EMU Today

YPSILANTI -  Eastern Michigan University has agreed to partner with Academic Partnerships (AP) to launch several current degree programs in online and accelerated formats. Eastern Michigan University is fully responsible for the development and delivery of the academic product, which will be provided by Eastern Michigan University faculty and lecturers, while AP is responsible for promoting the programs and recruiting students. 

The program builds on Eastern’s successful online RN2BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, launched in summer 2015 and fully managed by the University. Eastern’s RN2BSN program has been named one of the best 50 online programs in the country.

The RN2BSN program is an accelerated eight-week program with six starts through the year. Approximately 350 students are currently enrolled in the program. The agreement with Academic Partnerships will allow the University to further expand the program, while utilizing what was learned to launch the new programs.

The first four programs to be implemented through the partnership are:

• RN2BSN
• Master’s in Educational Leadership
• Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction
• Bachelor of General Studies (degree completion)

Other programs will be phased in gradually over time once more comprehensive discussions, planning and input has occurred with Eastern faculty members.

Academic Partnerships is the industry leader in partnerships with public universities to bring distance learning degree programs in accelerated formats to scale, with more than 40 university partnerships across the nation. Its partnerships include institutions such as: the University of Texas system, the University of South Carolina system, UCLA, Baylor, USC, Notre Dame and Louisiana State University.  

The contract can be viewed by visiting this link. 

Vice President for Enrollment Management Kevin Kucera said, “Partnering with Academic Partnerships allows Eastern effective access into the online marketplace. Significant opportunities exist to better serve students in the distance learning market as more students are seeking online options to complete degree programs.  

“Academic Partnerships will help us grow the RN2BSN program in an efficient manner, enabling Eastern to concentrate on academic program delivery. Over the next several months, in a structure that allows for Eastern’s academic delivery systems to adjust and prepare for the programs and to work constructively with our faculty, Eastern will launch the remaining programs. Eastern will go from a small presence to a significant Midwest regional presence in the distance learning market.”

From a financial perspective, current students enrolled in the RN2BSN program and any new enrollments for the new cycles beginning in January and March will provide 100 percent revenue to EMU for the duration of the program. Following the March cycle, when the Academic Partnerships agreement begins, Eastern will receive more than 50 percent of the revenue generated from enrollment brought in by Academic Partnerships.

Kucera said, “It takes significant capital to bring distance learning programs to the marketplace. Academic Partnerships will provide all of the financial support to market and recruit students to the programs.”

AP’s marketing efforts include extensive pay per click campaigns, publications, signage (including billboards), and staff to go out in the field to recruit prospective students. All of these expenses are the responsibility of Academic Partnerships.

Kucera added, “To launch multiple programs, and attempt to bring them to scale would not have been feasible financially or procedurally. Partnering with AP enables Eastern to concentrate on academic quality and delivery, while allowing a third-party partner with extensive experience in the online arena, to help us enroll more students in the programs.”

More details about the RN2BSN program can be found at Eastern Michigan University’s RN2BSN website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.

About Academic Partnerships

Academic Partnerships is a leading online service provider for higher education globally. The company assists universities in converting their on-campus degree programs into an online format, recruits qualified students for those programs, and supports enrolled students through graduation. Serving public and private not-for-profit universities in the United States and top international institutions, Academic Partnerships is guided by the principle that the opportunities presented through technology-aided learning make higher education more accessible and achievable. The company was founded by a social entrepreneur, Randy Best, who has spent nearly 20 years developing innovative learning solutions to improve education. For more information, please visit www.academicpartnerships.com.