For-profit colleges closing and leaving students without degrees but with considerable student loan debt have given online program managers (OPMs) a bad name. This is due in part to some OPMs blurring or crossing the line between educational institution and marketing firm. Here we’ll clear up some of the misconceptions that are broadly (and incorrectly) applied to the entire OPM category—and explain how our clients trust Apollidon Learning to transcend expectations and empower them to do what they do best.
While some OPMs develop and run their own courses, Apollidon prefers to leave all educational aspects to the expertise of our university partners. We focus on our own specialties: marketing and supporting our partners’ programs to increase student enrollment and retention. Students that enroll in the online higher education programs we support receive their curriculum directly from university faculty using two-way online tools. We never develop courses or teach them.
Apollidon does not use the aggressive and deceptive marketing tactics that have caused some OPMs and institutions to fail and leave students in debt. Apollidon employs salaried, non-commissioned representatives who provide relevant information about our partners’ programs and scholarship opportunities to prospective students. We never push students into a program that’s not a good fit for them but will suggest alternate programs that may be more in line with their educational and professional goals. We defer financial aid questions to experts in the respective financial aid offices of our partner universities.
Depending on their business model, OPMs may charge upfront costs to their university partners. The fees are typically negotiated on a case-by-case basis, i.e., a large state university may pay more than a small private college. Apollidon operates on a risk-free model in which it only receives payment for completed enrollments: We’re only making money if our partner institution is making money first.
Misconception: OPMs seek to become educational institutions in their own right, competing with trusted colleges and universities in an area beyond their own expertise.
While some OPMs develop and run their own courses, Apollidon prefers to leave all educational aspects to the expertise of our university partners. We focus on our own specialties: marketing and supporting our partners’ programs to increase student enrollment and retention. Students that enroll in the online higher education programs we support receive their curriculum directly from university faculty using two-way online tools. We never develop courses or teach them.
Misconception: OPMs target vulnerable students and encourage them to take out loans from the federal government in order to secure more enrollments.
Apollidon does not use the aggressive and deceptive marketing tactics that have caused some OPMs and institutions to fail and leave students in debt. Apollidon employs salaried, non-commissioned representatives who provide relevant information about our partners’ programs and scholarship opportunities to prospective students. We never push students into a program that’s not a good fit for them but will suggest alternate programs that may be more in line with their educational and professional goals. We defer financial aid questions to experts in the respective financial aid offices of our partner universities.
Misconception: OPMs cost universities a lot of money and those costs are passed on to students.
Depending on their business model, OPMs may charge upfront costs to their university partners. The fees are typically negotiated on a case-by-case basis, i.e., a large state university may pay more than a small private college. Apollidon operates on a risk-free model in which it only receives payment for completed enrollments: We’re only making money if our partner institution is making money first.
Misconception: OPMs focus only on the most popular, profitable programs, resulting in limited online program choices for potential students with diverse educational goals.
Apollidon’s program exclusivity policy ensures we do not promote the same program from two different institutions. This essentially requires us to diversify the programs we represent. We cannot simply choose a handful of the most popular programs of the day. Further, we never put our partners in direct competition with one another, and we do not share prospective leads for a program with any other institution. A quick review of online program offerings from Apollidon’s partner institutions partner institutions reveals bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and undergraduate and graduate certificate programs encompassing a broad range of disciplines.
Misconception: OPMs will market a program of any quality to potential students to make a profit.
Apollidon partners exclusively with accredited, public, not-for-profit educational institutions—one of which was founded more than 170 years ago. We help well-established colleges and universities with proven track records bring their programs into the online format.
Misconception: OPMs target vulnerable students.
Apollidon does not use the aggressive and deceptive marketing tactics that have caused some OPMs and institutions to fail and leave students in debt. Apollidon employs salaried, non-commissioned representatives who provide relevant information about our partners’ programs and scholarship opportunities to prospective students. In all cases, this information is fully pre-approved by the university.
Want to know more about what makes Apollidon a different kind of OPM? Contact us today for details!