2008 Year in Review

Largest Graduation in Ashford University History

As Ashford University continues to grow, so does the number of students who graduate from the institution. On Saturday, December 13, history will likely be made again when a record 1,658 students receive their degrees from Ashford. The University expects to confer 19 Associate’s, 1,302 Bachelor’s and 337 Master’s degrees at this year’s winter graduation ceremony.

In addition to students who have attended classes at Ashford’s Clinton, Iowa campus, online students from across the United States will travel to Clinton to receive their diplomas. In all, 330 students have indicated they will participate in the University’s graduation activities, 260 of which are online students.

Dr. Wayne Clugston, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and co-founder of Bridgepoint Education, will give the commencement address. From 1987 to 2001, Clugston served as founder, owner and president of Advance Learning Network (ALN), which became a national leader in developing, licensing and implementing bachelor’s degree completion programs for working adults at regionally accredited colleges and universities throughout the U.S. He merged ALN into Bridgepoint Education in January 2001.

From 1983 to 1986, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Spring Arbor University, a regionally accredited liberal arts institution in Michigan. Prior to 1983, Clugston served as an administrator at Seattle Pacific University and Roberts Wesleyan College, where he also taught English. Clugston has served as an educational consultant in Canada, Jamaica, Korea, Malaysia and Mexico. He has authored chapters on educational leadership published in Advancing the Small College (Jossey-Bass) and Money for Ministries (Victor Books). Clugston earned his Ed.D. from Seattle University, his M.A. from State University of New York at Buffalo, and his B.A. from Roberts Wesleyan College.

Ashford University’s December graduation ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in the Durgin Educational Center. A separate "hooding ceremony" for Ashford graduates receiving their master's degrees will be held at 12:30 p.m., also in the Durgin Center.

Because of limited seating, admission to the graduation events will be by ticket only.

To accommodate parking for the graduation events, the City of Clinton will allow parking on both sides of Springdale Drive beginning at noon on December 13. There will be additional parking in Medical Associates’ parking lot, with a shuttle providing transportation to and from campus from 12 until 4 p.m.

For directions and parking information, guests can contact the Office of Academic Affairs at 563.242.4257 ext. 1290.

About Ashford

Founded in 1918, Ashford University® is a coeducational institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus. Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, psychology, health care administration, criminal justice and social science. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions. Its tagline is: “Higher Education Made Affordable”SM. For more information, please visit Ashford University.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
December 8, 2008