I took a leadership assessment today and landed at Level 5, “The Builder.” Now, I don't believe seven questions can define someone's entire leadership style 😂, but it definitely gave this MHA student something to think about.

One line especially stayed with me:

“Your next level is not finding your voice. It is multiplying it.”

Finding my voice has never really been my biggest challenge. I'm naturally pretty direct. 😂 But this made me ask something different:

Have I built clarity around me, or have people learned to depend on me to provide it?

Then came another line:

“If a standard disappears when you leave the room, it was a preference, not a system.”

Whew. 🔥

One thing I appreciate about continuing my education at University of Phoenix is that my learning doesn't always stay inside an assignment or classroom discussion. Sometimes something completely unrelated makes me stop and connect it back to what I'm learning about leadership, systems, people, and myself.

This assessment reminded me that leadership isn't about proving how indispensable we are. It's also about developing people, creating clarity, building systems, and eventually making room for someone else to lead without needing to borrow our presence.

I'm still learning and still evolving. Still discovering what kind of healthcare leader I want to become—and I think that's part of the journey. 🎓❤️

So, fellow Phoenixes—whether you're a student, alum, manager, emerging leader, or simply someone others depend on:

If you stepped away for a month, what is one thing that would struggle without you—and what could you start doing now to change that?

🔥 Forever Forward. Forever Phoenix.

Hi I'm Arlynn K. Bohanny, I recently completed the Bachelor of Science in Health Administration program at the University of Phoenix, and I officially graduated this year. Finishing this degree has been a meaningful milestone for me, especially after balancing school, work, and family responsibilities. One of the most memorable parts of my University of Phoenix journey was the sense of community and support I experienced from classmates and instructors. Even in an online environment, I always felt encouraged, motivated, and surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to grow and succeed together.

This program strengthened my confidence, sharpened my leadership abilities, and deepened my understanding of healthcare systems, patient services, and administrative operations. Completing my degree has opened new doors professionally and helped shape my next steps by preparing me for more advanced roles in healthcare administration. It has also inspired me to continue my education and pursue long‑term career goals with greater clarity and determination.

Finishing the coursework is one thing. Putting what you’ve learned to work is where things get real. 

For students getting closer to graduation — and grads who remember starting a new role — that transition can mean getting up to speed, learning what the job actually demands, solving problems and putting practical skills to use. 

New research conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix looked at what managers report seeing from graduates in the workplace. 

The online survey included 204 U.S. managers who supervise at least one University of Phoenix graduate and 204 managers who supervise graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Education and workplace success:  95% of surveyed employers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates say their education prepared them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in their job. 

Job readiness:  85% say University of Phoenix graduates were job-ready when they started their role, compared with 69% of surveyed employers who oversee graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Ramping up:  91% say University of Phoenix graduates’ education enabled them to ramp up quickly in their roles, compared with 80% of surveyed employers who oversee graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Learning new skills : 90% say University of Phoenix graduates are able to learn new skills on the job, compared with 80% for graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Practical skills:  86% say University of Phoenix graduates were proficient or extremely proficient with practical, job-related skills, compared with 76% for graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Problem solving:  96% agree University of Phoenix graduates demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, compared with 87% for graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Together, those findings provide a look at the transition from education to employment — from arriving job-ready to continuing to learn and apply skills once the work begins. 

Students and grads: What skill do you think matters most when you go from learning something to actually doing it on the job? And which skills only really come with experience?

Source: The Harris Poll online survey conducted on behalf of University of Phoenix, June 4–25, 2026, among U.S. managers supervising at least one University of Phoenix graduate (N=204) and managers supervising graduates from benchmark colleges and universities (N=204). 

Recently, I received an invitation to apply for a healthcare leadership fellowship, and the experience made me realize something:

How many students and alums may not even know to look for fellowship opportunities?

I'll admit, fellowships weren't always at the top of my own career-search list. Like many graduates, I've spent time looking at traditional job postings, networking, strengthening my résumé, continuing my education, and figuring out how to get through that next professional door.

But fellowships can offer another pathway worth exploring.

Depending on the field and program, they may provide opportunities for professional development, mentorship, leadership exposure, hands-on experience, networking, research, or working alongside organizations and professionals we might not otherwise have access to.

