Talk:Atlantis University

History

Atlantis University traces its institutional origins to 1975, when Dr. Omar Palacios founded the Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Readic (UNIR) in Venezuela as a higher education institution established under the Venezuelan Department of Education (Decree 1129). UNIR was initially created to train workers for the oil industry in technological and scientific fields and later expanded to offer programs across multiple industrial sectors, growing to serve over 35,000 students across multiple campuses in Latin America.^[1]

With the approval of the Florida Commission for Independent Education, the institution expanded to the United States as UNITECH College of Technology in Miami, Florida. In 2007, UNITECH expanded its offerings to include bachelor's degree programs. A memorandum of understanding between UNITECH and UNIR in Venezuela allowed students to transfer academic credits between the two institutions.^[1]

In 2009, following the launch of a graduate school and master's degree programs, UNITECH College of Technology was renamed Atlantis University with the approval of the Florida Department of Education/Commission for Independent Education.^[1]

In 2012, the university received institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).^[1] In 2016, ACCSC renewed the university's accreditation for an additional six years. Also in 2016, the university signed a 27,653-square-foot lease at Highland Park Center, a LEED-certified office building at 1011 Sunnybrook Road in the Miami Health District, relocating from its previous location at 1400 Biscayne Center on the north side of downtown Miami and more than tripling its campus footprint. The relocation, brokered by Cushman & Wakefield, placed the university in Key International's office building at the center of Miami's medical and research community.^[4] In August 2017, Atlantis University was recognized as a "2017 School of Excellence" by ACCSC for the quality of its programs, dedication to excellence in education, and high levels of student achievement.^[5] The university completed its move to the new campus in summer 2017.^[4]

In 2017, Carol Palacios, the university's Executive Director, was elected as an ACCSC School Commissioner. In May 2022, she was elected Chair of the ACCSC Commission.^[6][7]

In 2021, the university established an athletics department.^[8] In 2022, Atlantis University was admitted as a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).^[9]

In 2023, Florida Palms University, a branch campus of Atlantis University located in the same building, was closed.^[10]

In September 2024, Atlantis University signed a strategic collaboration agreement with the Ecuador Ministry of Labor (Ministerio del Trabajo) to promote digital training and employability for young Ecuadorians. The initiative, branded "Ecuador Aprende," includes scholarships and academic programs in technology, business, and health designed to address workforce demands in an increasingly digitized global economy. Ecuador's Minister of Labor, Ivonne Núñez Figueroa, and AU President Omar Palacios participated in the signing at the university's Miami campus.^[11] In February 2025, the first cohort of 30 scholarship recipients from Fundación Adhara began training under the program.^[12]

Academics

Atlantis University operates five academic schools offering degree and non-degree programs:^[1]

School of Business — Offers the Master of Science in Business Administration (MS), Master in Business Administration (MBA) with concentrations in Business Intelligence and Analytics, Digital Marketing, International Business, and Information Technology Management; Master of Science in Real Estate Development; Master of Science in Hospitality Management with concentrations in Innovation and Technology Management, International Real Estate Management, and Tourism Management; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with multiple concentrations; Bachelor of Science in Sports Management; and associate-level programs in Business Administration and International Business.^[1]

School of Artificial Intelligence, Engineering & Computing — Offers the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI), Master of Science in Information Technology (MIT), Master of Science in Cybersecurity, and bachelor's and associate-level programs in Information Technology. The MSAI program curriculum includes coursework in machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, ethics in AI, and large language models.^[1] Offers the Master of Science in Computer Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering with concentrations in Software Engineering and Network Engineering. The school also offers a combined B.S./M.S. program in Computer Engineering.^[1]

School of Health — Offers the Master of Science in Healthcare Management, Master of Science in Nursing with concentrations in Health Informatics, Nursing Education, Leadership and Administration in Healthcare Systems, and Public Health Nursing, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN).^[1]

School of Education — Established in 2022, the school offers the Master of Science in Elementary Education and Master of Science in Education with concentrations in Educational Leadership and Educational Technologies.^[1]

In addition to degree programs, the university offers graduate certificate programs in Special Education and Elementary Education, and diploma programs in fields including Network Operations, Enterprise Cloud, InfoSec, and Computer Information Technology.^[1]

The university offers programs through campus-based, online (distance education), and hybrid delivery methods. Online programs are delivered through the university's platform, referred to as the "AU World Campus," using synchronous and asynchronous instruction. All programs are available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, with class start dates varying by language of instruction.^[1]

Master's degree programs range from 12 to 24 months in estimated completion time, depending on the program. Bachelor's programs are estimated at 41 months and associate programs at 20 months.^[1]

Accreditation and approvals

Atlantis University is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), an accrediting agency recognized by both the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The university is listed in the CHEA Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations.^[3] AU is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE), License No. 3355.^[1]

Additional approvals and memberships include:^[1]

• Approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer Federal Student Aid (Title IV) for eligible students
• Approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for attendance by nonimmigrant (F-1) students
• Approved by the State Approving Agency (SAA) for veterans' training
• Authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense as a CLEP and DANTES testing center
• Designated as a Prometric and Pearson VUE testing center
• ESL program accredited by the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA)
• Member of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges

The university maintains articulation agreements with several institutions, including Keiser University, City College, Florida National University, and Everglades University.^[1]

Campus

The university's main campus, AU University Park, occupies 27,653 square feet across three floors of Highland Park Center, a LEED-certified building at 1011 Sunnybrook Road in the Miami Health District.^[4] The building is owned by Key International. The campus is situated near the University of Miami Health System, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and other major medical facilities, and is approximately two miles from Miami's Financial District and Arts District.^[5][1]

Prior to the 2017 relocation, the university operated from 1400 Biscayne Center on the north side of downtown Miami. The move to the Health District more than tripled the university's physical footprint.^[4] The campus includes classrooms, computer laboratories, a library, and student facilities.^[1]

Student life

Leadership

The university was founded by Dr. Omar Palacios, who serves as president. Andrea Carolina Palacios (Carol Palacios) serves as Director of Compliance. In 2022, Carol Palacios was elected Chair of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), the agency that accredits the university. In that role, she oversees accreditation decisions for ACCSC member institutions and has advocated for essential workforce skills certification programs.^[6][7] The Board of Trustees includes Andy Palacios (Director of Operations), Dr. Bianca Travis (Director of International Affairs) and Maria Moreno (Board member). Atlantis University operates as a DBA of Technology Trade Group, Inc., a Florida corporation.^[1]