International American University: A Comprehensive Overview
International American University (IAU) is a private, for-profit institution with a focus on business-related programs. Located on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, IAU offers a range of qualifications, including MBAs, certificates, diplomas, and doctoral degrees. The university operates satellite campuses in San Diego and Irvine, delivering courses through blended classroom-hybrid models or entirely online. IAU's approach emphasizes practical education, allowing students to submit portfolios of prior learning for degree credit.
Founding and Early Years
The story of IAU begins in 2000, when a group of professionals established a business consulting company. Their focus was on developing leaders through team building and activity-based consulting, with the aim of helping individuals surpass their limitations and achieve tangible performance improvements. It was from this foundation of business management expertise that the idea for International American University was born.
Observing the growth of private colleges and universities in the 1990s and 2000s, the founders recognized the important role these institutions played in educating mature, working students - the "professional student." The founders of IAU asked themselves what would make IAU unique, especially with the rise of distance-learning schools. They envisioned a school that fostered an inclusive community, maintained academic rigor, employed experienced instructors, offered flexible class schedules, and provided quality student services. Rather than focusing on the competitive domestic American market, the founders saw potential in serving international students seeking a flexible, quality, and affordable American education.
Incorporated in California as a private proprietary S-corporation in 2005, the institution initially operated as the Management Institute of America (MIA). MIA pursued California State Approval through the now-defunct Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE). The initial concept was a distance-learning school, minimizing overhead costs by eliminating the need for traditional classrooms.
Navigating Approvals and Accreditation
In July 2006, MIA received its Temporary Approval to operate from the BPPVE. Recognizing that the name "Management Institute of America" did not resonate with the international market, the institution sought to change its name. According to its newsletter, the university received its initial approval for the name change on July 6, 2006.
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The process of obtaining Full Approval took nearly two years. In July 2007, the BPPVE sunset, leaving IAU and numerous other institutions without a state oversight agency. In December 2011, IAU received its Approval to Operate from the recently established State of California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). The approval included changing the main location from Palmdale to Los Angeles, adding undergraduate accountancy programs, removing information technology degree programs, and establishing a new satellite campus in Tustin, Orange County, CA.
In March 2009, IAU secured approval from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) School Certification Branch (SCB). This branch evaluates institutions seeking to enroll nonimmigrant students, ensuring they meet the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) eligibility requirements.
In October 2020, IAU achieved a significant milestone by earning Accredited Status as a Category IV institution from the TRACS Accreditation Commission.
Growth and Expansion
Between 2012 and 2015, IAU experienced substantial growth, increasing its F-1 student population from 200 to 500. To accommodate this growth, IAU relocated to a new 9,000 square foot facility on W. 8th St. in Los Angeles. In November 2013, the Tustin, CA satellite location was moved to Buena Park, CA.
In January 2017, the Hancock Park satellite campus was closed, and the main campus moved to a larger 12,000 square foot facility on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. This location, situated in Central Plaza in "Mid-Wilshire," offered improved accessibility via public transportation, ample parking, and proximity to numerous restaurants. Students, staff, and faculty responded positively to the new location, which also provided enhanced security features.
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IAU has continued to expand its reach. In October 2021, it established the San Diego Satellite Campus (IAUSD) in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego. In December 2023, IAU opened its first international satellite campus in Kathmandu, Nepal (IAUNP), marking a return to Nepal where it had previously operated between 2009 and 2015.
Challenges and Adaptations
Like many institutions, IAU faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted international student enrollment. As a result, the IAU Orange County Satellite Campus (IAUOC) in Garden Grove was closed in March 2020.
However, IAU has adapted to these challenges by offering flexible learning options. Online students attending synchronous virtual classes can participate in a classroom experience with local campus students, ask questions, and engage in discussions. This approach allows IAU to extend its reach and provide educational opportunities to students who may face professional, personal, visa-related, or financial obstacles to studying in Los Angeles. The foreign international student studies with IAU through its online learning management system (LMS), coined IAUonline.
Educational Philosophy and Programs
International American University positions itself as more than just a business education provider. It offers students the chance to immerse themselves in the vibrant business environment of Los Angeles. IAU emphasizes learning through real-world experience, connecting students with faculty who possess extensive industry experience.
The university fosters a diverse learning environment where students interact with peers from around the globe. This cross-cultural exchange enhances their understanding of different perspectives and prepares them for success in a globalized world. Students are brought face-to-face with faculty who have decades of experience in their respective fields. They learn of other cultures by interacting with international students from around the world in a hybrid classroom setting. They must speak English as a common means of communication as they work on projects or group assignments.
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IAU also offers business students an opportunity to live in one of the world’s most recognized business cities - Los Angeles, CA. Business is not only learned through a textbook and an online course - it is through immersion in the Los Angeles city life.
While committed to Christian beliefs, IAU embraces students of all faiths and no faiths.
IAU has entered into an agreement with Harvard Business School (HBS) Online.
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