We Are

Academic Partnerships

As entrepreneurial capacity-builders of online learning, we apply the technology and tools to help our partner universities reshape the landscape of higher education.

Our mission is to expand access to top-quality, affordable, workforce relevant education.

This is an h1

This is an h2 with an “h1” class name

This is an h2

This is an h3 light

This is an h3 bold

This is an h4

This is an h5

base paragraph text. The approach will not be easy. You are required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It’s a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station.

Base Button

Together with our partners, we are co-inventing the future of higher education.

AP is mission-focused on serving public universities and not-for-profit colleges in online initiatives that span graduate and undergraduate programs in business, education, healthcare, criminal justice and the liberal arts. Together with our partners, we are co-inventing the future of higher education.

John Doe, CEO, Academic Partnerships
 

Rising to every challenge

COVID-19 presented challenges to AP and our partners. By going virtual in response, we discovered new strengths in ourselves and guided K-12 schools and our university partners in moving on-campus classes rapidly online.

Our Online Resources

What sets us apart?

At Academic Partnerships, we drive change through innovation in online education. As an industry powerhouse, we are focused on facilitating the goal of scalable online program growth for our university partners while supporting the success of their students—from the dream of a degree to bold reality. Our integrated online program management model, the AP HigherEdge®, offers:

Academic Partnerships low tuition online programs

High‑demand, low‑tuition online programs

Academic Partnerships faculty forward program design

Optional faculty‑forward program design

Academic Partnerships speed to market

Accelerated speed‑to‑market launch

Academic Partnerships integrated data driven marketing

Integrated, data-driven marketing performance

Academic Partnerships student success

Seamless dedication to student success

Find out more about how Academic Partnerships can help fulfill your institution’s vision for growth.
Button Text Goes Here
Academic Partnerships HigherEdge market insights

Market insights to optimize program portfolios

Academic Partnerships HigherEdge vertical experts

Vertical experts in business, education and healthcare

Academic Partnerships HigherEdge project management

Project management for streamlining operations

Academic Partnerships HigherEdge training

Faculty training systemized for online instruction

Academic Partnerships HigherEdge course carousels

Course carousels to support accelerated programs

Academic Partnerships HigherEdge point of contact

Transparent communication from a single point‑of‑contact

The Edge Factor:
Unparalleled support for faculty

Teaching quality makes or breaks the student experience. Which is why our Academic Services and Products team gives full-fledged support to faculty through asynchronous program planning, mentored instructional design, course conversion assistance and instruction in best practices in technology enriched pedagogy. Add a faculty grant program, free tools such as ZOOM conferencing and opportunities to connect via our digital e-commons, and we turn on-campus faculty into online teaching fans.

What We Do
Our Services: The AP Higher Edge®

Academic Partnerships offers comprehensive, scalable solutions personalized for institutions who are ready to optimize the effectiveness of their online education offerings. We serve as a management partner using a proven model of integrated services, the AP Higher Edge.

University services

We prepare universities
for success

Our dedicated teams guide each university partner’s growth path from the start, focusing on aligning internal infrastructure and data systems and informing academics with best practices to support online delivery of instruction. Our faculty-forward approach equips faculty and staff with the information, tools and resources to design and deliver successful online programs.

AP Image with Content FPO

Our leadership

The AP executive team are mission-driven decision makers focused on furthering excellence. They lead with insights drawn from a diversity of experience in higher education, and beyond. Meet the visionary brain trust championing the successes of our university partners.

Howard Rouse

Howard Rouse
Chief Operating Officer

John Schilsky

John Schilsky, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

Rob Hilliard

Rob Hilliard
Chief Information Officer

Jamie James

Jamie James
EVP, Undergrad and Enterprise Markets

Susan Dukes

Susan Dukes
SVP of University Partnerships

Amanda Smith

Amanda Smith, Ph.D.
SVP of Academic Services and Products

Chris Shenk

Chris Shenk
SVP, Managing Directors

Bill Lowery

Bill Lowery
SVP of Vertical Marketing Operations

Sharold Prather

Sharold Prather
VP, Vertical Lead – Business

Kristin Micalizio

Kristin Micalizio
VP, Vertical Lead – Healthcare

Jane Passantino

Jane Passantino
VP, Vertical Lead – Education

Karmela Gaffney

Karmela Gaffney
SVP, Digitial & Integrated Marketing

Steven Bailey

Steven Bailey
SVP, Field Sales

Earl Frischkorn

Earl Frischkorn
SVP, Student Success Center

Keith Brender

Keith Brender
VP, Student Retention Services

George Valiente

George Valiente
VP, Partner Support

Nelson Hsu

Nelson Hsu
SVP, Innovation

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott
SVP, Alternative Credentials and Product Innovation

Kyle Farnsworth

Kyle Farnsworth
VP, Operational & Data Analytics, Enrollment Services

Built-in benefits

Life at AP isn’t all work—we balance our efforts with abundant opportunities for all employees to learn, to care for our greater community, to stay healthy, and to celebrate what makes each of us unique:

AP Cares Logo

Serving and contributing to community-based charities, including paid volunteer time off

AP Fit Logo

Encouring mental and physical well-being through activity and nutrition initiatives

AP Academy Logo

Offering professional skills instruction and personal development through LinkedIn Learning

AP Diversity and Inclusion Logo

Fostering cultural awareness through recognition and events led by our multi-national council

To learn more about our benefits, visit our careers page

Get In Touch

Let AP help you elevate your institution’s online success stories.

