La Salle Extension University
Encyclopedia
La Salle Extension University (LSEU), also styled as LaSalle Extension University, was a nationally accredited private university
based in Chicago, Illinois. Although the school offered resident educational programs in classes and seminars their primary mode of delivery was by way of distance learning. LSEU was in operation from 1908 until 1982.
in 1908, and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. It was originally located at 4046 S. Michigan Avenue (41st Street & Michigan). Early courses were business-oriented and included accounting and law. By 1911, LSEU was advertising that over 10,000 students had enrolled.
The university was an early pioneer in distance learning. LSEU was accredited by the National Home Study Council and the State of Illinois to grant academic degrees for completion of distance study programs. LSEU focused on business and vocational training, offering Associate's degree
s and Bachelor's degree
s, as well as a Bachelor of Laws
degree during much of its operation.
In 1937, the Federal Trade Commission
ordered that LSEU cease and desist
from representing that the school was a university. The FTC found that "while many of the respondent's courses of instruction were of college grade, the institution itself was not a university and did not possess the qualities and attributes considered by educators and the public generally as requisites necessary to be possessed by an institution to make it a university or to entitle it to be designated as such." The restrictions were eased a year later.
In 1944, LSEU relocated its administrative offices to the Chicago Loop
at 417 S. Dearborn Street.
in 1960. In 1961, Crowell-Collier acquired LSEU.
LSEU enrolled more than 100,000 students in 1969 and received approximately $50,000,000 in gross revenue. In 1969, Crowell, Collier Macmillan, Inc. and other corporations with distance learning subsidiaries filed suit against the National Home Study Council for monopoly and restraint of trade.
LSEU was involved in several lawsuits and counter-suits by the Federal Trade Commission
over the law degree it advertised. In 1973, La Salle Extension University was charged by FTC (D. 5907) for "involving misrepresentations about obtaining law degrees through a correspondence course." FTC ordered that the University be required to include a disclaimer in ads for its law distance program that read: "No state accepts any law home study course, including La Salle's, as sufficient education to qualify for admission to practice law." La Salle Extension University closed its law school program in 1980 following the litigation involving the FTC. La Salle Extension University's law school closed in 1980 and voluntarily relinquished accreditation of its law school program September 29, 1980.
. LSEU resources were absorbed into Macmillan Publishing Company, which was later taken over by Robert Maxwell
in 1989. Following bankruptcy, the assets were sold to Paramount Communications Inc. in 1994. They eventually became part of Simon & Schuster
in 1994. Pearson
acquired the Macmillan name in America since 1998, following its purchase of the Simon & Schuster educational and professional group (which included various Macmillan properties). Holtzbrinck purchased it from them in 2001.
recruited a number of prominent figures to be involved in the school, including Adlai E. Stevenson I.
La Salle Extension University was innovative for the time in providing many poor, working-class, women, and ethnic minorities educational opportunities. Several of its graduates have gone on to make significant contributions, especially in the fields of law, business, accounting, marketing and social work. Alumni have included figures in state and local political administrations, and a spectrum of US military officials. Alumni include governors Harold J. Arthur
and Eurith D. Rivers
, United States Senator Craig L. Thomas, U.S. Representatives John S. Gibson
and William T. Granahan
, and a number of prominent African American leaders, including Arthur Fletcher
, Jessie M. Rattley
, and Gertrude Rush
.
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
based in Chicago, Illinois. Although the school offered resident educational programs in classes and seminars their primary mode of delivery was by way of distance learning. LSEU was in operation from 1908 until 1982.
History
La Salle Extension University was founded by Jesse Grant ChaplineJesse Grant Chapline
Jesse Grant Chapline was an American educator and politician who founded distance learning facility La Salle Extension University in Chicago.-Life and career:...
in 1908, and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. It was originally located at 4046 S. Michigan Avenue (41st Street & Michigan). Early courses were business-oriented and included accounting and law. By 1911, LSEU was advertising that over 10,000 students had enrolled.
The university was an early pioneer in distance learning. LSEU was accredited by the National Home Study Council and the State of Illinois to grant academic degrees for completion of distance study programs. LSEU focused on business and vocational training, offering Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
s and Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
s, as well as a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree during much of its operation.
In 1937, the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
ordered that LSEU cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
from representing that the school was a university. The FTC found that "while many of the respondent's courses of instruction were of college grade, the institution itself was not a university and did not possess the qualities and attributes considered by educators and the public generally as requisites necessary to be possessed by an institution to make it a university or to entitle it to be designated as such." The restrictions were eased a year later.
