# Independence University > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Independence_University > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Independence_University.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_University > Source revision: 1354402590 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Other uses|Independence College (disambiguation){{!}}Independence College}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox university | name = Independence University | native_name = | latin_name = | image_size = | motto = Online but never alone. | mottoeng = | established = {{Start date and age|1978}}  | closed =
{{End date and age|2021|08|01}} | type = [Private](/source/Private_university) [online](/source/Distance_education) [career college](/source/career_college) | parent = [Center for Excellence in Higher Education](/source/Center_for_Excellence_in_Higher_Education) | endowment = | staff = | faculty = | president = Eric Juhlin | provost = Marilee Hall | principal = | rector = | chancellor = | vice_chancellor = | dean = | head_label = | head = | students = | undergrad = | postgrad = | doctoral = | city = [Salt Lake City](/source/Salt_Lake_City) | state = [Utah](/source/Utah) | country = United States | campus = Online | free_label = | free = | colors = Red, white, and blue | colours = | mascot = | nickname = IU | affiliations = CollegeAmerica, Stevens-Henager College, California College San Diego | website = [http://www.independence.edu www.independence.edu] | image = IULogoWhtBlu.jpg }} '''Independence University''' ('''IU''', formerly '''California College for Health Sciences''') was a [private](/source/Private_university) [online](/source/Distance_education) [career college](/source/career_college) headquartered in [Salt Lake City](/source/Salt_Lake_City), [Utah](/source/Utah).{{cite web|title=Independence University - CCHS|url=https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/independence-university|website=The College Board|accessdate=22 August 2017|language=en|archive-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822223209/https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/independence-university|url-status=dead}} It was the online branch of [Stevens–Henager College](/source/Stevens%E2%80%93Henager_College), and operated four schools: the School of Healthcare, the School of Business, the School of Technology, and the School of Graphic Arts. IU was founded by Carl Barney and owned and operated by the [Center for Excellence in Higher Education](/source/Center_for_Excellence_in_Higher_Education) (CEHE). Independence university was [accredited](/source/Higher_education_accreditation_in_the_United_States) by the [Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges](/source/Accrediting_Commission_of_Career_Schools_and_Colleges) but the accreditor has begun withdrawing its accreditation because the university allegedly "failed to demonstrate successful student achievement by maintaining acceptable rates of student graduation and employment." In 2021, IU canceled classes scheduled to start May 10.{{cite web |title=INDEPENDENCE UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION |url=https://www.independence.edu/about-us/accreditation |website=www.independence.edu |access-date=30 June 2021 |archive-date=19 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619212558/https://www.independence.edu/about-us/accreditation |url-status=dead }} On August 1, 2021, Independence University closed permanently. == History == In 1978, the school began to offer education at a distance and operated as California College for Health Sciences. In 2005, it was renamed Independence University in order to reflect the institution's broader range of programs and its claimed philosophy that education should lead to greater independence. In 2010, Independence University merged with its affiliated institution, [Stevens-Henager College](/source/Stevens-Henager_College), becoming a branch of Stevens-Henager's main campus in [Ogden](/source/Ogden%2C_Utah)/[West Haven](/source/West_Haven%2C_Utah), [Utah](/source/Utah).{{cite web |title=About IU |url=https://www.independence.edu/about-us/our-university |access-date=2018-12-27 |archive-date=2018-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228035215/https://www.independence.edu/about-us/our-university |url-status=dead }} Stevens-Henager was started in 1891.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stevenshenager.edu/about-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204040322/http://www.stevenshenager.edu/about-us|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2011|title=Learn About Stevens-Henager College|website=www.stevenshenager.edu|access-date=2020-04-29}} In 2012, Carl Barney, its owner, turned the school into a non-profit. === Decline === In 2020, Carl Barney was fined $3 million by the State of Colorado for defrauding students at CEHE schools.