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2021 marks the 70th year of the transformational power of education at Grantham University. Founded in 1951, Grantham University developed as part of the traditional college and university movement of the late 20th century with a main campus in Southern California. As interest in Grantham's degree programs grew beyond campus boundaries, the college developed distance education programs to serve a geographically dispersed student body. Over time, and as technology advanced, so too did our ability to serve our students. Since 2000, Grantham began offering degree programs exclusively online.

In late 2021, Grantham University joined the University of Arkansas System and officially became the University of Arkansas Grantham. UA Grantham is now a stronger institution with greater ability to serve the thousands of students already enrolled in more than 60 fully-online degree and certificate programs. The UA System is comprised of seven two-year colleges, five four-year institutions and 10 other divisions and units that enroll more than 70,000 students, employs over 28,000 and has a total budget of more than $4 billion.

A Pioneer in Education: Donald Grantham

World War II Veteran Donald Grantham understood how the G.I. Bill of Rights and its education benefits would transform the lives of returning servicemen. Grantham founded the Grantham Radio License School in Los Angeles, California. Soon after, the name was changed to Grantham School of Electronics.

Campuses Across the Country

In 1955, the school opened sites in Washington, D.C., and Hollywood, California. In the years to follow, additional campuses were opened in Seattle, Washington, and Kansas City, Missouri. At one time, Grantham School of Electronics’ facilities also included the Grantham Electronics Institute Labs in Washington, DC; Falls Church, Virginia; and Dania, Florida. A second Los Angeles campus was established in 1974.

Graduate in Action

The smiling gentleman operating the television camera is Grantham graduate Vregh Godoshian. He was a technician and operator for WNEM-TV and FM in Pontiac, Michigan. Vregh graduated from the Washington, D.C. campus in January of 1958.

Grantham graduate Vregh Godoshian. He was a technician and operator for WNEM-TV and FM in Pontiac, Michigan.

Grantham University ad in Popular Mechanics in 1960

1960s

1960: Pictured—Ad in Popular Mechanics magazine featuring the Grantham School of Electronics.

1961: Grantham School of Electronics became accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council [now the Distance Education Accrediting Commission], which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.

1968: The institution’s name changed to Grantham College of Engineering. Throughout the following years, the college consolidated all of its activities to one location in Los Angeles, California, that offered only distance learning programs.

The Beginning of Mobile Communications

Pictured here is Robert Winchester, a graduate of the Seattle division of the Grantham School of Electronics. In 1961, he opened Tele-Car Communications, the fastest growing mobile communication firm in the Northwest.

Robert Winchester, a graduate of the Seattle division of the Grantham School of Electronics. In 1961, he opened Tele-Car Communications, the fastest growing mobile communication firm in the Northwest.

1970s

1971: The Grantham College of Engineering moved to Falls Church, Virginia, and began awarding its first associate degrees.

1976: Donald Grantham discontinued residential school operations to concentrate completely on distance education.

1977: Grantham College of Engineering was the only school in the United States offering an accredited Bachelor of Science in Electronics through distance education.

Gold Star Recording President

Graduate Robert Falkner, WWII veteran and president of Gold Star Recording Company, is supervising an “on the spot” recording of a dance band. He attended the Grantham School of Electronics, gaining knowledge he credited with helping him set up his own recording studio.

This ad appeared on the inside front cover of Popular Electronics, highlighting Grantham’s student-centric focus.

1980s

1985: The Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology was launched.

1989: Pictured—This ad appeared on the inside front cover of Popular Electronics, highlighting Grantham’s student-centric focus.

1990s

1990: Pictured—Grantham College of Electronics received approval to operate and relocated to Louisiana.

1993: Grantham became licensed to operate by the Louisiana Board of Regents.

1994: The college’s programmatic offerings expanded with the addition of a new Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree.

Grantham College of Electronics received approval to operate and relocated to Louisiana.

Kansas City (Missouri) Mayor Kay Barnes helped Grantham University formally open its new Kansas City location with a ribbon cutting.

Grantham Finds New Home in Kansas City

In April 2006, Kansas City (Missouri) Mayor Kay Barnes helped Grantham University formally open its new Kansas City location with a ribbon cutting.

2000s

2001: Grantham College of Engineering created the military scholarship program to help service members surmount barriers to higher education.

2002: Grantham College of Engineering launched its Business School and simultaneously became Grantham University. From 2002 to 2005, Grantham expanded its online degree selection by adding criminal justice and master’s degree programs.

