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Our Employee Values:


 

We, as education leaders, must obsess over our culture.
Why? Because we understand its profound significance.
Great higher education programs and services are the products we build for our students.
Culture is the product we build for our staff and faculty.
And we must tirelessly nurture it, day in and day out.

 



We take swift action to respond to opportunities and needs that better serve our students, always with a sense of urgency.

  • Do not let overanalyzing freeze your decision-making.
  • Not acting comes at a cost. Making a mistake comes with a lesson.
  • We make wise decisions despite ambiguity.
  • Strive for excellence, not perfection.
  • Embrace change. It is the only constant in life.

Otherwise, why bother? Become obsessed with being the best available option for the audiences we serve.

  • Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. We create and communicate an ambitious direction that inspires results, and we go after our goals with everything we’ve got.
  • It is no longer enough to satisfy our students. We must exceed their expectations.
  • Listen to the market and prioritize student desires.
  • Student obsession: we start with the student in mind and work backwards.
  • We are never done learning and always seeking to improve ourselves. We can always serve our students better.
  • We create new ideas that prove to be powerful.
  • We are high performance people who are continuously self-improving through experience, observation, introspection, reading, and discussion.
  • We elevate each other through strong performance, forging a winning team where collective success is our shared goal.

We are known for candor and directness. Respectful disagreements are welcomed and valued among our community.

  • We know it is ok to respectfully disagree with our superiors. Great minds create innovations and a variety of solutions.
  • Constructive criticism may be difficult, but it is necessary. It allows us to address challenges we may not otherwise recognize.
  • Our community is encouraged to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. We do not compromise for the sake of avoiding a conflict. Once a decision is final, we speak with one voice.
  • We respectfully say what we think even if it is controversial.
  • We question actions inconsistent with our values.
  • We maintain calm poise in stressful situations.
  • Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Everyone, regardless of their position in the University, has an impact on the success of the student.

  • You treat people with respect independent of their status.
  • Each person is important; each has the opportunity and the obligation to make a positive and impactful difference.
  • If we all focus on our community all else will follow.
  • Everyone has open access to anyone in the University. We have an open door policy.
  • We all work to provide the best student experience possible.
  • We put ourselves in the shoes of others. Our care drives our community to perfect our craft.
  • We believe that if our staff and faculty are happy, they will be motivated to make our students happy. It is just the way it works.
  • The success of the University is the people, if our staff and faculty are happy, they will make our students happy.

The only person that does not make mistakes is the person that is doing nothing. Strive for action, learn from your mistakes, don’t make them twice, and move toward the future.

  • Taking smart risks and making mistakes paves the way for learning.
  • We acknowledge and build from our mistakes; we grow and move forward.
  • We are quick to admit mistakes.
  • When we do not know the answer, we ask for help.
  • When in doubt, always do the right thing for our students.
  • It is always my responsibility.
  • We respect mistakes – we understand that new endeavors are challenging, and mistakes will happen.

Great organizations always have great people.

  • We are great at attracting and retaining outstanding colleagues.
  • We are passionate about our mission.
  • We believe in the pursuit of doing good.
  • We are energetic about work.
  • We are optimists.
  • We have creative solutions to our problems.
  • We value what people bring to the table.
  • We value diversity. Diversity of ideas, background, experience, education.
  • We promote autonomy to allow team members to perform at their highest level.
  • We surround ourselves with people that challenge our ideas.
  • Our leaders advocate for the ability of their team members to carry out their responsibilities.
  • Our leaders develop future leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others.

It’s the ultimate form of sophistication.

  • Making things simple is incredibly hard.
  • Truly “smart people” simplify things and reduce ambiguity.
  • We are concise and articulate in speech and writing. We can wade through the details and identify what matters.
  • We always look for efficiencies and ways to minimize and/or organize complexity.
  • We strive to accomplish more with less. Challengers promote resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There is nothing special about growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expenses.
  • We think strategically and can articulate, execute, and organize in simple terms what we are trying to do.

We consistently evaluate all the available options to ensure that we focus efforts and resources on what truly matters.

  • Student success is what drives us to achieve our goals. How we define a winning mindset isn’t based on how we perform on our best days, it’s how we respond on the worst days. We hustle, fight, overcome adversity, and play to win because of the commitment we have to our community.
  • We identify root causes and get beyond treating symptoms.
  • We separate what must be done well now, and what can be improved later.
  • We seek what is best for our community, rather than what is best for ourselves and our team.

