Over 10,000 students enrolled in UoPeople’s New Academic Year

Over 10,000 students enrolled in UoPeople’s New Academic Year

Pasadena, CA. September 12, 2017 – University of the People (UoPeople) announced today over 10,000 students have enrolled in its degree programs, marking a major milestone for the world’s first non-profit, tuition-free, accredited American online university.

UoPeople has 10,199 enrolled students this term – Term 1 of the 2018 Academic Year. It is expected that the university will continue to grow significantly, with university management anticipating that student numbers are on track to double with every year.

“Reaching this significant breakthrough is an amazing way to bring in the new academic year,” said President Shai Reshef. “UoPeople’s students are admitted based on merit and the belief that anyone willing to learn should have the opportunity to do so, regardless of political, financial, geographic, societal or personal constraints.  We remain dedicated to providing every qualified student with accessible, affordable, high quality higher education and a chance for a better life.”

Founded in 2009 and achieving accreditation in 2014, the university has quickly gained a foothold in the international arena of online higher education. The university has partnered with New York University (NYU), University of California Berkeley and University of Edinburgh  to accept students. The institution has also gained the widespread support of leading academics from renowned universities around the world. Its President’s Council, chaired by New York University President Emeritus John Sexton, includes Oxford Vice-Chancellor Sir Colin Lucas, UC Berkeley former Chancellor Nicholas Dirks, and Nobel Laureate and President Emeritus of The Rockefeller University, Dr. Torsten N. Wiesel, among others.

From the outset, the university has offered associates and bachelor degree programs in Business Administration and Computer Science and recently added Health Science, in addition to an MBA. To date, the university has graduated over 500 students. The first cohort of MBA graduates is expected to graduate at the end of the current term.

“It is our duty to support anyone who wants to improve their lives through education,” says Reshef, whose mission has clearly appealed to a network of over 6,000 dedicated volunteers who support the university. “We believe firmly in higher education as a basic right for all and not a privilege for the few.”

UoPeople’s students are drawn from over 200 countries and territories around the world. Almost 50% of the student body reside in the US. Recently, the university introduced transfer credits and has since seen a significant spike in enrollment from students carrying student debt from unfinished degrees at other institutions in the US. According to a recent student survey, 69% of US-residing students reported being immigrants, of whom, approximately 30% are DACA, undocumented or refugees.

About University of the People:

University of the People (UoPeople) is the world’s first non-profit, tuition-free, accredited American online university dedicated to opening access to higher education globally. Using open-source technology, Open Educational Resources, peer-to-peer learning, and the assistance of academic volunteers worldwide, UoPeople is designed to provide access to university degree programs for qualified high school graduates, despite political, financial, geographic, societal or personal constraints. UoPeople offers associates and bachelor degree programs in Business Administration, Computer Science and Health Science, in addition to an MBA.

Founded in 2009, UoPeople has partnered with New York University (NYU) and University of California Berkeley to accept students; Microsoft for scholarships, access to its certificate programs, mentoring, internships and employment opportunities; and Hewlett-Packard, for general support, scholarships for women and internships. The University is supported by a network of over 6,000 dedicated volunteers.

The institution has gained the widespread support of leading academics from leading universities around the world. Its President’s Council, chaired by New York University President Emeritus John Sexton, includes Oxford Vice-Chancellor Sir Colin Lucas, UC Berkeley former Chancellor Nicholas Dirks, and Nobel Laureate and President Emeritus of The Rockefeller University, Dr. Torsten N. Wiesel, among others. UoPeople is supported by The Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Fondation Hoffmann, and companies such as HP, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Western Union, Estee Lauder and many more.

About UoPeople President Shai Reshef:

President and founder of University of the People, Shai Reshef is an educational entrepreneur, with over 25 years of experience in the international education market. President Reshef has been widely recognized for his work with UoPeople. In 2010, the Huffington Post named him the ‘Ultimate Game Changer in Education,’ and WIRED included him in its list of the 50 people who will change the world. He was named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business as well as a Top Global Thinker by Foreign Policy Magazine. Before founding University of the People, Reshef directed KIT e-learning, the first online university in Europe. Shai Reshef’s TED Talk has reached almost 5 million viewers.

For more, see uopeople.edu

Contact: The PR Team

University of the People

US: 626-219-8402; communications@uopeople.edu