2004: The College of Arts and Sciences was launched. Grantham University was selected to participate in C-Tac and was selected by the Defense Acquisition University to participate in its degree completion program.

2005: After Hurricane Katrina destroyed all but one building on the Grantham University campus in Slidell, Louisiana, Grantham relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. In that same year, the Missouri Department of Higher Education certified Grantham to operate in the State of Missouri.

2006: Grantham University was selected as an E-Training Partner by the federal government.

2007: Grantham University was selected by the College of the Air Force to participate in its Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) program. A new Grantham partnership allowed FBI National Academy graduates to continue their education and obtain advanced degrees. Grantham is one of seven accredited universities selected nationwide as a partner in this effort. Dr. Herbert London, president of the world-renowned Hudson Institute, was appointed to Grantham’s Board of Governors.

2008: Grantham held its first annual commencement ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri.

2009: Grantham University adopted new technology into its student and learning management systems. The university received approval from the Distance Education and Training Council and the Missouri Department of Higher Education to offer associate through master-level allied health degrees.

2010s

2010: Grantham University began offering an RN to BSN Nursing Degree Completion program and a Master of Science in Nursing. The university launched 10 new programs in nursing and allied health, as well as information systems, information systems security and performance improvement.

2011: Grantham University began to enroll Title IV students. Grantham also received a $5,000 grant from the Aurora Foundation to develop a “Vets in Transition” awareness program.

2012: Grantham University launched the first virtual Society for Human Resource Management chapter. This same year, the university awarded students over $5.3 million in scholarships and grants.

2013: Grantham University added seven new concentrations to the multidisciplinary studies degree program: human resource management, criminal justice, health systems management, accounting, business administration, business management and computer science.

2014: To accommodate a growing employee base for an ever-expanding and worldwide student population, Grantham University relocated its main campus to a facility across the state line in Lenexa, Kansas. Pictured here is the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Kansas location. This same year, the university was recognized for hiring military veterans by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

2015: Grantham University’s Mark Skousen School of Business was named Top 75 Best for Vets: Business Schools for the second year in a row.

2016: Grantham University received programmatic accreditation from ABET for its Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology program; the College of Business, Management and Economics received first-time programmatic accreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE); and the university was awarded the U.S. General Services Administration contract to provide education programs to federal employees.

2017: Grantham University launched a new Grantham Gives Back Community Grant funded by employee contributions. The grant is open to non-profit community organizations whose missions align with the university's. This same year, Grantham was selected to participate in the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education, enabling sailors to further their education while on sea duty. The Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr. Resilience Scholarship was founded to help bridge the gap in annual Tuition Assistance benefits for military service members.

2018: Grantham co-hosted its first veteran transition and job fair and launched the Hiring Veterans is Good Business program within the corporate community. Additionally, the university was recognized for reducing its carbon footprint and focusing on environmentally friendly business practices. Grantham was designated an R5 Certified Green Partner by the Johnson County (Kansas) Department of Health and Environment. Grantham is one of only two universities in the country that was awarded this certification in 2018.

2019: The Heroes Program was founded for military, first responders, civil servants and eligible family members. The program recognizes their service with reduced tuition, complimentary textbooks and software, and no technology fees. Grantham was designated a Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart for its commitment to the military veteran community. Also, the university was awarded accreditation for its College of Nursing undergraduate and graduate programs by ACEN, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Grantham University landed on Military Times' ‘Best for Vets: College 2020’ list and seven degree programs were ranked in the top 50.

2020s

2020: “Licensed or certified patient care workers” were added to the list of students eligible for the Heroes Program. Grantham achieved accreditation for its College of Nursing undergraduate and graduate programs by CCNE, the Commission for Education in Nursing. Grantham University named 6th most military friendly school in the nation; the MBA – Project Management was ranked a top five program by Intelligent.com; and the university's engineering programs were named a best value program by Value Colleges. Grantham awarded grants to students and alumni providing COVID-19 solutions in their communities. The first virtual commencement was held to honor the Class of 2020. There were 30,000+ virtual attendees.

2021: Grantham University joined the University of Arkansas System and became the University of Arkansas Grantham. UA Grantham relocated its headquarters to Little Rock, Ark., and kept its operational location in Lenexa, Kan. The University of Arkansas Grantham is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and holds several programmatic accreditations – ACEN, CCNE, ABET and IACBE. The university remains committed to its mission of providing quality, affordable, professionally-relevant programs as part of Arkansas’s premiere higher education system.

70 Moments in Our Rich History of Educational Service