If we can’t measure what we’re doing, we probably shouldn’t be doing it.

  • We care about efforts that lead to brave mistakes OR great results.
  • Work smarter, not harder.
  • Sustained B-level performance, despite “A for effort” has little value. Sustained A-level performance, despite minimal effort, has a high value. A-level performance should always be the objective and we reward it.
  • Markets change, student needs change, competition changes. We believe in constant evaluation and adaptation.
  • Measurement is not just a one-time event; it's an ongoing practice to drive continuous excellence.
  • We highly embrace data-driven decision-making to ensure that choices are aligned with desired outcomes.
  • We set clear, measurable objectives and key results to provide a framework for success.
  • Each team member understands their role in achieving overarching goals through measurable results.
  • We foster a culture where responsibility is tied to measurable performance.
  • Profit is not the purpose of our University, but rather the test of our sustainability.

For us, the true definition of quality is delivering more than what is expected. Especially for our students.

  • We owe our students nothing less than excellence. They trust us with their education, time, and money.
  • We inspire others with our thirst for excellence.
  • Good just isn’t good enough.
  • We offer programs and services that we are exceptionally proud of.
  • We must love our brands if we want our students to love them too.
  • We have relentlessly high standards — many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. And that’s ok.
  • We are continually raising the bar and driving our teams to deliver high quality academic programs and services.
  • We take our marketing and communication very seriously and we are proud of everything that we put out there.
  • We never say, “that’s not my job;” we seek out the answer and how we can support the goal.
  • We see being great at something as a starting point, not an endpoint.
  • We are never satisfied and always focus on continuous improvement as a pursuit of excellence.
  • We set ourselves goals we know we cannot yet reach.
  • We encourage and give to our faculty all the tools to provide the best quality and experience to our students, students will always remember the professors/subjects that support their professional development.

Be confident, but never arrogant. Always listen, and always learn.

  • We will actively listen to understand in order to make informed decisions.
  • We seek to understand our strategy, market, and stakeholders to evaluate our goals, opportunities, and challenges
  • We are ego-less when searching for the best ideas welcoming diverse perspectives and opinions.
  • We support our colleagues and help them succeed, fostering a culture of trust and respect.
  • We share information openly and proactively in a timely fashion and seek feedback and input from others.
  • We admit and learn from our faults, even if it’s hard, and we help each other improve.
  • We know that we are good, but we aspire to be so much better.

Life is too short to spend it doing something you don’t love.

  • It is a short journey. Let’s make the best out of it.
  • We thrive on joyful work and spirited celebration.
  • We want everyone to enjoy the adventure we are on together.
  • We help each other to be great and to have fun.
  • We keep improving our culture and community as we grow.
  • Celebrating achievements reinforces the value of measurable performance and encourages a high-performance culture.

 

Quarterly we recognize employees who exemplify a subset of our APUSVibes:

We Move Fast

"Dr. Graetzer is always present and available for his students. He is quick to respond to any student inquiry, and adds additional information such as research articles he thinks the student may be interested in. Students have reported that he is super knowledgeable and quick in his responses. Dr. Graetzer is dedicated to student success and embodies the Q1 Vibe of "We move fast". When discussing these qualities with him, he simply says that it is the right thing to do. His quick action with student inquiries serves them well and definitely improves our student completion and success rates. His dedication to our students is much appreciated.” Thank you, Daniel!.

"Julia has been the ice in every drink CTL...she keeps her cool, she keeps the tasks manageable, she instinctively knows what faculty resources can better to serve our students with a sense of urgency in turning faculty training materials from laborious to more succinct. Specifically, I have been blessed to facilitate new faculty training, and with Julia's leadership, she deconstructed the new faculty training - training materials with the mindset to ease onboarding for new faculty, with the focus of what our students need from faculty's use of D2L resources quickly, easily, and logically. Julia spent many hours revamping visuals, videos, and narratives throughout the training materials to streamline and improve the new faculty experience with the results designed to improve the readiness of faculty for class, ultimately lending to student success. I happily nominate Julia for WE MOVE FAST because of the quickness she responded to recent survey feedback and the call for CTL APUS101 revisions was just that, FAST, FURIOUS, with FABULOUS improvements.

