Advantage Institute for Professional Studies

The Advantage Institute for Professional Studies in the College of Professional Schools is an adult degree program leading to:

Bachelor of Arts degrees:

•  Business Administration, B.A.  
•  Hospitality Management, B.A.  (Coming Soon) 
•  Human Resources, B.A.  
•  Psychology, B.A.   

Bachelor of Science degree:

•  Healthcare Management, B.S.   

Applicants must demonstrate a minimum 2.0 grade point average on all transfer coursework, or have a minimum of one year of full-time work experience. The program is taught in eight-week formats as well as weekend intensive and online courses throughout each trimester. Students may enter the program whenever a course starts. The format provides students options of multiple start dates and a supportive adult learning environment. Classes are offered on-site and off-site. Advantage classes meet from 6:00-10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Saturday. For information or application materials contact the Advantage Institute Office at (816) 501-3737, by fax at (816) 941-4650, or by e-mail at Advantage@Avila.edu.

Advantage Institute for Professional Studies Policies

• A voucher or letter of authorization from a student’s company will allow Student Financial Services to directly bill a student’s employer for the tuition due. An authorization to bill an outside source does not create a credit balance. Students are responsible for the total tuition and other miscellaneous charges even though a third party may pay the university directly or reimburse the student.
• Deferred payment plans and promissory notes are available to Advantage students enrolled in a full trimester of Advantage classes.
• Advantage students who register for at least six trimester hours may be eligible for financial aid consisting of deferred student loans. All aid applicants must be accepted for admission to the program before an award is made.
• Financial aid, including loans, must be fully processed and loan checks or disbursing dates must be on record at registration time to be considered as reducing the balance due. If this is not the case, the student will be responsible for payment at the time of registration.
• Students who withdraw from eight-week classes are eligible for refunds under the following schedule:
  • complete refund if the withdrawal takes place before 5 p.m. on the night the class begins.
  • 75% tuition refund if the withdrawal takes place after the first meeting of the class.
  • 50% tuition refund if the withdrawal takes place after the second meeting of the class and before the third meeting.
• There is no fee for courses added after registration or changes made as a result of classes cancelled by the university.
• Students may withdraw from an eight-week course with a grade of “W” before the sixth class meeting.
• Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are registered. One or two absences are at the discretion of the instructor. More than two absences may result in a grade of “F.”
• Other than a guest speaker(s), only facilitator(s) and students enrolled in the specific course are allowed in the classroom.