AIU Online Expands, Delivers Hundreds of Jobs to Local Economy; Online University's Rapid Growth Benefits Chicago, Northwest Suburbs

Business Wire, Nov 24, 2003

Business Editors

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 24, 2003

American InterContinental University Online (AIU Online), one of the fastest growing universities in North America, is making an economic impact in the Chicagoland area and northwest suburbs by creating hundreds of new jobs, expanding to an additional recruitment center and investing in superior technology.

"In addition to investing in a technologically advanced infrastructure, AIU Online has hired and trained over 500 local residents and over 100 adjunct faculty since January alone. We continue to hire new employees every day and hope to hire several hundred by the end of the first quarter of 2004 in a variety of positions," said Nick Fluge, chief operating officer of AIU Online and president of Career Education Corporation's Online Education Group. "We are flourishing and contributing to the communities we call home."

According to Fluge, the University expanded their offices to the O'Hare area this fall and expects to add a presence on the West Coast by the end of 2004.

"AIU Online is a forward thinking university responding to the education demands of individuals and businesses in the global economy," said Jerry Roper, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, referring to the creation of hundreds of new jobs and cutting-edge educational programs. "The fact that AIU Online is headquartered in Chicagoland and will be expanding here is an asset in attracting and retaining other businesses," Roper said.

AIU Online is part of the Career Education Corporation (CEC), one of the world's largest providers of for-profit postsecondary education and also headquartered in Hoffman Estates, IL. AIU Online offers an accelerated quality online education at any time and any place, putting students in charge of the learning process. AIU Online's strong industry performance and commitment to student outcomes and career advancement education is one of the driving factors for CEC's No. 2 ranking on Crain's Chicago Business recent list of Chicago's fastest-growing public companies and its latest placement on FORTUNE magazine's 2003 list of the 100 Fastest-Growing Companies.

"Our 2003 graduating class is AIU Online's most successful year to date, producing record numbers, including an exceptional job placement rate. In two short years, we reported our student population has grown to more than 9,300, demonstrating AIU Online's unique virtual education is quickly setting the bar for the online learning industry," said Fluge.

Now offering a variety of degrees in Information Technology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Visual Communication, Healthcare Management, Education and Marketing, AIU Online has already added several new degree concentrations this year, focusing on careers in growing and expanding industries, and has plans to introduce several more in upcoming months.

For more information on AIU Online's economic impact or its unique interactive learning experience, visit www.aiuonline.edu or contact Dr. Robin Throne of CEC's Online Education Group, at mediarelations@aiuonline.edu. For information on AIU Online's employment opportunities, visit www.aiuonline.edu/careers.

American InterContinental University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Career Education Corporation. CEC operates 78 campuses in the U.S., Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates and had approximately 79,500 students as of October 31, 2003. AIU Online is the web-based virtual campus of American InterContinental University, an international university with residential campuses located in Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; London, England; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. American InterContinental University has been educating students for over 35 years and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.