Business Editors
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2007--Career
Education Corporation (NASDAQ: CECO) today announced that American
InterContinental University (AIU) has been removed from probation by
the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS). As a result, AIU's accreditation continues in good
standing.
SACS placed AIU on probation in December 2005, setting in motion
extensive actions by the University to meet the accrediting agency's
concerns. In October 2007, after visiting several AIU campuses, the
Special Committee of the Commission on Colleges of SACS informed
University officials that its final report would contain no
recommendations for further corrective action.
"We are gratified that the effort and hard work on the part of our
leadership, our faculty, and our staff have been acknowledged by our
accreditor," said Dr. George Miller, chief executive officer of
American InterContinental University. "We believe that the process
over the past two years has been a productive experience for the
University and for our students, and today we are a much stronger
institution. We look forward to continuing to provide our students
with a quality education that meets or exceeds the high standards set
by SACS. I am particularly gratified that throughout this process the
quality of AIU's academic programs was never in question."
During the course of implementing its improvements, AIU - which
includes six on-ground campuses and AIU Online - documented the
changes made and submitted a monitoring report to the accreditor prior
to the Special Committee's October visit. SACS made the announcement
that it had removed AIU from probationary status at its annual
meeting, held December 8-11, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
"Today's announcement by SACS is a significant milestone for AIU
and an important step forward in the ongoing turnaround of Career
Education Corporation," said Gary E. McCullough, Career Education
Corporation's president and chief executive officer. "Our most
valuable asset as an organization is our reputation for delivering
high-quality educational programs, and we are fully committed to
maintaining and enhancing this standard of excellence across the
company."
About American InterContinental University and AIU Online
American InterContinental University is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools to award associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. This
umbrella accreditation includes the following branch campuses of the
University: AIU Los Angeles, AIU Buckhead; AIU Dunwoody; AIU South
Florida; AIU London; AIU Houston; and AIU Online (originating in
Illinois). For more information, please visit www.aiuniv.edu. American
InterContinental University Online (AIU Online) is the web-based
virtual campus of American InterContinental University. For more
information, please visit www.aiuonline.edu.
About Career Education Corporation
The colleges, schools, and universities that are part of the
Career Education Corporation (CEC) family offer high quality education
to a diverse population of approximately 90,000 students across the
world in a variety of career-oriented disciplines. The more than 75
campuses that serve these students are located throughout the United
States and in Canada, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, and offer
doctoral, master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees as well as
diploma and certificate programs. Approximately one-third of our
students attend the web-based virtual campuses of American
InterContinental University Online and Colorado Technical University
Online.
CEC is an industry leader whose gold-standard brands are
recognized globally. Those brands include Le Cordon Bleu Schools North
America; Harrington College of Design; Brooks Institute; the
International Academy of Design & Technology; American
InterContinental University; Colorado Technical University, and
Sanford-Brown Institutes and Colleges. Through its schools, CEC is
committed to providing high-quality education, enabling students to
graduate and pursue rewarding careers.
For more information, see the company's website at
www.careered.com. The company's website includes a detailed listing of
individual campus locations and web links to its more than 75
colleges, schools, and universities.
CONTACT:
Career Education Corporation
Media
Lynne Baker, 847-851-7006
Investors
Karen King, 847-585-3899
www.careered.com
SOURCE: Career Education Corporation