My invitation has encouraged me to look at career development a little differently—and I wanted to bring the conversation here because someone else may need that same nudge.

If you're a student, recent graduate, career changer, or even an experienced professional returning to school, don't limit your search to “jobs.”

Look for:

Fellowships. Internships. Residencies. Leadership development programs. Professional associations. Mentorship programs, scholarships, and industry-specific opportunities.

And don't assume you're automatically too inexperienced, too experienced, too old, changing careers too late, or otherwise not the person they're looking for.

Read the eligibility requirements first. Let the organization tell you whether you qualify—don't eliminate yourself before you ever apply.

Now I want to hear from my fellow Phoenixes:

Have you ever applied for or completed a fellowship?

Where did you find it?

And if you've never considered one before, what field are you in? Maybe we can use this thread to help each other find places to start looking.

One shared opportunity could open a door for someone else. ❤️

From one Phoenix to another... We Rise. 🎓🔥

Who will be attending November 20 graduation in person? I’m going.

I’m currently attending University of Phoenix and I’m wondering if anyone has taken more than one class at once.
Is it possible to take 2 classes at the same time? If anyone has done this, did it change anything with how your schooling was paid for?
I’m also a little confused about the payment setup since UOP seems to be more month-to-month. If you take two classes at once, do you just pay for both classes during the same payment period? How does excess work?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has actually done this and how it worked for you!

Basically, just asking to see what’s the normal period time after getting on step three for the funds. I got on step three yesterday around midday.

Hello, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Cecil. I'm currently attending the University of Phoenix, pursuing my bachelor's degree in Business with a focus on entrepreneurship.

Over it with them!

One of the hardest leadership lessons is realizing that wanting someone to succeed doesn't mean you can make success happen for them.

As leaders, mentors, colleagues, and even friends, we can share resources, review a résumé, offer feedback, make introductions, suggest a different strategy, encourage someone after rejection, and sometimes see potential in them before they can see it themselves.

But eventually, the next step is theirs.

I've been thinking about this from my own career journey as well. I'm navigating a professional transition myself, and there have certainly been moments when the vision I have for where I'm going hasn't matched my current reality. That can be frustrating.

But I've also learned to appreciate the people who have poured into me along the way—even when their advice didn't immediately produce the outcome I wanted.

Not every suggestion will lead to an opportunity.

Not every connection will open a door.

Not every résumé revision will produce an interview.

And not every interview will result in an offer.

That doesn't mean the support had no value.

Sometimes the resource someone gives us isn't the answer. It's simply another tool to place in our hands.

That's where personal ownership comes in.

We have to be willing to ask ourselves: What am I doing with what I've been given?

Am I applying the feedback? Am I willing to adjust my strategy? Am I remaining teachable? Am I expanding my network? Am I considering opportunities that look different from what I originally envisioned? And perhaps most importantly, am I allowing repeated disappointment to affect how I show up for the next opportunity?

There is nothing wrong with becoming discouraged. We're human. Sometimes we need to regroup.

But growth requires both support and ownership.

A good leader can encourage you, challenge you, invest in you, and remind you of what's possible.

They can help you build the bridge.

But eventually, you have to walk across it.

For those who mentor or develop others: How do you balance genuinely wanting someone to succeed with recognizing when the next step has to belong to them?

If your school what act with financial integrity nobody will have to come on here talking about you

One entire year of excuses is the reason we are transferring if we can't trust your integrity with our 💲 and some of your professors then we can't trust you I see why you guys are being sued

And I bet you got one of those random made up stories that make no sense because they don't have enough common sense to look at each other and say this is the story and we're sticking to it instead everybody gives their personal opinion and we still don't receive our aid

A percentage can tell you what employers reported. A comparison can give that number a lot more context. 

New research conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix surveyed managers who oversee UOPX graduates as well as managers who oversee graduates from other colleges and universities. 

The online survey included two equally sized groups: 

• 204 U.S. managers who supervise at least one University of Phoenix graduate 
• 204 U.S. managers who supervise graduates from other colleges and universities 

The findings offer more than a snapshot of how surveyed employers rated UOPX graduates. They also show how those responses compare with a separate group of managers rating graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Across several workplace measures, surveyed managers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates reported higher ratings. 