"They recently quarterbacked the TechQuest program which required organizing multiple presentations throughout the week with many different contributors, including one graduate student. Julia was available to be available for every session and to get everyone organized and had to jump from session to session, many which were very closely spaced. I attended multiple sessions as well as presenting in one session and she was always present and helpful. She would monitor the chats to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to put in a question while being mindful of the allotted time for each presenter.” Thank you, Julia!

“Caroline takes pride in providing quick and efficient service to support APUS's students with disabilities. She recognizes how to cater to each of their unique needs to help resolve their issues in a timely manner and to promote an inclusive educational experience for each student she engages with. This commitment to finding fast and effective solutions to often complicated situations underscores Caroline's passion for making education accessible to all.” Thank you, Caroline!

"I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Mike Manning for the “Achiever of the Month” award within our dynamic “We Move Fast” Vibe. Mike’s unwavering commitment, agility, and proactive approach have significantly contributed to our team’s success.  
  1. Seizing Opportunities: Mike embodies the spirit of seizing opportunities. When presented with a chance, he doesn’t hesitate; he dives right in. His proactive mindset ensures that no opportunity slips through the cracks.
  2. Rapid Adaptation: In February, Mike transitioned to a new role. Without missing a beat, he swiftly engaged with his partners, establishing crucial meetings and forging connections. His ability to adapt rapidly is commendable.
  3. Business Development Dynamo: Mike’s keen eye for new opportunities is unmatched. He consistently scans the horizon, identifying potential growth avenues. Whether it’s building a business case or seeking support, Mike acts swiftly and decisively.
  4. Event Success: Mike’s impact extends beyond theory. In February alone, he played a pivotal role in securing four major outreach events. Despite the demanding pace, he didn’t flinch. Each event was meticulously set up, and Mike seamlessly transitioned from one to the next.
  5. Unwavering Drive: But Mike doesn’t stop there. While at his first event, he unearthed four additional opportunities from a target account. His relentless pursuit of success is inspiring.
  6. Expanding Our Horizons: Mike’s dedication to our University’s growth knows no bounds. He consistently seeks ways to expand our impact, ensuring that our success story continues to evolve.” Thank you, Mike!

We Are Ambitious

“ Jack has not only played to win but he is winning as a leader in the Gen Ed math department. He is always aware of the stats and working to ensure that the courses are running as smoothly as possible. He works with all faculty to ensure they are successful as well as the students. The Gen Ed Math courses have some of the best success numbers in the school of STEM. AND all of the Gen Ed courses have some of the highest student success rates of any school in the nation.” Thank you, Jack!
“LaVarn worked tirelessly last year and into Q1 of 2024 to launch the redesigned APUS Ambassador program. His hard work not only saved the University the cost of paying for an additional platform, it allowed us to streamline and improve the quality of the current Ambassador experience. LaVarn hit the ground running in January and has spent time this past quarter sharing the enhancements to our partners across APUS and APEI. We are formally launching this program at 2024 commencement but have already increased our total Ambassador participants. Thank you to LaVarn and team for the hard work put towards this program. The quality and meaningfulness of the experience will benefit both Ambassadors and APUS.” Thank you, LaVarn!

We Are Honest

“Dr. Dondanville (Abbey) is the epitome of - We are honest and courageous – She holds her students to a high standard and is direct and honest with her feedback. As PTF, she can be counted on to be consistent and respectful with all students, which is not always easy given their frustration with a grade and/or classroom requirements. Abbey's professionalism is without reproach, and she embodies an unwavering commitment to our APUS mission with an honest, ethical, and courageous approach.” Thank you, Rebecca!
“Andie is an exceptional individual whose unwavering commitment to doing what is right is truly remarkable. Her honesty, integrity and willingness to speak up in difficult situations is highly appreciated and refreshing. She possesses a wealth of knowledge when it comes to FSA regulations and is an invaluable resource to the team. Her meticulous attention to detail and thorough understanding of regulatory requirements are simply outstanding. Whenever any queries arise regarding regulation interpretations, she always comes fully prepared with the proper documentation, making her an indispensable asset to the team.” Thank you, Andie!
“Val stands out as one of the finest and most diligent Admission Coaches within the APUS organization. Her unwavering commitment to both the department and our students sets a remarkable standard. Particularly commendable is her adeptness at representing our voices in various forums, including all-staff/all-hands, admission department monthly gatherings, and QA sessions. Val fearlessly tackles challenging subjects, striving to enhance the services we offer to our students. With 13 years of dedicated service at APUS, she is truly deserving of recognition for her exceptional contributions and steadfast dedication.” Thank you, Valerie!

