Trident University International

The institution was founded as Touro University International, a branch campus of Touro College, in July 1998, by its founders Yoram Neumann and Edith Neumann. It was the first university in the world to offer a regionally accredited doctorate program online with no residency requirement.{{cite web |url=https://www.tuw.edu/school-news/dr-yoram-neumann/ |title=In Loving Memory – Dr. Yoram Neumann, PhD|access-date=2020-04-17 |work=Touro University International|date= 1998 }} Touro University International was initially accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Touro College, including the Touro University International branch campus, was subsequently re-accredited by MSCHE in 2004. Because of its location in California, robust growth, fiscal and operational stability, and unique online delivery model, Touro University International was separately accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in February 2005.{{cite web |url=https://trident.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/academic-catalog/introduction/ |title=academic catalog|access-date=2024-05-10 |work=introduction|date= 2024 }}

In October 2007, Touro University International was sold to Summit Partners for 190 million dollars and a new institution, TUI University (now Trident at AIU) was formed and incorporated as a private for profit.{{cite web |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Touro-College-Sells-Online/39863 |title=Touro College Sells Online Division for $190-Million |date=October 31, 2007 |work=The Chronicle of Higher Education}} The deal was seen by many as part of a larger trend of nonprofit higher education entities being taken for-profit, but the Touro deal was unusual in that it may have been the first sale by a nonprofit college of one of its divisions.{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/11/01/quick-takes-190-million-sale-touro-online-division-policy-corporate-names-swastika |title=Quick Takes: $190 Million Sale of Touro Online Division|access-date=2007-10-31|work=nsidehighered.com|date= 2009 }} In January 2011, TUI University officially changed its name to Trident University International.{{cite web |url=https://www.trident.edu/articles/tui-changes-name-to-trident-university-international/ |title=TUI University Changes Its Name To Trident University International|access-date=2011-01-25|work=Trident University|date= 2018 }} On March 29, 2015, Jones International University (JIU) announced it would close in 2016 and that it had entered into a formal teach-out transfer agreement with Trident University International that would provide all JIU students with individualized, custom learning plans and the opportunity to transition their studies to Trident. Trident also announced plans to rename its business school The Glenn R. Jones College of Business Administration.{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2015/04/02/first-accredited-online-school-jones-university-to-shutter-in-2016|title= First accredited online school, Jones University,to shutter in 2016|date= 2 April 2015|access-date=2 April 2017}} In March 2019, Career Education Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire Trident University International for $35 – 44 million from Summit Partners and merged this acquisition into Career Education Corporation's American InterContinental University as a branch campus.{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/03/14/career-education-corp-buys-online-university|title=Career Education Corp. Buys Online University|access-date=March 13, 2019}} Trident at AIU was officially granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission on February 19, 2020,{{cite web|url=https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/institution-profile/211097/211097007|title=Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs|date=19 March 2020|access-date=20 March 2020}} and withdrew from WASC shortly thereafter.{{cite web|url=https://www.trident.edu/articles/trident-becomes-part-of-american-intercontinental/|title=Trident University International Officially Becomes Part of the American InterContinental University System|date=14 December 2020|access-date=14 December 2020}} Trident University International closed its Cypress, California office as part of the merger with American InterContinental University (AIU) and opened an office in Chandler, Arizona by late 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.trident.edu/articles/faqs/|title=Trident University International Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)|access-date=2020-12-17}} Trident at AIU opened a new satellite office in San Antonio, Texas in April 2021 to support Trident students and alumni, as well as prospective students. {{cite web |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/trident-university-international-opens-satellite-office-in-san-antonio-821641178.html|title=Trident University International Opens Satellite Office in San Antonio|access-date=June 29, 2021}}

Trident does not accept applications from residents of Massachusetts and New York.{{cite web|url=https://trident.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2023/2023-academic-catalog/admission-and-transfer-policies/admission-is-not-guaranteed/ |title=Trident University Catalog - Admission is Not Guaranteed }}

In June 2011, the WSCUC Commission received information that Trident awarded baccalaureate degrees to students who had not fulfilled the university's general education (GE) requirements. In addition, Trident failed to notify WSCUC of this problem when it was first brought to the institution's attention by the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOCNAV), an organization that works with the United States Navy to assure that the colleges that Navy personnel attend are appropriately accredited and military friendly. Because of the serious breach of Standards One and Two related to integrity and general education, the Commission issued an Order to Show Cause why Trident's accreditation should not be terminated effective March 30, 2012. The following year, the commission confirmed that Trident had satisfactorily addressed the issues and reaffirmed Trident's accreditation.{{cite letter |author=Ralph A. Wolff, Western Association of Schools & Colleges |recipient=Lucille Sansing, Trident University International |subject=Accreditation |language=en-US |date=March 11, 2013 |url=https://www.trident.edu/download/WASC_031113.pdf |access-date=25 July 2022}}

