Five Questions

Classes started in July at the Fort Myers campus of Rasmussen College, the 14th branch of the private, for-profit school founded in St. Paul, Minn., in 1900 by Walter Rasmussen. The school’s doors opened in the spring for school tours and registration, and Campus Director Eric Whitehouse anticipates about 100 students on the first day of class. Located in The Forum, a mixed-use development near I-75 and S.R. 82, the 10-classroom school is equipped with a library, student service center and technology labs.

1. Why open a branch of Rasmussen College in Southwest Florida?

We have two other campuses in Florida, one in Ocala and one in Holiday, so this will be the third in Florida. Any time we open a campus we do a lot of market research to make sure there is a need in the community. Through our research and talking with employers [and economic development councils] in the community, we found there was a need here.

2. What types of degrees do you offer?

We have four schools or areas: Allied Health, Business and Accounting, Justice Studies and Information Technology/Digital Design. Within those schools we have a wide variety of both bachelor’s and associate degrees with a wide range of different concentrations. We offer more unique degrees like homeland security and forensics, game design and simulation, call-center management, Internet marketing and more.

3. What will Rasmussen College prepare graduates to accomplish?

Nationwide we have a 92 percent [employment] placement rate for this previous year in the field in which the student studied. First and foremost, we want to make sure that the students get a well-rounded, interesting and engaging program, and [that] they also get the jobs they want. We have a more intimate model that helps students that don’t want to be lost in the sea of numbers in a big institution. It helps them make it to graduation and achieve the career goals they have.