In 1944, LSEU relocated its administrative offices to the Chicago Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
at 417 S. Dearborn Street.
Mergers
Crowell-Collier Publishing Company acquired Macmillan CompanyMacmillan Publishers (United States)
Macmillan Publishers USA, also known as Macmillan Publishing, is a privately held American publishing company owned by the Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than 30 others....
in 1960. In 1961, Crowell-Collier acquired LSEU.
LSEU enrolled more than 100,000 students in 1969 and received approximately $50,000,000 in gross revenue. In 1969, Crowell, Collier Macmillan, Inc. and other corporations with distance learning subsidiaries filed suit against the National Home Study Council for monopoly and restraint of trade.
Later years
In the university's later years, the school became known for its aggressive advertising practices. Most notable was the university's use of advertising on paraphernalia such as matchbooks, ink pens and pencils and in various types of magazines, with a grinning graduate and the famous headline "Look who's smiling now!"LSEU was involved in several lawsuits and counter-suits by the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
over the law degree it advertised. In 1973, La Salle Extension University was charged by FTC (D. 5907) for "involving misrepresentations about obtaining law degrees through a correspondence course." FTC ordered that the University be required to include a disclaimer in ads for its law distance program that read: "No state accepts any law home study course, including La Salle's, as sufficient education to qualify for admission to practice law." La Salle Extension University closed its law school program in 1980 following the litigation involving the FTC. La Salle Extension University's law school closed in 1980 and voluntarily relinquished accreditation of its law school program September 29, 1980.
After closure
After it closed, LSEU turned over records to the Illinois State Board of EducationIllinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education administers public education in the state of Illinois. The State Board consists of nine members who are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the...
. LSEU resources were absorbed into Macmillan Publishing Company, which was later taken over by Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell
Ian Robert Maxwell MC was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and former Member of Parliament , who rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire...
in 1989. Following bankruptcy, the assets were sold to Paramount Communications Inc. in 1994. They eventually became part of Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
in 1994. Pearson
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
acquired the Macmillan name in America since 1998, following its purchase of the Simon & Schuster educational and professional group (which included various Macmillan properties). Holtzbrinck purchased it from them in 2001.
Alumni
Founder Jesse Grant ChaplineJesse Grant Chapline
Jesse Grant Chapline was an American educator and politician who founded distance learning facility La Salle Extension University in Chicago.-Life and career:...
recruited a number of prominent figures to be involved in the school, including Adlai E. Stevenson I.
La Salle Extension University was innovative for the time in providing many poor, working-class, women, and ethnic minorities educational opportunities. Several of its graduates have gone on to make significant contributions, especially in the fields of law, business, accounting, marketing and social work. Alumni have included figures in state and local political administrations, and a spectrum of US military officials. Alumni include governors Harold J. Arthur
Harold J. Arthur
Harold John Arthur was the 68th Governor of Vermont from 1950 to 1951. He also served as the 62nd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1949 to 1950....
and Eurith D. Rivers
Eurith D. Rivers
Eurith Dickenson Rivers was an American politician from Lanier County, Georgia. He was the 68th Governor of Georgia from 1937 to 1941.-Life and career:Rivers obtained a degree through La Salle Extension University...
, United States Senator Craig L. Thomas, U.S. Representatives John S. Gibson
John S. Gibson
John Strickland Gibson was a U.S. Representative from Georgia.Born near Folkston, Georgia, Gibson attended the common schools....
and William T. Granahan
William T. Granahan
William T. Granahan was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, most prominently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1945–47 and 1949-56.-Biography:...
, and a number of prominent African American leaders, including Arthur Fletcher
Arthur Fletcher
Arthur Fletcher was an American government official, widely referred to as the "father of affirmative action" as he was largely responsible for the Revised Philadelphia Plan....
, Jessie M. Rattley
Jessie M. Rattley
Jessie Menifield Rattley served as the mayor of Newport News, Virginia from 1986 to 1990.-Life and career:Rattley obtained a degree from distance learning school La Salle Extension University. She was the first African-American to be elected to the Newport News City Council in 1970...
, and Gertrude Rush
Gertrude Rush
Gertrude Elzora Durden Rush was the first African-American female lawyer in Iowa, admitted to the Iowa bar in 1918. She helped found the National Bar Association in 1925.- Life and career :...
.