In Conversation with Ryan Doan Chief Executive Officer in International American University ‘Making knowledge accessible to all, for all’
International American University (IAU) is a pioneer in imparting quality education in the USA for international students. Share IAU’s Approvals & Accreditations in detail.
IAU is Approved by the State of California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) and Certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). SEVP certification allows IAU to enrol F-1 visa students. IAU is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and is a candidate with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accreditation for its business programs and accounting program.
Both TRACS and ACBSP are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
Ryan Doan has been the CEO of International American University since 2005. He has done an MBA from Capella University, Minneapolis, and MN & BA in psychology from UC Irvine. He also had certificates in Desktop Publishing & Graphic Designing from Coastline Community College, Fountain Valley, CA. The man with years of experience and enhanced knowledge along with his team ensures a robust faculty body, specialized curriculum, and faculty interaction. IAU’s faculties are business professionals who have made an impact on developing organizations
to go from ‘good’ to ‘great’.
The internationalization of higher education has become a priority for many universities. It provides them with educational models that can respond efficiently to current issues and challenges of globalization. How do you see India as a potential market for your university?
IAU has been involved in International Education since Inception. IAU has been working in various countries delivering quality American Business education at an affordable price, which is aligned with our Mission Statement. IAU offers 100% online instructions, however many rats of the world are not fond of 100% online. IAU’s Affiliate Support Center (ASC) educational model combines the standard lecture using web-conferencing tools with its American professors with the on-ground support in the areas of face-to-face tutorial or supplemental instruction in a local language to assist student comprehension, or translations if needed. This blended style of educational delivery has allowed IAU to deliver its American business education globally while allowing students to study conveniently in their home country. International students studying using this model saves tuition costs, eliminate the challenges of travel during the COVID pandemic, and US living costs.
India is a huge market for IAU. COVID has opened the world’s eyes to the need for online learning, something that IAU has been offering since 2010. IAU sees potential in establishing more ASC partnerships. Additionally, IAU has been heavily recruiting F-1 visa students in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan since 2021. With the U.S. Embassies and Consulates opening, travel restrictions removed, F-1 visas are slowly getting approved again. By 2022, IAU will see many new F-1 initial students from these countries.
When it comes to picking which universities to apply to, it’s a tedious job to select. How do you see your university is different from other contemporary universities and why?
Unlike traditional U.S. universities, IAU is not a huge university where international students will feel lost. Each student will receive friendly, helpful student service. F-1 students usually make up 5-15% of a traditional U.S. institution’s international student population; they are the minority. At IAU, they make up 90% of the student population from 65+ different countries; they are the majority and that allows IAU to craft its policies and student services to cater to the international students.
international students.
Traditional U.S. universities have two intakes per year. If students miss it, you must wait six months for the next intake. IAU has six intakes per year. If you miss it, you must wait two months for the next intake. Students can join IAU throughout the year. IAU has a liberal transfer credit policy, allowing a maximum of transfer credit to be awarded. The more transfer credit awarded, the shorter completion time and less cost to students.
Traditional U.S. university classes span 15-16 weeks. IAU classes span eight weeks. Students juggle fewer classes at one time and have a better focus on their studies. IAU offers classes in the morning, afternoon, evening, and Saturday morning. IAU also allows F-1 visa students to take one online course per term as permitted by SEVP. Students who have personal or professional obligations love this type of flexibility. All campus and online classes use web-conferencing to deliver the lectures. They are recorded with English captions. These recordings can be found in IAU online, IAU’s learning management system (LMS). IAU online allows students to always access their learning materials, lectures, etc. even if they are absent.
Traditional U.S. universities usually require payment made in full for the year. IAU understands that international students do not qualify for federal financial aid and students are paying out of pocket. Therefore, IAU allows for monthly payment plans so students can afford to go to school. These are some of the reasons why IAU is different from other contemporary universities.
What are the university facilities & programs like?
IAU certificate and degree programs are specialized to focus on business administration at all levels. IAU offers certificates in accounting and business and business administration degrees at the associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral levels.
IAU’s faculty are a diverse pool of American business professionals with decades of education and professional expertise in their selected field. IAU can ensure a concentrated faculty body, specialized curriculum, and rich student-faculty interaction. The school’s curriculum was a matter of harnessing current business and organizing it to fit in a classroom format. The real challenge was adapting the curricula to a medium that would make it possible to teach across time and space for the student’s convenience but to also incorporate web technologies to improve the students for technological competitiveness. Students are assured that the training and education they receive will be practical in the professional arena while benefiting from the expertise of professionals in the industry.
How do you select applicants? What aspects do you look for in an application?
IAU welcomes all students and does not discriminate based on race, colour, national origin, religion, disability, gender or in any other way in its policies, practices, or procedures involving applicants, students, faculty, staff, and the public. Applicants must submit a completed Admissions Portfolio (AP). The AP is an accumulation of all the necessary documents for the Office of Admissions to evaluate and determine if applicants meet the admissions criteria for the applied program. Applicants are selected based on their previous academic achievements, professional experience if any, and their other personal details, goals, or interests from their statement.
What bursaries and scholarships are available?
Currently, IAU does not offer any bursaries and scholarships because IAU’s tuition is so affordable. IAU’s tuition is very competitive compared to other southern California universities. However, IAU will be publishing scholarships for 2022 soon. Stay tuned!
International American University (IAU) has given exclusive rights to Capitico PRG for Honorary Award & recognition. How do you see this association & way forward?
You may change or add questions as may deem fit. IAU is excited to embark on this new project with Capitico PRG for the Honorary Award Program. IAU sees this Exclusive partnership as a way for IAU and Capitico PRG to recognize those in academia with notable contributions, entrepreneurs and others distinguished in business and industry, and/or society leaders who contributed to their community. IAU wants to ensure that the awarding of an honorary award is recognition of a person whose life and achievements serve as examples of IAU’s aspirations for its students.
