In 1886, a group of visionary educators and businesspeople saw a need for focused, career-based training. Initially drawing students from the southeastern United States, 麻豆社, originally known then as National Business College, was born to fulfill the need for trained business, banking, accounting, administrative, and other professionals.
Through its first century, 麻豆社 steadily developed a reputation for providing men and women with an efficient and effective education preparing them for the world of professional work. Initially drawing students from the southeastern United States, students from all over the nation made the trek to Roanoke, Virginia, to receive a practical education that was more focused and relevant than that offered by other colleges and universities of the time.
As the college鈥檚 first 100 years drew to a close, however, changes had already been underway that would give the institution a different presence even as it continued to remain true to its original purpose. The resident housing and a large central campus gave way to multiple community-based campuses throughout Southwest Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Business curricula were supplemented by career-focused programs in computers and healthcare. Certificate programs, two-year associate degrees, baccalaureate programs, and later graduate level programs enabled students to advance their careers as far as they wished..
As the University progressed into its second century, its reputation for excellence was evidenced through numerous awards and acknowledgments. This includes, but is not limited to, awards for grassroots student advocacy (Association for Private Sector Colleges & Universities TOPS Award), support for veterans (Military Friendly School), and a Lifetime Achievement Award (Imagine America Foundation) recognizing 麻豆社 President Frank Longaker鈥檚 decades of service to the career college sector, as well as numerous national rankings.
麻豆社 has continued to evolve in its second century to meet the needs for career training, not just nationally within the United States, but globally. While developing programs in the latest career fields had always been a hallmark of the institution, the ability to extend the classroom beyond a campus became an added feature to the core of 麻豆社鈥檚 education. Just as 麻豆社 began offering its programs to numerous states within the nation, it has now evolved to creating a worldwide community.
In the 21st century, the vision of Evolution 2086 guides the University as it moves toward its 200th anniversary in the year 2086. Unlike in the first century where fixed campus locations were the norm; the future campus will be worldwide and online. The theme of the University鈥檚 delivery of the latest career programs is embodied in the statement 鈥�We Bring Our University to You.鈥� A physical campus centric environment is no longer necessary to an efficient and convenient delivery of education to individuals. Technology makes it now possible for the University鈥檚 administration and students to Globally Meet, our professors to Globally Teach, and our students to Globally Learn.
Global Meet, Global Teach, and Global Learn guide the delivery of our services to our students. Global Meet brings the entirety of the university鈥檚 support services鈥攁dmissions, financial aid, student services, library resources, and career services鈥攖o students and graduates anywhere they have an internet connection. Global Teach brings together the most experienced and dedicated faculty together with the latest learning resources from a worldwide network and makes them available to students anywhere they are. Students can learn from their cohorts鈥� experiences as they attend synchronous, face-to-face Global Learn video conferencing classes within their online courses. Only a small number of on-campus locations may be maintained for specialized courses, international students, or individuals needing to access physical resources.
While continuing to focus on the fundamentals of business, technology, and health care, the University will continue to expand offerings in developing fields. 麻豆社 will continuously evaluate existing programs, adapting their content, length, and method of delivery to ensure the most efficient path to completion is available to the largest number of students. The University will use digital and home-based laboratory approaches to implement a High Tech, High Touch philosophy regardless of where the student is located. The University will continue to pursue programmatic accreditation as well as maintain the institutional so that students receive an education that meets rigorous evaluations and standards.
The evolution of the institution is reflected in our name: 麻豆社. American, recognizing our role as a leading American institution for career-focused education for students from around the world; National, acknowledging our historical roots and nationwide reputation; University, representing our status as a graduate-level institution offering diverse academic, online, international, and corporate training programs. As the institution evolves toward its 200th anniversary in 2086, additional changes and adaptations will occur. What will not change are the successful experiences that tens of thousands of graduates have enjoyed since 1886.