University of the People
{{Short description|Online university}}
{{Shortlead|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox university
| name = University of the People
| image_name = University of the People seal.png
| image_size =
| image_upright = .7
| caption =
| established = {{start date and age|February 2009}}
| type = Private online university
| accreditation = WASC Senior College and University Commission, {{cite web | url=https://www.wscuc.org/institutions/university-of-the-people/ | title=WASC accreditation | accessdate=28 February 2025}} DEAC
| president = Shai Reshef
| administrative_staff = 57{{cite web |type=Form 990|url= https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_202008_990_2021041417946967.pdf |title=University of the People's Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, 2019|date=July 23, 2021 |page=1 (PDF page: 27)|access-date=2021-07-23 |website=IRS.gov |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210723000205/https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_202008_990_2021041417946967.pdf |archive-date=2021-07-23 |url-status=live}}
| students = 28,992{{cite web | url=https://www.wscuc.org/institutions/university-of-the-people/ | title=University of the People }}
| city = Pasadena
| state = California
| country = United States
| campus =
| website = {{URL|https://www.uopeople.edu|uopeople.edu}}
| logo = File:University of the People Logo.jpg
| logo_upright = .7
{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} {{Color box|#452A4D}}
}}
The University of the People (UoPeople) is a regional accredited private distance education university based in California, USA. Founded by Shai Reshef in 2009, it is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. Most of its students study business administration.
History
File:UoPeople President Shai Reshef and UoPeople Provost David Cohen.jpg and Provost Emeritus David Cohen]]
Shai Reshef started the University of the People in January 2009. He was inspired by his previous attempt at building an online University in the Netherlands in the early 2000s and his experience at Cramster. The intent of the University of the People was to provide a free online alternative for students who would not be able to afford tuition at traditional institutions.{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/articles/2009/04/uopeople.html |title=It's Time to Give Back |publisher=Inc. |date=April 20, 2009 |access-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115164302/https://www.inc.com/articles/2009/04/uopeople.html |url-status=live }} The university has no campus due to its online distance learning nature; it uses a shared office in Pasadena, California as an office of admission.{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2012/08/27/160116814/online-university-for-all-balances-big-goals-expensive-realities |title=Online University For All Balances Big Goals, Expensive Realities |website=NPR.org |language=en |access-date=January 23, 2018 |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422145841/https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2012/08/27/160116814/online-university-for-all-balances-big-goals-expensive-realities |url-status=live }}[https://www.wscuc.org/institutions/university-of-the-people/ "University of the People,"] WASC Senior College and University Commission, retrieved December 9, 2024
The first UoPeople students began classes in September 2009, studying for associate and bachelor's degrees in business administration and computer science.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
In 2016, the university began offering an online Master of Business Administration (MBA).{{ cite web | date=September 18, 2017 | title=Here's how you can score a tuition-free MBA | publisher=CNBC | department=make it | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/18/heres-how-you-can-score-a-tuition-free-mba.html | access-date=February 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207184824/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/18/heres-how-you-can-score-a-tuition-free-mba.html | archive-date=February 7, 2023 | url-status=live | quote="The university later introduced a health science track and then a graduate business degree in 2016."}}
In 2017, the University of Edinburgh (UE) partnered with the school so that health science graduates of UoPeople could complete a bachelor's at UE.{{cite web |url=https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2017/partnership-opens-doors-for-students-from-adverse |title=Partnership opens doors for students from adverse backgrounds |date=October 31, 2017 |publisher=University of Edinburgh |access-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301182335/https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2017/partnership-opens-doors-for-students-from-adverse |url-status=live }}
In 2018, the university announced the new online Master of Education (M.Ed) in Advanced Teaching in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate.{{cite web | url=https://www.ibo.org/news/news-about-the-ib/university-of-the-people-and-the-ib-partner-to-announce-tuition-free-masters-of-education-programme | title=University of the People and the IB partner to announce tuition-free Master of Education program| date=October 4, 2018}} This new program started taking in students in 2019. IB started to offer 80 scholarships for eligible M.Ed. students in 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.ibo.org/professional-development/about-our-workshops/ib-collaborations/university-of-the-people-med-in-advanced-teaching | title=University of the People M.Ed. In Advanced Teaching | date=March 28, 2019 }}
UoPeople in Arabic, announced in the World Economic Forum{{cite web |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1478356/business-economy |title=WEF meeting in Jordan to address 'new platforms of cooperation' |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=April 8, 2019 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407103428/http://www.arabnews.com/node/1478356/business-economy |url-status=live }} in April 2019, launched in September 2020; it uses a different website in Arabic and does not require proof of English knowledge.{{cite web |url=https://ar.uopeople.edu/become-student/ |title=هل تريد أن تصبح طالباً؟ |language=ar |trans-title=Do you want to be a student? |access-date=December 13, 2020 |website=ar.uopeople.edu |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128020641/https://ar.uopeople.edu/become-student/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.uopeople.edu/about/uopeople/in-brief/ |title=In Brief |publisher=UoPeople |access-date=September 13, 2020 |archive-date=September 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905151843/https://www.uopeople.edu/about/uopeople/in-brief/ |url-status=live }}
Accreditation
