Welcome to MRU

MIAMI REGIONAL UNIVERSITY HISTORY

Management Resources Inc., doing business as (dba) Miami Regional University, was founded in January 1996. The company was originally a management consulting and training firm that helped individuals and organizations improve their performance through the application of Total Quality Management principles. In 1999, the company embarked on a new endeavor when it started training welfare and dislocated workers. Though this portion of the student population is now a much smaller segment of the total student body, the University continues its partnership with CareerSource South Florida, CareerSource Broward, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the State of Florida Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

In 2001, the institution became licensed by the Florida Commission of Independent Education (CIE) and became known as Management Resources Institute (MRI). The initial offerings were vocational programs which evolved into diploma programs in Education and Languages (now part of the School of General Studies and Professional Education) by 2006. Seeking to evolve as an institution and to broaden students’ accessibility to education, MRI embarked on its journey to achieve its first national accreditation. MRI received the maximum of six-year accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education (COE) in 2007. In 2008, MRI was approved by the United States Department of Education (USDOE) to administer Federal Financial Aid. The University continues to be recognized by the USDOE. A COE-reaffirmation visit in 2012 culminated in an additional six years of accreditation, effective February 2013.

Based on the recommendation of MRI’s Advisory Board, in February 2012, the institution launched an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing, enabling foreign physicians to become Registered Nurses. The overwhelmingly positive response from the community resulted in MRI’s substantial growth. These newly licensed RNs were now able to fulfill their calling of saving lives through the practice of nursing. In response to student demand for higher educational opportunities, the development and implementation of Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degree programs were incorporated into MRI’s Strategic Plan. In 2013, MRI started offering Associate programs in Business and other Health related fields.

Consistent with this plan, in 2014, MRI received approval from COE and CIE to be recognized as Management Resources College (MRC). Since COE does not accredit institutions for the higher-level degrees MRC was seeking to offer, MRC decided to seek accreditation with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). In December 2014, Management Resources College received accreditation. In August 2016, the school achieved the next milestone in its evolution and became known as Miami Regional University (MRU).

In December 2016, the University’s accrediting agency ACICS lost recognition by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). By statute, all ACICS schools had to obtain accreditation from another agency recognized by the USDOE to maintain the ability to offer financial aid to its students. Although ACICS regained temporary recognition by Court order in April 2018, the Corrective Actions Report submitted by ACICS to the USDOE was reviewed by the Secretary of Education. As a result of these events, the University sought accreditation from a different agency. In August 2018 the University received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). As a stipulation of accreditation, the University changed its name to Miami Regional College (MRC) until it could fulfill ACCSC’s requirements for using the University name. MRU has since demonstrated that it satisfies ACCSC’s requirements for a University and regained its University status in August 2019.

In 2020, the University, and the world, was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The University took immediate action to ensure the safety of its faculty and students, while continuing to work toward its Mission and allow its students to pursue their dreams. Many graduates of MRU’s nursing school worked on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic and continue to do so. MRU is so proud of their dedication and courage. While the University community continues to experience the impact of the pandemic, MRU is grateful for the hard work and dedication of its students, faculty, and administration in finding creative solutions to allow the University community to continue thriving and learning. Many of these changes prompted a review of institutional practices and offerings and have brought improvements to the University’s offerings and programs which the University will, as always, continue to review and improve to meet the needs of our community.

On January 1, 2022, Miami Regional University was granted initial accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). After earning SACSCOC accreditation, the Doctor of Nursing Practice program became accredited. Based on recommendations by MRU’s Advisory Board, additional post-master certificate programs were created and accredited in. Both the Adult Gerontology Acute Care PMC and Psychiatric Mental Health PMC were programmatically accredited in August 2023.

Miami Regional University is committed to continuing to fulfill its Mission by providing quality education in a nurturing and learning environment to prepare students for lifelong learning in an evolving world.