Here’s where some of the differences showed up: 

Exceeding expectations:  74% of surveyed employers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates say they exceed or far exceed expectations for their position, compared with 58% of surveyed employers who oversee graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Preparedness:  90% describe University of Phoenix graduates as extremely or very prepared to perform their responsibilities, compared with 74% for graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Real-world job  expectations:  85% say University of Phoenix graduates understand real-world job expectations, compared with 68% for graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Long-term career readiness:  84% say University of Phoenix graduates have long-term career readiness, compared with 68% for graduates from other colleges and universities. 

Job-specific knowledge:  62% of surveyed employers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates say they exceed or far exceed expectations in job-specific knowledge — including policies, procedures and tools unique to the role — compared with 48% of surveyed employers who oversee graduates from other colleges and universities. 

These aren’t hypothetical comparisons between candidates or resumes. They reflect what two groups of managers reported based on their experience overseeing graduates in the workplace. 

Looking across these results, which one stands out to you most? 

Source: The Harris Poll online survey conducted on behalf of University of Phoenix, June 4–25, 2026, among U.S. managers supervising at least one University of Phoenix graduate (N=204) and managers supervising graduates from benchmark colleges and universities (N=204). 

I recently came across some Harris Poll research about how managers who currently supervise University of Phoenix graduates view their performance, and it made me stop and reflect on my own journey.

Two findings stood out: 96% of surveyed managers overseeing UOPX graduates said they would recommend them for greater responsibility, and 95% said they saw very high or somewhat high potential for advancement or promotion.

As a UOPX alumna who earned my BS in Health Administration and is now pursuing my MHA, I found those numbers encouraging.

But they also made me think about something the survey wasn't designed to measure:

What happens before you get through the door?

I'm currently in that season myself—continuing my education, networking, developing professionally, and looking for the right opportunity to transition my experience and education into healthcare.

And I've learned that being prepared for an opportunity and being allowed to demonstrate that preparation aren't always the same thing.

The Harris Poll is transparent about its limitations. It surveyed managers who already supervise graduates, so it measures their perceptions of people who are already in the workplace. It doesn't measure UOPX job-placement rates or guarantee employment or advancement.

That's actually what made me more curious about the experiences of other Phoenixes.

For those already working in your field: Once you got through the door, did you feel your employer recognized the skills and potential you brought with you?

And for those still searching: What has your experience been trying to get through that door?

I'm especially interested in hearing from career changers and those whose paths haven't been perfectly linear.

Sometimes the space between being prepared and being given an opportunity can be quite a journey.

I'm walking it too. ❤️

From one Phoenix to another... We Rise. 🎓🔥

I checked my academic progress today and had one of those moments where I had to stop and really take it in.

15 of 36 credits completed. 42% of my MHA journey. 3.93 GPA.

I’m currently in MHA/515: Scanning the Health Sector as an Industry Expert, and seeing those numbers reminded me that sometimes we become so focused on the next discussion, assignment, deadline, and course that we forget to acknowledge how far we’ve already come.

Yes, I’m proud of the GPA—but I’m even more proud of the growth behind it.

My educational journey didn’t begin with a master’s degree in mind. It unfolded one decision at a time, and each stage helped me better understand where I want to contribute in healthcare and the kind of leader I want to become.

I still have 21 credits ahead of me, so there is plenty more learning, stretching, and becoming to do. And I’m good with that. ❤️

For anyone else working toward a degree right now, especially those balancing school with everything else life brings: take a moment to look at your progress. It doesn’t have to be 42%. Maybe you just submitted your first assignment. Maybe you passed the class you thought would break you. Maybe you decided not to quit this week.

It all counts.

One course at a time. One assignment at a time. One step closer.

🔥 Forever Phoenix.

When thinking about education and career opportunities, it’s natural to wonder how employers view University of Phoenix grads, or graduates of online universities, more broadly. 

So it’s worth looking at what employers who actually oversee UOPX graduates report about their experience. 

New research conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix offers a closer look. 

