With the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), your life experiences can earn you college credits. Whether you already have a career, are serving or have served in the military, or are someone with diverse volunteer and work experiences, PLA offers a chance to turn your real-world knowledge into academic credit. Through the PLA, you can showcase your expertise and get the credit you deserve. But for the PLA portfolio, you’ll need to craft a compelling narrative that demonstrate your mastery of course objectives. Crafting a story that showcases your skills and knowledge involves 7 basic steps. Step ..read more

In partnership with the Policy Studies Organization, we are proud to announce our first Sport United Conference, taking place from November 7-8. This free virtual conference is available to anyone around the world, and you can easily attend if you have an internet connection. The Conference Will Include Stakeholders from All Sectors of Sports and Esports As the sports industry continues to evolve at a rapid rate, the opportunity to meet to share knowledge and data, challenge norms, and discuss the latest trends shaping the sports and esports industries becomes even more pressing. The Sport Uni ..read more

Congratulations to all our 2024 faculty and staff award winners! These awards recognize outstanding faculty and staff members who have demonstrated their excellence and perseverance in teaching and service. They have dedicated themselves to guiding the future of our students and the University community. Staff Award Winners On May 9, the University held its second annual #BEGREAT awards reception at the Gaylord National Harbor and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. During this event, various University instructors and staff members received their awards from the University. Excellence i ..read more

Congratulations to the entire class of 2024! Your efforts and perseverance throughout your academic journey were admirable. We also offer a special congratulations to our 2024 student and alumni award winners. They have provided distinguished service and shown their immense dedication toward helping people in their communities, the nation, and the world. President’s Award Winners: Rick Moore and Ryan Andersen The President’s Award recognizes both a graduate and an undergraduate student. To qualify, the President’s Award winners must have distinguished themselves academically and made significa ..read more

I recently had a conversation with a colleague who stated this eye-popping fact about using AI for research papers: “In a class of 18, I have four students at 100% and one more at 61%. The rest were 0%.” She was referring to the artificial intelligence detection score for a writing assignment given in an undergraduate-level STEM course. Sadly, this exact conversation happens every day here at the University and every other educational institution, according to The Guardian. Getting students to avoid using AI for research papers and other assignments is a daily reality for most of us. For teach ..read more

For teachers, there is nothing more exciting than to see where their students end up. The journey of our legal studies students begins in the virtual classrooms of the University and continues to the most exciting places. One of our legal studies students now serves on the bench of a New Mexico county court as a magistrate judge. Student and magistrate judge Brent A. Detsoi took time out of his busy schedule to tell us about his academic and professional journeys. Brent Detsoi. Image courtesy of author. Dr. Fuchs: Judge Detsoi, why did you choose our University? Judge Detsoi: I chose American ..read more

By Rev. Dr. Cynthia Lindenmeyer Director, Chaplain and Student Wellness Services In March 2020, I crossed paths with a remarkable student. She was unhoused and a single parent, but she was fiercely determined to pursue her education. Despite the massive weight of her circumstances, this student was hopeful and recognized that getting an education was the key to a brighter future. I also wonder if it was this student’s hope and focus on service to others that made her so resilient. Statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness paint a stark reality. One in every five adults experience ..read more

By John Robert Morton, Student and Alumni Affairs Liaison, and Randy Purham, AMU Graduate Many University alumni work to improve their communities and are dedicated to public service. AMU graduate Randy Purham is one example. Randy Purham, AMU graduate. Image courtesy of author. Randy spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, working his way upward from squad leader to chemical operations specialist. As Randy progressed through the Army, his passion for politics and leadership shone through and his leaders took notice, often sending him as their representative for certain events. In 2019-2020 ..read more

Nothing is more pervasive for major retailers than organized retail crime. Organized retail crime rings are responsible for financial losses of $112.1 billion to retailers, according to Daphne Howland of Retail Dive. Retailers commonly refer to these financial losses as “shrinkage.” What Is Organized Retail Crime? Kelly Boucher of LVT notes that organized retail crime involves a coordinated, premeditated act. The members of organized criminal groups target retail stores for financial gain and travel to different cities and states for their illicit activities. Organized retail crime may involve ..read more

Mexican drug cartels have been around for more than 40 years, and they continue to devastate communities and people’s lives. Some of the most powerful Mexican drug cartels include: The Guadalajara and Sinaloa cartels The Gulf cartel The Jalisco New Generation cartel The Tijuana cartel and other cartels The Guadalajara cartel was particularly big in the 1980s. When it fell apart, its collapse led to the Mexican Drug War. Smaller Mexican drug cartels were established and fought over territory. All of the Mexican drug cartels have one thing in common: the use of violence. Cartel members use vio ..read more