HAMILTON COLLEGE MERGES WITH KAPLAN UNIVERSITY
Seven Sites Join Davenport Location as Kaplan University Campuses
DAVENPORT, Iowa, Oct. 30, 2007—Hamilton College and Kaplan University today announced the merger of their two institutions, providing students with a wider selection of program offerings and new online learning opportunities. Seven Iowa and Nebraska campuses are merging with the Davenport, Iowa-based University.
“Hamilton College has been Iowa’s oldest continuously operating career college specializing in business education,” said Kaplan University Provost David Clinefelter, Ph.D. “Now, we are building upon that legacy. We are committed to providing students with a high-quality education that offers flexibility by combining on-ground and online educational options for working adults. A Kaplan University education will give students the opportunity to enter or advance in some of the fastest-growing professional fields in Iowa."
Hamilton campuses joining the Davenport location as Kaplan University campuses include Iowa locations in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Mason City. The Nebraska campuses include Lincoln and Omaha. All of the campuses are now named Kaplan University.
The merger provides campus students greater flexibility to pursue blended learning options—taking courses on ground and online—at a regionally accredited institution. Traditional Hamilton College courses of study have included certificate and degree programs in allied health, business and criminal justice, among others. The new partnership allows students to explore similar degrees online with the benefit of additional programs, including master’s degrees, which were not previously available on the campuses.
“We are very excited about the educational opportunities for Iowa students that will result from this merger,” said Davenport Campus President John Neal. “Now, students can combine the advantages of attending classes at local brick-and-mortar schools with the opportunity to explore newly expanded online degree programs that Kaplan University offers worldwide.
“We work closely with local employers to prepare our students for fields that reflect employment needs in the greater Davenport area,” added Neal. “We provide our students with opportunities to learn career-specific skills that may help them become productive Iowa employees and citizens.”
Kaplan University will now have approximately 4,800 students throughout Iowa and Nebraska.
Kaplan University was founded in 1937 as the American Institute of Commerce. The school became Kaplan College in 2000 and changed its name to Kaplan University in 2004. Today, the Kaplan University Davenport campus offers associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, diplomas and certificates in fields including allied health and health care, business, computer information systems, criminal justice and legal studies, and travel. The Davenport campus serves more than 500 students and employs nearly 70 individuals among its faculty and staff. The campus is a member of the Davenport One and Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce.
About Hamilton College
Hamilton College has operated for more than a century as a local career-focused educational institution. The school is comprised of seven campuses throughout Iowa and Nebraska, serving nearly 3,700 students. Its campuses offer programs in areas including allied health, business, computer information systems, legal studies, nursing and travel. Hamilton College is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
About Kaplan University
Kaplan University, based in Davenport, Iowa, is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The University provides market-driven, career-focused educational programs. Kaplan offers master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees as well as certificates through more than 100 programs online and on ground. Its programs are designed to provide students with the skills they need to qualify for employment in fields such as business, criminal justice, education, health care, information technology, education and legal studies.