{{cite web |last1=Bauman |first1=Dan |last2=Vasquez |first2=Michael |title=How a For-Profit Tycoon Turned His Colleges Into Nonprofits |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-a-for-profit-tycoon-turned-his-colleges-into-nonprofits/ |website=www.chronicle.com |date=12 April 2020 |access-date=23 December 2020}} Following the judgement, the U.S. Department of Education suspended CEHE President Eric Juhlin from "participating in contracts or other programs of the federal government." Shortly thereafter, IU's accreditor, the [Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges](/source/Accrediting_Commission_of_Career_Schools_and_Colleges), began the process of withdrawing the university accreditation. In July 2021, Independence University management announced that the school had been placed on [Heightened Cash Monitoring](/source/Heightened_Cash_Monitoring) and had not received any cash from the US Department of Education since May 2020. Management told workers that most of them would be laid off in the next few months.{{cite web |last1=Halperin |first1=David |title=Independence U. Lays Off Staff, Says Feds Stopped Aid |url=https://www.republicreport.org/2021/independence-u-lays-off-staff-says-feds-stopped-aid/ |website=/www.republicreport.org |date=26 July 2021 |publisher=Republic Report |access-date=27 July 2021}} == Academics == Independence University was an [open enrollment](/source/Open_admissions) institution.{{cite web |title=Our Mission |url=https://www.independence.edu/about-us/our-mission |access-date=2018-12-27 |archive-date=2018-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228035058/https://www.independence.edu/about-us/our-mission |url-status=dead }} It offered programs in the fields of [technology](/source/technology), [business](/source/business), [graphic arts](/source/graphic_arts), and [healthcare](/source/healthcare). Students attending the university may receive an [associate's degree](/source/associate's_degree), a [bachelor's degree](/source/bachelor's_degree), or a [master's degree](/source/master's_degree).{{cite web |title=Explore our online degree programs |url=https://www.independence.edu/programs |access-date=2018-12-27 |archive-date=2018-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228035158/https://www.independence.edu/programs |url-status=dead }} The university did not function on a typical college schedule and did not have [semesters](/source/semesters) or [quarters](/source/Academic_quarter_(year_division)). Instead, classes started each month and generally ran for 4 weeks.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.independence.edu/about-us/our-university |access-date=2018-12-27 |archive-date=2018-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228035215/https://www.independence.edu/about-us/our-university |url-status=dead }} According to the US Department of Education [College Navigator](/source/College_Navigator), Independence University has a 45 to 1 student to teacher ratio. == Student body== According to the US Department of Education, 90 percent of IU's students were low-income individuals. The student body was 25 percent white, 14 percent black, 4 percent Hispanic, 0 percent Asian, and 45 percent unknown.{{cite web |title=Independence University |url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?465812-Independence-University |website=College Scorecard |accessdate=18 September 2020}} == Military assistance == More than 500 students were attending under the [GI Bill](/source/GI_Bill).{{cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=independence+university&s=all&id=465812#service |website=College Navigator |accessdate=16 September 2020|title=College Navigator - Independence University }} Independence University participated in the Yellow Ribbon Program,{{cite web | title=UT State Yellow Ribbon Program Information 2018-2019 |url=https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon/2018/states/ut.asp}} a provision of the [Post-9/11 GI Bill](/source/Post-9%2F11_GI_Bill) that allowed approved institutions of higher learning and the [Department of Veterans Affairs](/source/Department_of_Veterans_Affairs) to partially or fully fund tuition and fee expenses that exceeded the established thresholds under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.{{cite web | title=Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon | url=https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/factsheets/Yellow%20Ribbon%20Program.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425115337/https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/factsheets/Yellow%20Ribbon%20Program.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=2020-04-25 }} == Accreditation == Independence University was nationally accredited by the [Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges](/source/Accrediting_Commission_of_Career_Schools_and_Colleges) (ACCSC).