As of 2015, Trident was under heightened cash monitoring by the United States Department of Education "to provide additional oversight of cash management".{{cite web|url=https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/data-center/school/hcm |title=Heightened Cash Monitoring | Federal Student Aid |publisher=Studentaid.ed.gov |access-date=2020-05-28}}

In 2017, the Veterans Education Success organization alleged that Trident had used misleading information to recruit "survivors" who had Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Survivors are the children of a father or mother who was killed while on active duty and their widows or husbands.{{cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/556718b2e4b02e470eb1b186/t/5bc2295fe79c7060b0688f39/1539451232485/Trident+Report.FINAL.pdf |title=Is Trident University A Good Choice For Military-Connected Students? |first=Walter |last=Ochinko |date=October 2018 |publisher=Veterans Education Success}}

On August 30, 2018, a Citation and Order of Abatement was issued by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education a unit of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The Bureau received information from the U.S. Department of Education in early 2018 that Trident University International, Institution Code 27129873, has a composite score of 0.2 out to possible 3.0, which is considered by the U.S. Department of Education as not being financially responsible. {{cite web|url=https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/actions/tridentuniv_citation.pdf |title=CITATION AND ORDER OF ABATEMENT |date=October 2018 |publisher=Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education}}{{source-attribution}}

On March 9, 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suspended G.I. Bill reimbursement eligibility for American InterContinental University and several other for-profit schools, including Trident at AIU, due to what the V.A. said were "erroneous, deceptive, or misleading enrollment and advertising practices", giving the schools 60 days to take "corrective action".{{cite web|url=https://studentveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/FAQs-for-March-9-2020-VA-Action-on-five-Schools-10.pdf|title=March 9th VA suspension of new GI Bill students at five schools|website=Student Veterans of America|access-date=2020-03-10}} Later that year, the VA reversed its action.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/02/va-backs-down-plan-suspend-university-phoenix-other-colleges-accessing-gi-bill-benefits/|title=VA backs down from plan to suspend University of Phoenix and other colleges from accessing GI Bill benefits|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2020-08-20}}

Trident at American InterContinental University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.{{cite web|url=https://www.trident.edu/why-trident/accreditation/|title=Trident at AIU - The Higher Learning Commission|website=www.trident.edu/why-trident/accreditation/|date=17 December 2014|access-date=15 May 2020}} In 2022 Trident University's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management (BSHRM), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs were granted programmatic accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) under the American InterContinental University System (AIUS).{{cite web|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/trident-university-international-s-doctor-of-business-administration-program-granted-acbsp-accreditation-803329127.html|title=Trident University International's Doctor of Business Administration Program Granted ACBSP Accreditation|date=9 November 2022|access-date=9 November 2022}}

Trident offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level degrees in a 100% online environment in the following colleges:{{cite web|url=https://www.trident.edu/colleges/|title=100% Accredited Online Courses and Degrees|date=9 November 2022|access-date=9 November 2022}}

• Glenn R. Jones College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Health and Human Services
• College of Information Systems

In Washington Monthly's 2021 National University Rankings, Trident was ranked 228 out of 381 institutions and 56th in the western region for "Best Bang for the Buck".{{Cite news|date=December 24, 2021|title=Washington Monthly's List of 2021 College Rankings|work=Washington Monthly|url=https://www.trident.edu/articles/washington-monthly-list-of-2021/|access-date=December 24, 2021}}

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, As of 2024 Trident at AIU has a 6-year bachelor degree graduation rate of 8% and only a 20% retention rate for first time students pursuing bachelor's degrees.{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/IPEDS/DFR/2024/ReportPDF.aspx?unitid=445027|title=College Navigator - Trident at American InterContinental University|website=nces.ed.gov}}

• Robyn J. Blader, United States National Guard brigadier general
• James A. Cody, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
• Ben Franklin, member-elect of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• William Gainey, United States Army Command Sergeant Major
• David O'Donahue, deputy adjutant general of the Wisconsin National Guard
• Kenneth Preston, 13th sergeant major of the Army
• Stephen Templin, bestselling author of "Seal Team Six"
• Tony Tinderholt, member of Texas House of Representatives
• John W. Troxell, United States Army Command sergeant major

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• [http://www.trident.edu/ Official website]

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Category:For-profit universities and colleges in the United States

Category:Online universities and colleges in the United States

Category:Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Category:Educational institutions established in 1998

Category:1998 establishments in California

Category:Touro University System

Category:Distance education institutions based in the United States