In February 2012, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the University of the People a grant of $613,282 for the purpose of helping the university earn national accreditation.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2012/02/OPP1018774 |title=University of the People |date=January 21, 2018 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103353/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2012/02/OPP1018774|archive-date=December 31, 2017}} Two years later, the university was accredited for degree-granting programs through the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).Accrediting Commission - Grant of Accreditation, DETC, February 13, 2014; [https://www.deac.org/UploadedDocuments/Public-Notices/Accreditation-Actions/022717_AC_meeting_report.pdf Report from the Accrediting Commission - Renewal of Accreditation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910103338/http://www.deac.org/UploadedDocuments/Public-Notices/Accreditation-Actions/022717_AC_meeting_report.pdf |date=September 10, 2017 }}, DEAC, February 27, 2017,{{cite web | url=https://www.deac.org/Student-Center/Directory-Of-Accredited-Institutions.aspx | title=Directory of Accredited Institutions }}
University of the People received "candidate" status in June 2021 with WASC Senior College and University Commission.{{cite web|url=https://www.wscuc.org/commission/commission-actions/june-2021-commission-actions|title=June 2021 Commission Actions|website=wscuc.org|date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715131621/https://www.wscuc.org/commission/commission-actions/june-2021-commission-actions|url-status=live}} In late February 2025, University of the People received "Accredited" status.{{Cite web |title=University of the People |url=https://www.wscuc.org/institutions/university-of-the-people/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=WSCUC |language=en-US}}
Facilities
The "main campus" of the university is a facility in Pasadena, California.[https://www.wscuc.org/locations/university-of-the-people/ "University of the People,"], locations directory, WASC Senior College and University Commission, retrieved December 9, 2024File:595EColoradoBlvdPasadenaCA.jpg
University of the People Education Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary{{cite web |type=Form 990, Schedule F, Part IV |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_201908_990_2020091817311265.pdf |title=University of the People's Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, 2018 |website=IRS.gov |date=July 17, 2020 |page=2 (PDF page: 38) |access-date=2020-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204083303/https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_201908_990_2020091817311265.pdf |archive-date=2020-12-04 |url-status=live}} which provides support services to the institution.{{cite web |type=Form 990, Part I |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_201908_990_2020091817311265.pdf |title=University of the People's Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, 2018 |date=July 17, 2020 |website=IRS.gov |access-date=2020-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204083303/https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_201908_990_2020091817311265.pdf |archive-date=2020-12-04 |url-status=live |page=1 (PDF page: 37)}} The subsidiary is registered with the Israeli Corporations Authority{{cite web |title=University of the People Education Ltd (CC) - 514228139 |url=https://en.checkid.co.il/company/UNIVERSITY+OF+THE+PEOPLE+EDUCATION+LTD+(CC)-2EaGBbD-514228139 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518163559/https://www.checkid.co.il/company/%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%98%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A3-%D7%93%D7%94-%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%9C-%D7%90%D7%93%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%9F-%D7%91%D7%A2~%D7%9E-(%D7%97%D7%9C~%D7%A6)-514228139 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |access-date=2021-05-18}} and maintains an office in Tel Aviv, Israel.{{cite web |type=Form 990, Schedule R, Part IV |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_201908_990_2020091817311265.pdf |title=University of the People's Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, 2018 |date=July 17, 2020 |page=2 (PDF page: 38) |website=IRS.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204083303/https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/264078735_201908_990_2020091817311265.pdf |archive-date=2020-12-04 |access-date=2020-12-04 |url-status=live}}
Fees
According to the University of the People, the university charges no tuition fees but students must pay some administrative fees to cover course assessments, ranging from $2,860 for an associate's degree (two years) to $5,660 for a bachelor's degree (four years).{{Cite web |url=https://www.uopeople.edu/tuition-free/processing-fees/ |title=Our fees |website=uopeople.edu |access-date=2020-11-24 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020318/https://www.uopeople.edu/tuition-free/processing-fees/ |url-status=live }} These include $60 processing fees for applications.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}
The university does not participate in federal financial aid programs,{{cite web |url=https://www.wscuc.org/institutions/university-of-the-people/ |title=University of the People |publisher=WSCUC |access-date=2021-11-20 }} but it does offer some scholarships.{{cite web |url=https://wascsenior.app.box.com/s/ii4gvzwt12j9ra4neqvtfgmeqezdo83m |title=Report of the WSCUC Visiting Team: Seeking Accreditation Visit 1 |publisher=WSCUC |quote=While the UoPeople does not provide federal financial aid, it does provide scholarships to support as many students experiencing financial difficulty as funds allow. |access-date=2021-11-20}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36738442|title=Refugees study at online 'university of anywhere'|last=Coughlan|first=Sean|date=2016-07-19|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en-GB|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127200133/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36738442|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-students-idUSKBN19A236|title=Between shelling and displacement, Syrian students seek degrees online|last=Malo|first=Sebastien|work=U.S.|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en-US|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420115356/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-students-idUSKBN19A236|url-status=live}}
References
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External links
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- {{Official website}}
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Category:Online universities and colleges in the United States
Category:Universities and colleges in Los Angeles County, California