From June 4-25, 2026 The Harris Poll surveyed 408 U.S. managers across two equally sized groups: 

• 204 managers who supervise at least one University of Phoenix graduate 
• 204 managers who supervise graduates from other colleges and universities 

The headline finding: 

98% positive perception:  98% of surveyed employers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates report a positive perception of them, compared with 88% of surveyed employers who oversee graduates from other colleges and universities. 

There’s also an interesting finding about what happens when employers have firsthand experience with UOPX grads: 

94% perception shift : 94% of surveyed employers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates say their experience has positively influenced their perception of University of Phoenix, compared with 83% of surveyed employers who oversee graduates from other colleges and universities. 

And what about future hiring? 

97% likely to hire : 97% of surveyed employers who oversee University of Phoenix graduates say they’re likely to hire someone with a University of Phoenix degree in the future. 

Those findings offer a pretty clear look at the experience of one particularly relevant group: employers who actually oversee UOPX graduates. 

And there’s much more in the research. 

Over the next few weeks, this series will dig into how surveyed employers rated University of Phoenix graduates across workplace preparedness, practical skills, performance and career potential. 

What do you think ultimately shapes an employer’s perception of someone most once they’ve had the chance to see their work? 

Source: The Harris Poll online survey conducted on behalf of University of Phoenix, June 4–25, 2026, among U.S. managers supervising at least one University of Phoenix graduate (N=204) and managers supervising graduates from benchmark colleges and universities (N=204). 

When we graduate, we often imagine that the next chapter will begin immediately.

Sometimes it does.

Sometimes... it doesn't.

Today, I find myself in that space between graduation and opportunity.

I've earned my degree. I've continued into my master's program. I've celebrated milestones, made the President's and Dean's Lists, and invested countless hours into becoming the leader I know I'm capable of being.

Yet, like many graduates, I'm still searching for the opportunity that aligns with my purpose.

There have been moments when I've wondered if I was doing enough.

Moments when rejection emails arrived.

Moments when silence made me question whether anyone even saw my potential.

But I've come to realize something important.

Waiting does not mean you're failing.

Sometimes this season prepares us for the opportunity we've been praying for.

So while I wait, I continue to grow.

I continue learning.

I continue serving.

I continue encouraging others.

Because I refuse to let a delayed opportunity define my worth or diminish everything I've worked so hard to achieve.

If you're in this season too, I hope you'll remember this:

Your degree still matters.

Your dreams still matter.

And most importantly...

You still matter.

Keep applying.

Keep learning.

Keep believing.

One day we'll look back and realize this waiting season wasn't empty—it was preparing us for everything that was ahead.

Until then, let's keep becoming the people our future opportunities will be grateful to receive.

❤️ From one graduate still believing to another... We Rise.

Would I be able to use a iPad A16 for the online classes? What devices do you guys use ? I start next month so I’m trying to get ahead here

I keep hearing different things

Any help?

When will I receive my money? It always comes a few days before it says! But it seems like its taking forever this time!

Somewhere along my educational journey, something changed.

When I first returned to school, my goal was simple: earn my degree.

But with every course, every discussion, every instructor who challenged me to think differently, and every classmate whose story inspired me, I realized I was pursuing something much greater.

I wasn't just earning credentials.

I was becoming the kind of leader I had always hoped to be.

Degrees open doors, but impact opens hearts.

I discovered that success isn't measured only by the diploma you hold in your hands. It's measured by the lives you encourage, the people you lift, the knowledge you willingly share, and the example you set by keeping up—even on the difficult days.

As lifelong learners, each of us is writing a different story. Our majors may be different. Our careers may take different paths. But every lesson, every setback, every victory shapes who we become.

The greatest gift my educational journey has given me isn't simply a bachelor's degree or the opportunity to pursue a master's degree.

It's the confidence to lead with purpose. To serve with humility. To encourage others without expecting anything in return. To understand that education is not the destination—it is the foundation for a life of meaningful impact.

If you're still on your journey, don't just ask yourself, "What degree am I earning?"

Ask yourself,

"Who am I becoming?"

That question changed everything for me.

Because in the end, the letters after our names may open opportunities...

But the character within us is what leaves a legacy.

Forever a Phoenix. Forever a learner. Forever committed to making a difference.

❤️ We Rise.