Alliant International University Launches Scholarship Program & New Course Offerings

Program is part of new effort to increase access for students affected by California budget cuts

News provided by

Apr 23, 2012, 04:17 ET

SAN DIEGO, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when public higher education in California is declining in accessibility, affordability and availability, Alliant International University is expanding its undergraduate offerings, making its programs more flexible and cost effective, and implementing new merit-based scholarships.

Alliant's three-pronged initiative, which will be implemented for the Fall 2012 semester at the San Diego campus, includes the following:

Alliant is eliminating its current minimum requirement of 45 units of transfer credit. Students may transfer any number of credits from other institutions including community colleges. Students can major in psychology, business, marketing and international relations. Additional majors in child development and criminal justice are planned for 2013. The curriculum will follow California standards for general education, meaning that credits from community colleges or California State University branches will seamlessly transfer into Alliant.
To increase flexibility Alliant undergraduate students will have three options to take courses: in the classroom, online, or a hybrid of the two.
Alliant is introducing the Direct Success Scholarship Program. The program has two levels – a $3,000 Merit scholarship provided to all students who have completed at least 60 units (including those transferred from another institution) and a cumulative GPA of 3.0; and a $7,000 President's scholarship awarded to qualified students who have exhibited leadership skills and academic excellence including a GPA of 3.5 or better. Details of the application process and eligibility guidelines can be found at success.alliant.edu

"As we all witness the California higher education budget crisis unfold, impacting the aspirations of thousands of students, we are helping to ensure that the dream of higher education will continue," said Geoffrey Cox, president, Alliant International University. "Alliant already has a strong reputation for its small classes, flexible schedules, remarkable diversity, and tuition that is much lower than most private schools. With these new offerings, we're also hoping to be part of the solution to the current economic challenges."

"We welcome students with any number of credits," said Russ Newman, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Alliant International University. "We'll work with every student to take full advantage of their transfer credits and help them fill in any missing requirements. In today's economy, and with so many non-traditional students and recent veterans looking to advance their education to secure better careers, we felt it was important that Alliant develop a system that ensures that students can enter at any point in the curriculum."

Currently, these new offerings are only available to students enrolled at Alliant's San Diego campus. Depending on the interest and success of these new offerings, Alliant may consider expanding this program to its other seven California campuses.

For further information and to apply for the Alliant Direct to Success Scholarships, students should visit http://success.alliant.edu or call the Admissions Office at 1-866-U-ALLIANT.

About Alliant
Alliant International University is a private, not-for-profit university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Alliant was formed in 2001 by the merger of two legacy institutions, the California School of Professional Psychology and United States International University, with more than 45,000 alumni. Today, Alliant serves more than 4,000 students in six California cities and three international locations. It is one of the most diverse universities in the nation. Alliant qualifies as a Hispanic Serving Institution and has been recognized as one of the top "Military Friendly" universities in the country. For more details, visit www.alliant.edu.

SOURCE Alliant International University