PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / March 01, 2022/ George Burnett was named president of University of Phoenix on February 1, 2022. Burnett succeeds Peter Cohen who has served as the University's president for nearly five years and who calls Burnett "the right leader at the right time in University of Phoenix's ongoing evolution."

Burnett's combined higher education and business background has uniquely prepared him to lead University of Phoenix, an institution that is dedicated to helping working adults achieve their career goals and improve their lives through education and skill building. Most recently, Burnett served as executive vice chairman of Academic Partnerships, supporting public university online degree programs. He's also the former president and CEO of Northcentral University as well as the former president and CEO of Alta Colleges. His business experience includes working as a chief marketing officer for Qwest Communications International, and he has held a number of executive positions with AT&T.

Expanding to Meet the Needs of Today's Adult Learners

Burnett is leading University of Phoenix at a time when the University is expanding its programs, offerings and resources in a significant way. This includes the addition of competency-based degree programs, expanded professional development courses, online student support resources and skills-aligned learning, some with digital badges, to give students credentials they share with employers even as they continue to finish courses and complete degrees.

"I am excited to be joining University of Phoenix at this important time in its history," said Burnett. "I am so impressed with what the University has accomplished over the last 4.5 years under President Cohen's leadership, and I am humbled by the unbelievable dedication the employees and faculty have to student success and the mission of the University."

New University of Phoenix Programs

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges, University of Phoenix continued to grow its slate of degree programs, adding new competency-based degrees that give working adults with prior experience in business, health administration, IT and nursing the opportunity to fast track their bachelor's or master's degree to save time and money. The University now offers four competency-based degrees: Master of Business Administration, Master of Information Systems, Master of Health Administration and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. These can all be completed in under a year, fully online, at times that work for adult learners' busy schedules for less than the cost of a traditional degree. Like the University's other degree programs, the focus is on developing skills needed for specific fields, industries and jobs with faculty who are experienced in their respective industries and a curriculum focused on real-world applications.

In the last several years, University of Phoenix has also expanded its professional development offerings, providing a pathway for working adults to add in-demand skills that can build their resumes and social media profiles and can help make them stand out to potential employers. These self-paced, skills-based courses in marketing, healthcare, information technology and education are continually expanding to meet the demands of employers and the changing technology landscape.

Whether adult learners are looking to become more competitive and discover new opportunities within their current career or to explore new career options, the professional development offerings provide real-world skills that can open doors. These include online courses in sought-after skills like web and search engine marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization, medical billing, electronic medical records, foundations in virtual teaching and Scrum. Courses are self-led and students have access to the course for a full year. Once they've scored 85 percent or higher in each module's assessment, participants receive a Certificate of Completion.

University of Phoenix Uses Technology to Meet Student and Employer Needs

Burnett now leads a University that has a keen understanding of what adult learners and the marketplace are looking for, and one that is continually innovating to meet those needs. That includes fully developed online resources for improving student well-being in the Life Resource Center, which includes free counseling, life coaching and access to thousands of webinars, articles and other materials. It also includes ongoing support for career growth and transitions through the University's Career Services for Life^® commitment to active students and graduates including interview preparation, resume help, job search support, networking, internships and more. University of Phoenix is also embracing technology to provide new ways for students to showcase their skills via digital badges, which they can earn through in-class assessments and display on their resumes and social media profiles.

As an early adopter of virtual classes, University of Phoenix continues to be on the forefront of utilizing technology to help students pursue their dream jobs. "I look forward to joining this pivotal mission to serve adult learners seeking to enhance their career and professional goals," Burnett said.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. The University offers a range of online degree options including associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees as well as professional certifications all designed to align with the career goals of adult learners. University of Phoenix's College of Doctoral Studies offers PhDs in a number of high-growth career areas including healthcare, business and education. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time. Flexible schedules, relevant courses and interactive learning help University of Phoenix students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

Contact:

Andrea Smiley
University of Phoenix
andrea@phoenix.edu

SOURCE: University of Phoenix