About the University
Grantham University is a 100% online university located at 7200 NW 86th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. The University offers 21 associate, bachelor and masters degree programs.
Vision
Grantham University aspires to be an internationally recognized leader among distance learning higher education institutions serving students who desire an alternative to traditional institutions of higher learning.
Mission
Grantham University is a student-centered online university whose mission is to be the leader in online education and a model of academic excellence among online universities by providing an applied and professionally relevant education that enables its graduates to compete successfully in a continuously changing global society.
The University provides accessible, affordable and academically challenging online courses and degree programs that prepare its graduates for careers in business, engineering technology, computer science, criminal justice, information technology and other professional fields. The University intends to be a leader in exemplary student support services by offering programs and educational services that respect the multiple demands on working adult students and those students whose lifestyles and circumstances require the innovative and creative learning methodologies that are all too often not available at traditional institutions of higher learning.
Core Values
Excellence and Innovation
Grantham University maintains a strong commitment to high standards in all aspects of its academic programs, learning outcomes, and student support services. It seeks continuously to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of its academic programs and operations and seeks creative and effective ways to meet the diverse needs of its student population.
Student-Centric
Grantham University places the academic and personal success of its students at the center of all University functions, services, activities and academic programs. The University also follows best practices to facilitate students’ development and success from the point of entry to degree completion.
Accessibility and Affordability
Grantham University demonstrates its commitment to the accessibility and affordability of higher education by facilitating learning in a manner that fits into the student’s schedule and keeps higher education affordable.
Diversity
Grantham University affirms its commitment to an inclusive community by making its academic programs, educational services and employment opportunities available to all qualified individuals and encourages tolerance, mutual respect and acceptance of differences throughout the institution. The University believes diversity enhances its institutional culture, improves productivity and prepares its graduates to participate effectively in the global community.
Institutional Integrity
Grantham University commits all students, global faculty, staff and administrators to uphold the highest standards of integrity, honesty and personal responsibility. To provide a quality academic experience, the University is committed to continually assessing and re-evaluating every aspect of its academic model. The University endeavors to build an institutional culture grounded in candor, transparency and best professional practices.
Institutional History
Grantham University, founded in 1951, is one of the oldest, private, post-secondary, degree-granting distance education universities in the United States. The University currently provides higher education opportunities to approximately 5,800 students.
Grantham was founded as the Grantham Radio License School in Los Angeles, California. Soon thereafter, the name of the school was changed to Grantham School of Electronics (GSE).The School opened a second site in Washington, DC in 1955. In the years to follow, additional campuses were opened in Seattle, Washington; Kansas City, Missouri; and Hollywood, Florida. At one time, GSE’s facilities also included the Grantham Electronics Institute Labs in Washington, DC, Falls Church, VA and Dania, FL. A second Los Angeles, campus was established in 1974.
In 1961, GSE became accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the predecessor of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which had received formal recognition by the Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency in 1959. After that date, Grantham delivered accredited programs to an adult student population both in the classroom and at a distance in order to serve a geographically dispersed student body of active duty service members.
In 1968, GSE became the Grantham College of Engineering (GCE). Over the years, GCE consolidated all of its activities to one location in Los Angeles, California that offered only distance learning programs. In 1990, GCE received approval to operate and relocated to the State of Louisiana and in 1993, became licensed to operate by the Louisiana Board of Regents. In 2002, GCE launched its Business School and simultaneously became Grantham University. From 2002 to 2005, Grantham expanded its degree programs by adding the Criminal Justice program and the masters programs.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed all but one of the buildings on the Grantham campus in Slidell, Louisiana. After Hurricane Katrina, Grantham relocated from Slidell, Louisiana to Kansas City, Missouri. In that same year, the Missouri Department of Higher Education certified Grantham to operate in the state of Missouri. Grantham offers its degrees under this authority, and the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) nationally accredits Grantham as a degree-granting institution.
Grantham is now in its 57th year of providing distance education to the adult learner. Today, distance learning is widely accepted and extensively used as an effective form of educational delivery. Grantham continues to be a leader in the field of distance education, especially for the military. As the world becomes more technology-driven, working adults who wish to keep pace with new technology require a dependable and flexible ways to obtain the specialized knowledge and training needed to compete in today’s workforce. Grantham offers this education in a way that is convenient for and accessible to those who cannot pursue higher education in a traditional manner.
Today, Grantham houses staff at two (2) locations in Kansas City. The main location houses administrative offices, including admissions, the business office, academics and student support staff. The second location houses the book distribution center. The University’s Global Faculty facilitates student learning from locations all over the world.
University Holidays
New Year’s Day |
January 1, 2008 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
January 21, 2008 |
Memorial Day |
May 26, 2008 |
Independence Day |
July 4, 2008 |
Labor Day |
September 1, 2008 |
Thanksgiving |
November 27 and 28, 2008 |
Christmas Eve |
December 24, 2008 |
Christmas Day |
December 25, 2008 |