Everyone Matters

“Dr. Garibay has a warm, helpful, and supportive leadership approach with his team and everyone he meets. He takes the time to get to know each department chair and communicates with them in the way that best fits their needs and priorities. Anthony takes time away from work to consider those with whom he interacts and focuses on how he might support them uniquely. I recall an occasion when we first began working together in which he demonstrated that everyone mattered to him in a special way. We were interviewing potential department chairs together and interacted with one individual that seemed to be in crisis. We considered what might help this person we had never met before and might not see again in the future. Anthony contemplated this person's needs and added her to a prayer list to provide potential support in one of the only ways available at the time. When there are opportunities to recognize staff members, Anthony also takes the time to speak positively and lift up those who lead the mission forward from staff positions. He also welcomes new members of the APUS team and finds ways to connect and support them with resources, information, support, and relationships. Overall, Anthony lives and leads in a way that expresses the importance of the individual and also highlights the impact they make in our university and on student success.”

“Dr. Lindenmeyer has a unique role at APUS, working with students in crisis and hardship. On top of a massive workload (emotionally and physically taxing), she also takes the time to serve as an expert on DEIB related topics and training. Cynthia embodies the "Everyone Matters" and "We Surround Ourselves with Amazing People" because she takes the time to center discussions around people--asking questions that aren't always easy to answer. I admire Cynthia for her honesty and mission to educate. In her role, the education takes on a new level of real-world application. She reaches beyond just simply everyday interactions, trying to get to the heart of issues that don't have easy answers. I'm part of her book club currently, exploring racial trauma. After one session, I'm in awe of her energy and drive to challenge others to engage in difficult conversations. She is a champion of all and feels incredible safe. I am proud that APUS has Dr. Lindenmeyer in the Chaplain role. I imagine she has changed lives in her role--maybe saved some.

Beyond that, Cynthia's energy and poise at Commencement were amazing! She has an amazing way to calm and center people. She deserves a ton of recognition just for being and dedicating her life to service of others. I hope she wins this award.”

“I nominate Terri Wilkin, Department Chair, Emergency Management, School of Security and Global Studies, for the Everyone Matters award. Terri far exceeded her normal duties of leading the Emergency Management department when she assumed the role of acting Department Chair of Legal Studies from October 2023 - April 2024, a six-month time period. As acting Department Chair, Terri managed 26 fulltime and part-time Legal Studies faculty and over 45 Legal Studies courses. At all times, Terri ensured that she made the Legal Studies faculty feel part of the team and she kept us updated on all University announcements and changes. Terri also addressed numerous Legal Studies issues involving post-course extensions and students who needed substitute courses to the curriculum requirements in order to complete their degrees. As if this wasn't enough, Terri also assumed the role of Chair of the hiring committee to find a new Legal Studies Department Chair. Terri led the team that initially reviewed over forty resumes and job applications, conducted numerous interviews, and narrowed the field down to two finalist applicants. Terri was an extraordinary leader during this time period and ensured the Legal Studies department ran smoothly and efficiently despite not having a Department Chair. She is without a doubt the best of the best at APUS and should be recognized accordingly!”

We Welcome Mistakes

“The Global Impact Report was a HUGE lift, and it was complicated by a lot of back and forth guidance/directives from stakeholders. Melanie took all of that feedback in stride, making quick edits to the report again and again (even after it was published!) so that we could end up with the best version possible.”



“Alexis Gutierrez has been in Academic Advising for 4 years and is a standout leader in the department as a whole. In fact, she was recently promoted to a Manager just this week! She is consistently looked to on her teams for assistance with tough or confusing cases, and communicates her knowledge and advice clearly with every person she comes in contact with.