{{cite web|url=https://www.independence.edu/about-us/accreditation|title=Accreditation|access-date=2017-08-03|archive-date=2017-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803095341/https://www.independence.edu/about-us/accreditation|url-status=dead}} Independence University was placed on probation in September 2018 due to ACCSC's concerns that "the inputs, resources, and processes of CEHE schools are designed and implemented in a manner that is not designed for student success."{{cite web|url=http://www.accsc.org/UploadedDocuments/2018/Probation-Letters/CEHE-System-Wide-SAL-09-2018-Probation-Redacted.pdf|title=System-Wide Review Probation Order|author=Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges|author-link=Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges|date=September 6, 2018|accessdate=September 11, 2018|archive-date=September 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191207/http://www.accsc.org/UploadedDocuments/2018/Probation-Letters/CEHE-System-Wide-SAL-09-2018-Probation-Redacted.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/09/11/accreditor-finds-misleading-consumer-statements-discriminatory-attitudes-profit|title=Probation for For-Profit College Chain|last=Kreighbaum|first=Andrew|date=September 11, 2018|publisher=[Inside Higher Ed](/source/Inside_Higher_Ed)|accessdate=September 11, 2018}} In April 2021 the school faced revocation of its accreditation status effective May 31,{{cite web |url=https://www.accsc.org/UploadedDocuments/Commission%20Actions/2021/Public-Notices/Withdrawal/070581-SAL-02-2021-Redacted.pdf |publisher=ACCSC |access-date=21 May 2021 |title=Archived copy |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423220604/https://www.accsc.org/UploadedDocuments/Commission%20Actions/2021/Public-Notices/Withdrawal/070581-SAL-02-2021-Redacted.pdf |url-status=dead }} 2021.{{cite web |last1=Halperin |first1=David |title=Breaking: Citing Performance Failures, Accreditor Dumps Independence University |url=https://www.republicreport.org/2021/breaking-citing-performance-failures-accreditor-dumps-independence-university/ |website=www.republicreport.org |date=23 April 2021 |access-date=26 April 2021}} CEHE appealed the revocation with ACCSC and then sought binding arbitration, losing both times. CEHE then sued in Federal court, which ruled against CEHE holding the suit was an impermissible collateral attack on the arbitration award.{{Cite web |title=Center for Excellence in Higher Education, Inc. v. Accreditation Alliance Of Career Schools And Colleges, No. 25-1372 (4th Cir. 2026) |url=https://cases.justia.com/federal/appellate-courts/ca4/25-1372/25-1372-2026-02-05.pdf?ts=1770397292 |url-status=live}} == Student outcomes == According to the [College Scorecard](/source/College_Scorecard), Independence University had a 45 percent 8-year graduation rate. According to the College Navigator it had a graduation rate of 12 percent for students pursuing a bachelors degree.{{cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=independence+university&s=all&id=465812 |website=College Navigator |accessdate=16 September 2020|title=College Navigator - Independence University }} People who attended Independence University had a 20 percent student loan repayment rate, and a 31 percent graduation rate. Median salary after attending was $28,800, ranging from $18,298 (Design and Applied Arts AA) to $66,240 (Allied Health, BS). Typical debt after graduation was $27,139.{{Cite web|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?465812-Independence-University|title = School {{pipe}} College Scorecard}} For those in student loan repayment, 34 percent were in forbearance, 25 percent not making progress, 16 defaulted, 10 percent were delinquent, 8 percent were in deferment, 4 percent were making progress, 1 percent were discharged, and 1 percent were paid in full.{{cite web |title=Independence University |url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?465812-Independence-University |website=College Scorecard |publisher=US Department of Education |access-date=1 February 2021}} == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == *[http://www.independence.edu/ Official website] {{Coord|41|13|58|N|112|00|41|W|format=dms|display=title|type:edu_region:US-UT}} {{Authority control}} Category:Distance education institutions based in the United States Category:Education in Salt Lake City Category:Educational institutions established in 1978 Category:Defunct private universities and colleges in Utah Category:1978 establishments in Utah Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2021 Category:2021 disestablishments in Utah --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Independence University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_University) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_University?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.