Two-Year Degree Completion and Seamless Transfer Define Altius Partnerships

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Altius Education, a provider of online higher education, is expanding the success of its Ivy Bridge College model to two new institutions: City University of Seattle (CityU) and Concordia University Chicago.

Ivy Bridge College, a joint venture with Tiffin University, offers students affordable and flexible online associate degrees with seamless admittance to bachelor's degree programs. Through these new partnerships – CityBridge and ConcordiaBridge – students apply once, and upon completion of a two-year degree at Ivy Bridge, transfer to pursue their four-year degrees at CityU or Concordia.

"These new partnerships with private and not-for-profit schools continue to build on the foundation of Ivy Bridge's culture – partnering with all types of students to help them succeed," explains Paul Freedman, founder and CEO of Altius Education. "We've found that more and more learners are seeking a two-year bridge to obtain a traditional bachelor's degree, while four-year institutions are looking for well-prepared junior transfer students."

The CityU and Concordia partnerships were created to offer students a streamlined pathway to a bachelor's degree, with unparalleled mentoring and support. From day one, students are assigned a success coach; a single point of contact who serves as an invaluable resource from application to graduation. This high level of support ensures success in and out of the classroom to combat the challenges traditionally associated with degree completion.

In establishing the partnership, both schools noted Ivy Bridge's exceptional retention and graduation rates since 2008: a first- to second-term retention rate of more than 85 percent and graduation rates that, like the retention rate, are twice the industry average.

"Altius Education is helping us reach students who may not be quite ready to start a four-year program and gives them the tools they need to begin their educational journey," says Lee Gorsuch, CityU president. "This new partnership will better prepare learners to complete a four-year degree with us. We look forward to welcoming Ivy Bridge graduates."

"Our Ivy Bridge partnership to provide online access to achieve degree completion is a unique and natural addition to our comprehensive academic offerings at Concordia University Chicago," said John F. Johnson, Concordia president. "Our university has experienced tremendous recent growth and student demand for online programs, along with longtime success in supporting students completing their bachelor's degrees through our organizational management offerings."

In addition to co-branded partnerships with CityU and Concordia, Ivy Bridge holds articulation agreements with public and private institutions. Altius' newest partner, Arizona State University, joins more than 65 accredited four-year schools across the country including the University of Illinois at Springfield, George Mason University, University of Maryland and Bowling Green State University. For a complete list of partners, visit http://ivybridge.tiffin.edu/transfer-programs.

For more information on CityU's partnership, visit http://ivybridge.tiffin.edu/CityBridge/. Information about programs available to ConcordiaBridge students can be found at http://ivybridge.tiffin.edu/.

EDITOR'S NOTE: To interview representatives of Ivy Bridge or Altius Education, please contact Betsy Linaberger at (717) 231-5343 or [email protected].

About Altius Education

Altius Education, Inc., partners with traditional universities to create an ecosystem that improves and personalizes the delivery of education. Driven by this unique strategy, Altius identifies structural gaps in higher education and helps its partners deliver innovative online academic programs. Its first two online programs include joint ventures with Tiffin University – Ivy Bridge College, offering online associates degree programs with direct access to more than 65 accredited four-year institutions, and Mt Lyon Institute, providing a bachelor and master degree program focused on elder care. For more information, visit www.altiused.com.

About City University of Seattle

Founded in 1973 in Seattle, Washington, City University of Seattle is a private, not-for-profit university that serves more than 8,000 students worldwide each year, with more than 45,000 alumni worldwide. City University of Seattle's mission is to change lives for good by offering high quality and relevant in-class and online education options to any person in the world with a desire to learn. Headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, City University of Seattle offers classes at locations throughout Washington, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Slovakia, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, and China. For more information, visit www.cityu.edu.

About Concordia University Chicago

Founded in 1864, Concordia University Chicago is a comprehensive liberal arts-based Christian university in the Lutheran tradition. Through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, and College of Graduate and Innovative Programs, Concordia offers more than 100 areas of study in small classes taught by professors who are passionate about teaching and student success. For more information, visit www.cuchicago.edu.

SOURCE Altius Education