Contact us to learn how our HigherEdge® services can make all the difference.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Headline

Academic Partnerships
700 North Pearl St., Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75201

[email protected]

214-210-7300

Latest news

Case Studies

Eastern Washington University

November 28, 2023

Eastern Washington University’s (EWU) relationship with Academic Partnerships (AP) began in 2018, two years before the pandemic. EWU was one of the first schools in…

Read more

News

Academic Partnerships Announces Acquisition of Wiley University Services

November 14, 2023

“Across the globe, there is growing demand for high-quality, affordable online degree programs in workforce-relevant fields,” said Fernando Bleichmar, Chief Executive Officer of AP. “Bringing…

Read more

News

Rethinking the ROI of the Degree To Focus On Investment—Not Just the Return

November 13, 2023

Jeff Selingo discusses the future of online education and the return on investment with our CEO, Fernando Bleichmar, in a Forbes article posted today. Even…

Read more

News

AP Moderates AASCU 2023 Panel on Public-Private Partnerships with Arkansas State, East Tennessee State, and William Paterson University Leaders

November 13, 2023

Understanding the value of a public-private partnership and the support such a collaboration can offer was the central topic of a panel discussion among regional…

Read more

News

Listen to the latest Future U Podcast with Fernando Bleichmar

November 12, 2023

Listen in to the latest Future U podcast, “The Future of Online Ed.” Our very own, Fernando Bleichmar joins hosts Jeff Selingo, Michael Horn and Coursera’s CEO,…

Read more

News

SIU Carbondale to launch accelerated online graduate programs supported by Academic Partnerships

November 11, 2023

CARBONDALE, Ill., Oct. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Southern Illinois University Carbondale has signed a new partnership with Academic Partnerships (AP) to launch and support 12 online master’s programs that…

Read more

Interview

3 Questions for CEO of Academic Partnerships on Learner ROI

November 10, 2023

Inside Higher Ed’s Joshua Kim discusses Learner ROI with AP’s Fernando Bleichmar Of all the online program management companies, I know the least about Academic Partnerships.…

Read more

Interview

Return on Investment (ROI) Conversation with Chancellor of Arkansas State & Academic Partnerships’ CEO, Fernando Bleichmar

November 9, 2023

Chancellor Shields and Fernando Bleichmar discuss the results of the ROI survey and the impact online programs are having in rural America and surrounding communities.

Read more

News

AP Welcomes HACU Inaugural Women’s Leadership Symposium Attendees

November 8, 2023

Academic Partnerships (AP) was honored to welcome participants at the Inaugural Women’s Leadership Symposium kicking off the 37th annual conference of the Hispanic Association of…

Read more

Case Studies

University of Illinois Springfield Case Study

November 7, 2023

The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) is one of the three regional public universities comprising the University of Illinois system. UIS was an early adopter…

Read more

News

Academic Partnerships to Lead Panel on Private-Public Partnerships at AASCU Annual Conference in Chicago

November 6, 2023

CHICAGO, ILL. (Nov. 6, 2023) — The innovation and support that a private-public partnership can offer regional universities is the topic of a presentation to…

Read more

Interested in reading more posts?

Visit our Resources page to see what other topics, insights and tools we’re publishing at Academic Partnerships.

View Resources

This is accordion item 1 content.

This is accordion item 2 content.

This is accordion item 3 content.

We’re better together

At Academic Partnerships, we’re dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. Our values aren’t just words on a page — we learn to live them every day, measure our success, and continuously evolve. Together, we’re on a mission to improve the state of the world through education.

.
Academic Partnerships staff
.
Academic Partnerships team
.
Academic Partnerships Community Service

Collaborating for Significant and Sustainable Growth

Academic Partnerships helps each university partner identify best-fit opportunities that present growth potential within their market. Then we consult closely to launch and scale online programs that resonate with potential students and meet the needs of adult online learners.

By executing on this plan, we consistently demonstrate partner benefits of strong enrollment, broad recognition for quality programs, a focus on student retention and a reputation for outstanding value. We only succeed when our partners and their students succeed.

Here are some of our outstanding results:

Tools

News Article 3

Bacon ipsum dolor amet pork chop pork loin sirloin cupim short ribs swine kevin porchetta shank shoulder short loin. Burgdoggen picanha drumstick alcatra spare ribs…

Read more

Tools

News Article 5

Bacon ipsum dolor amet capicola kielbasa beef tail meatball corned beef ribeye doner, tenderloin sirloin hamburger pork brisket. Meatloaf burgdoggen pork belly filet mignon ball…

Read more

Thought Leadership

A Letter from Rob

Bacon ipsum dolor amet pancetta rump pork chop drumstick cupim. Cupim andouille biltong leberkas meatloaf brisket jerky frankfurter sausage cow. Meatloaf boudin rump, sausage strip…

Read more

Tools

Post 2

Chislic turducken rump short loin pork loin hamburger alcatra ground round doner beef ribs filet mignon pork chop. Meatball ham hock jowl flank kevin. Prosciutto…

Read more

Thought Leadership

Reflections on the First Quarter of 2020

Dear University Partners: When I became the new board chair of Academic Partnerships in December, the world looked dramatically different than it does today. Reflecting…

Read more

Insights

Post 6

alkdsfkadsflasdfksadlfkasd sdflkd Headline #2 Bacon ipsum dolor amet sausage chislic burgdoggen venison meatloaf, ham hock sirloin. Cow tri-tip short loin tenderloin, leberkas frankfurter pork belly…

Read more