While nominating someone for We Welcome Mistakes can seem as though someone has made a mistake that stood out so much, that it needs to be reiterated, that is not the case with nominating Alexis. In my brief time as her Manager, I found it very rare to find a mistake in her work. She is always warm with students, wishes them a great evening or weekend in every interaction, engages with any personal information the student may share genuinely, and is able to assist students with confidence and ease.

My reason for nominating Alexis is the way in which she communicates with feedback. To hear feedback and take it as a learning experience, a chance for a conversation about advising principles and theory, and to take thoughtful care to incorporate such conversations moving forward I do not believe are teachable skills at the level Alexis is at. This attention comes from a passion for what we do every day and a way to see other perspectives and grow in one’s career. Alexis is a true professional and cares about each and every student, it is in these conversations about advising methods and best practices that she has also taught me different perspectives, it’s an invaluable character trait Alexis has and I look forward to seeing her grow in her new role.”

We Surround Ourselves With Amazing People

“Dr Frakes is one of the most amazing servant leaders I have ever had the pleasure of working for in both my military career and my move into academia. She is exceptional at making sense of requirements, supporting the faculty and having their back, while as fully engaging with our students. She is especially good with working with thesis students that are having significant challenges.

I have come to her with several new opportunities, for SSGS over the years and she has always supported each and everyone. Additionally, her monthly staff meeting provides detailed information, allow for discussion (which on occasion can get spirited) and always leave the entire team feeling part of a unified effort. When I consider John Maxwell's definition of a Servant Leader Dr Kelli Frakes is the first name I think. She embodies the term used in this award "amazing"...and she leads her subordinates to be "amazing" also. She is the Natural choice for the "We surround ourselves with amazing people" award.”

“Lindsey embodies the core values of our organization through her collaborative spirit and compassionate leadership. She has fostered a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement, consistently encouraging team members to strive for excellence and supporting their professional development. Lindsey’s ability to inspire and motivate those around her is evidenced by the high morale and strong sense of community within her team.

Lindsey’s exceptional work ethic and empathetic leadership make her an exemplary figure within our university. Her contributions have not only driven tangible results but have also set a standard of excellence for others to follow.”

“I am writing this nomination for Kristina Lloyd, Senior Manager, Training. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kristina for a year and a half now as part of the training team. Kristina is a go-getter, a hard worker, and will do anything to make things great for staff, which in turn impacts students. On top of Kristina’s regular training and QA responsibilities, she has been very involved in the transition from eGain into Salesforce. Starting last year, she provided training and guidance to move Student Support, TCE, Student Accounts, and Academic Advising from eGain into Salesforce. To do this, she led numerous trainings for each of these teams and she worked with their leaders to ensure they understood how Salesforce works so that they could request the correct functionality from IT. She currently is still serving as a bridge in the gap between IT and our staff. This year she has helped transition the Office of the Registrar, DSA, and Document Services. She is also currently working with Curriculum and Assessment/LOA, Student Services, the Conduct team, Compliance, and Financial Aid/Financial Aid Services. Kristina has such a positive attitude. There is always a smile on her face and she’s willing to help with whatever is needed. Kristina is creative – she brings fun to the training she holds and she’s forward-thinking – she knows what teams may need before they realize they need it. Kristina’s help in these transitions has been instrumental. For this nomination of ‘great organizations have great people, it’s clear that Kristina is one of those great people.

Kristina is a staple in Enrollment Management. Not only is she an outstanding trainer, but her quick and accurate responses are greatly appreciated when we call on her for help. Her knowledge of our systems is incredibly helpful, be it for building reports or when someone on our team needs a refresher to gain a better understanding of our systems. She is always willing to go above and beyond and does so with a smile on her face. Anyone that has had the chance to work with Kristina, knows she has an incredible work ethic and is amazing to collaborate with.”

“Keechia has done a tremendous job in focusing on the student experience for the courses in Health Information Management program. In the past year, she has worked extensively with the faculty in her program to ensure that students were getting faculty that were engaged, timely in their responses and grading, and that provided substantive and appropriate feedback on all assignments. She spent just about all of the past year coaching, counseling and working to build a strong faculty, which included making some difficult decisions on individuals to make sure our standards of teaching excellence and classroom quality were upheld. She recently has hired several excellent new part time faculty to fill the vacancies created to ensure adequate bench strength. Her desire to give our students the faculty that they deserve should be commended.”

Congratulations to these employees!