STUDENT QUALITY: UOP is designed for working adults, not just the academic types.  Therefore, the quality of student rests with the student.  UOP does not cherry-pick just to get the “professional students” who can pass tests, but may not be functional in the working world.  Because UOP uses the team approach, if one does not find team members to be “quality” contributors, then one can simply be an adult and get your team to remove the poor performer, or ask to be assigned to another team.

PRE-CLASS EXAMS: After enrolling, but before classes begin, UOP does conduct an “assessment” exam in English, math, and critical thinking.  While not on a par with an SAT or ACT testing, these exams do help identify students who may have skill issues and need remedial courses to enable them to engage in college level course work.  Because of this, some students drop out.

COURSES: The course work is only challenging if the student reads all of the assigned material and works hard to produce quality assignments.  What a student puts into their work will show up in their assignments and class participation, or lack thereof.  UOP faculty will grade accordingly.

FACULTY: I found the vast majority of instructors to be excellent.  Many also teach at other universities and/or work as professionals in their field of expertise.  For example, professors who teach employment law are often practicing attorneys.  Those teaching finance often work in major corporate positions in finance or corporate controller.  Many hold doctorates, and masters in more than one discipline.  A number of the faculty come from major universities, such as Yale, Perdue, Harvard, and other prestigious state universities.

COSTS: If a working adult applies for prior learning assessment, or tests out using the CLEP program, or uses other means to earn elective credits, then the cost can be greatly reduced.  I used some of these, but chose to attend most of my classes at the campus level.  UOP makes it convenient and easy to accomplish.  I have compared UOP costs with other universities in the region.  I have found UOP to be somewhat more expensive compared to lesser known colleges, and less expensive than Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale.  Be sure to discuss the actual costs with your enrollment counselor before signing up for classes.

ACCREDITATION: UOP is regionally accredited wherever they have a campus.  I attended the Chicago campus which is accredited by the North Central Association.  The University of Illinois, for example, is accredited by the same North Central Association.  UOP, therefore, must meet the same rigorous standards, and pass frequent audits of its programs.

DEGREE ACCREDITATION: In addition, a degree at UOP, such as Associate of Arts in Business, Associate of Arts in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Business, Master of Business Administration, Executive Master of Business Administration, Master of Management, Doctor of Management and Doctor of Business Administration programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD I SUGGEST?  UOP needs to hold job fairs and bring in head-hunter firms.  The reason that they have not done this is because many businesses send their employees to UOP, and the university does not want to engage in any conflict with their business relations.  But, I think there are enough self-paying students that the university could find a way to accommodate the interests of both their business supporters and independent students.

ACADEMIC COUNSELORS: When I first started at UOP, academic counselors were slow to respond to questions and requests for help, though I made few requests.  UOP quickly improved this service, and today, any student can get all the help they need if they pursue it.

FINANCE COUNSELORS: Generally these individuals have always been helpful.  But the process at any university is so well established, and user friendly, that a normally competent adult can self-serve the system with minimal guidance.

CREDITS ACCEPTED AT OTHER SCHOOLS: After I graduate this month (June 2008) I will be attending one of the finest engineering schools at the University of North Dakota (UND).  The UND program is fully accepted into the masters programs of Ivy League schools like Georgia Tech, etc.  UND has already accepted all of my UOP credits toward my next degree.  I take this as a sign that UOP is continuing to do what it takes to provide a quality education.

SOCIAL LIFE: UOP is not set up for much social life.  Their target student is an adult, perhaps married, and working full time.  Therefore, the party life is left to kids who go straight from high school to college.  UOP does have a stadium in Arizona, but their other campuses have no sports programs.  However, many other universities do not have such programs.  To me, social life is not relevant to my earning a degree.  However, at the end of some of the programs teams will socialize for a few beers.

BLOG COMPLAINTS: While everyone is entitled to their own opinion ... I highly recommend that any student planning to attend UOP carefully investigate the pros and cons.  Investigate the negative blogs and see what kinds of complaints are made, and compare these to more positive reviews such as this, or others below.  Eventually, one begins to see a pattern develop between an adult and a child.  Some of these children show up at UOP, and these are the ones that I refused to work with unless they cleaned up their act.  I found that when we raise our demand for quality, often the cry-babies will grow up and rise to the occasion, or they quit and go off and spend time on negative blogs.  Good riddance.  Some of these same types will show up in any university.  Examine the claims and details with a critical eye.

REAL WORLD APPLICATION: My UOP degree has already helped me in two ways in real world working environments.  My existing professional position has benefited by helping me improve my business.  Secondly, I am planning on a career change, and my job search has already improved responses because of my UOP degree.  Recently, I received a job offer that will significantly improve my income.

UOP PROGRAMS: UOP does not have all of the types of degree programs that many universities have.  I would have enjoyed earning an engineering degree through UOP.  But, if one examines what UOP does have, it is a very good list of programs.  As they continue being one of the largest universities in the world, I expect that they will increase their programs to meet an ever larger demand in others fields, like electrical and mechanical engineering, and other hard science studies.

TIP TO UNDERSTANDING UOP APPROACH: UOP is not a research university (yet), but rather like many schools of their type, they are strictly a “teaching” university.  This distinction is important if a student wants to participate in a hard science program, get research grants, and work with the business community in cooperative efforts.  For example, IOWA State has a great agricultural program, degrees in agronomy, etc.  They often work in research with the farming industry to improve crop production, etc.  UOP does not have these kinds of programs.  If you are looking to get a great business degree taught by business leaders, and want to be accepted into global business management, then UOP is the place to be.

OVERALL RATING: I give UOP a rating of an A.  I think they could, and will, become an A+ school in time.  They have a well established 32 year history, and could not maintain that growth if they did not measure up to good standards.