Colorado Heights University (CHU)
About
Colorado Heights University (CHU), a not-for-profit, private university based in Denver, CO, announced today it will no longer be accepting new students and will begin the process of eventually closing the school, which is expected to occur later in 2017. “Our campus and programs will continue to operate normally and our current students will receive the career-focused, quality education they have always received from us,” CHU President Fred Van Liew said. “We will be focusing our efforts to help our students complete their programs here at CHU or at other institutions.”
Introduction
Colorado Heights University (CHU), a not-for-profit, private university based in Denver, CO, announced today it will no longer be accepting new students and will begin the process of eventually closing the school, which is expected to occur later in 2017. “Our campus and programs will continue to operate normally and our current students will receive the career-focused, quality education they have always received from us,” CHU President Fred Van Liew said. “We will be focusing our efforts to help our students complete their programs here at CHU or at other institutions.” A combination of factors has led to the decision to close the campus, including the recent decision by the U.S. Dept. of Education to deny recognition of the accrediting authority of the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is the body that accredits CHU’s academic programs. In addition, an insufficient student population, as seen in past and current enrollments, has made it challenging to sustain the current campus operation. “Seeking new accreditation is both a lengthy and a costly process with no certainty of outcome,” Van Liew said. “We evaluated our current and projected financial resources, projected enrollments, and the consequences of the U.S. Dept. of Education’s decision denying recognition of ACICS. We agreed that our time and resources are best spent helping our students to finish their degrees here or at other nearby institutions.” Van Liew said students, faculty, and staff at CHU have been notified of the decision and staff are working to assist the campus’s students, who number just over 500. “Of that number, about 400 students are English language certificate students and just over 100 are a bachelor and graduate degree students in various business disciplines,” Van Liew said. “The English language students will earn their certificates at CHU by next fall, and CHU will help the other one hundred bachelor’s and graduate students transition to nearby schools to complete their degree programs.” Van Liew said the campus is also working with federal and state regulators to ensure a successful transition.
Locations
- Denver
3001 S. Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80236 U.S.A., , Denver