpg
}}
Fairfax University of America (FXUA, formerly Virginia International University) was a private university in Fairfax, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1998, and then as a non-profit 501(c)(3) university in 1999.{{Cite web|title=FXUA Academic Catalog 2021 - 2022 Academic Year, Second Edition|url=https://www.fxua.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Academic-Catalog-2021-2022-with-ELAC.pdf|access-date=2021-12-22|archive-date=2021-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222233827/https://www.fxua.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Academic-Catalog-2021-2022-with-ELAC.pdf|url-status=dead}} The university was formerly accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). In 2022 the United States Secretary of Education denied ACICS's accrediting status.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-terminates-federal-recognition-acics-enhances-federal-aid-program-participation-requirements-acics-accredited-colleges |title=U.S. Department of Education Terminates Federal Recognition of ACICS, Enhances Federal Aid Program Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges |date=19 August 2022}} The university ceased operations effective December 31, 2024.
Accreditation and certification
ACICS came under heavy scrutiny by regulators for its lax accreditation standards and failure to flag deficient programs at several institutions, including Fairfax University, which was "blasted [for] the quality and rigor of its online education program" by state regulators in 2019 and nearly closed down.{{cite news |last1=Douglas-Gabriel |first1=Danielle |title=Education Dept. drops embattled for-profit college accreditor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/06/02/acics-loses-education-department-recognition/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2 June 2021}}
History
The university's website states that the institution was founded in 1998 as Virginia International University. In 1999, the university was incorporated as a non-profit corporation and obtained 501(c)3 non-profit status.{{Cite web|title=University Timeline|url=https://www.fxua.edu/our-university/about-fxua/university-timeline/|access-date=2020-02-10|publisher=Fairfax University of America|language=en-US}} The first commencement was held on May 4, 2006, with 20 graduates in attendance.
In March 2019, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia threatened to revoke VIU's license to operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia after a 2018 audit found defects in the academic rigor and quality of VIU's online courses, run under Alwani's predecessor, publishing a report that Inside Higher Ed called "scathing".{{Cite news|last=Douglas-Gabriel|first=Danielle|date=5 March 2021|title=Federal advisory board votes to drop controversial for-profit college accreditor|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/03/05/acics-accreditation-federal-student-aid/}}{{cite news |last1=McKenzie |first1=Lindsay |title=Controversial accreditor ACICS's federal recognition likely to be revoked again |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/03/08/controversial-accreditor-acicss-federal-recognition-likely-be-revoked-again |access-date=23 March 2022 |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=8 March 2021 |language=en}} The audit cited several concerns including widespread instances of plagiarism and its admissions policy that allowed international students who demonstrated "abysmally poor" English language skills to attend the university.{{cite news|last1=Redden|first1=Elizabetn|date=March 20, 2019|title=Virginia Regulators Move to Shut Down University|language=en|work=Inside Higher Ed|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/03/20/virginia-regulators-move-shut-down-university|access-date=March 7, 2020}} Although the audit was focused on the school's online courses, auditors suggested that the issues likely impacted face-to-face classes as well, noting that online courses and in-person courses shared common teaching faculty, while the English proficiency issues were common among students attending in-person classes.
In June 2019, the State Council reached an agreement with VIU to allow the college to continue operating on the condition that they pause its distance education for at least three years.{{cite news|last1=Redden|first1=Elizabeth|date=June 18, 2019|title=Agreement Allows Virginia International to Continue Operating|language=en|work=Inside Higher Ed|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/06/18/agreement-allows-virginia-international-continue-operating|access-date=March 7, 2020}}
The university's name changed to Fairfax University of America (FXUA) on January 1, 2020.
On December 13, 2021, the State Council completed their audit, finding FXUA to be in full compliance of SCHEV regulations, permitting FXUA to immediately begin offering distance education again.{{Cite web|title=SCHEV FXUA Consent Agreement Confirmation|url=https://www.fxua.edu/docs/FXUA-consent-agreement-release.pdf}}
In 2024, FXUA announced that they would cease operations at the end of the year, citing that the university faced significant challenges due to a complex regulatory environment and a limited timeframe available to secure new accreditation.{{Cite web|title=Fairfax University of America|url=https://www.fxua.edu/}}
Academics
File:Fairfax University of America (53890521019).jpg
The university's academic units were organized into two schools: the School of Business and the School of Computer Information Systems. In Fall 2021 there were 5 full-time instructional faculty and 13 part-time instructional faculty.{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=fairfax&s=all&id=460376|title=Fairfax University of America|website=College Navigator|publisher=US Department of Education|access-date=18 June 2019|ref=College Navigator}}
=New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy =
Fairfax University of America operated a research institute, founded in 2019, the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, a foreign policy think tank operating out of Washington, D.C.{{cite web |title=New Lines Institute - About |url=https://newlinesinstitute.org/about/#/}} New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy and New Lines magazine, edited by Hassan Hassan and focusing on the Middle East now operate as independent entities from FXUA.{{cite web |title=About & Staff |website=New Lines Magazine |date=2021-02-17 |url=https://newlinesmag.com/about/ |access-date=2021-04-20}}{{Verify source|date=August 2023}} New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy is licensed in Washington, D.C. as of 2022.
Student life
25 (5 undergraduate) students were enrolled at the university in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=fairfax&s=all&id=460376|title=College Navigator Institutional Overview|website=College Navigator|publisher=US Department of Education|access-date=3 August 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Colleges and universities in Virginia}}
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Category:Private universities and colleges in Virginia
Category:Education in Fairfax County, Virginia
Category:Colleges accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Category:Universities and colleges established in 1998
Category:1998 establishments in Virginia