Introducing the American College of Healthcare Sciences

Founded in 1978, ACHS is recognized as an industry leader in holistic health education worldwide. Our flexible, online programs, highly qualified faculty, diverse student body, and commitment to exceptional online education make ACHS the perfect choice. Your education is accredited and recognized throughout the holistic medicine community.

Mission & Vision Statement

To provide leadership in holistic health education through comprehensive professional online and on-campus education and high quality natural products with a commitment to sustainable practices and principles. Through our mission, ACHS fosters competence, professionalism, and cooperation in holistic healthcare and works to preserve and share knowledge in natural medicine. We will achieve our objectives through a set of values that respect our students, customers, employees, suppliers and community, and to operate with integrity that is deserving of their trust.

ACHS Objective

Through our mission, American College of Healthcare Sciences will foster competence, professionalism and cooperation in holistic healthcare, and preserve and share knowledge in natural medicine.

Company Goals:

To operate the College on a sound financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value to the customer, and career and financial opportunities for our employees.

Market Goals:

• Attract and maintain students (inspire and motivate for life-long learning)
• Grow our presence in targeted markets (by field of study and geography)
• Expand markets when feasible

Company Values and Beliefs:

• We believe that excellence is an essential means of sustaining our values in a competitive marketplace.
• We believe in providing employees with a safe and fulfilling work environment and an opportunity to grow and learn.
• We believe in an ongoing commitment to innovation and learning.
• We believe that we have a responsibility to cultivate the best relationship possible with our co-workers, customers, suppliers, agents and community.
• We will value the different gifts, contributions and perspectives that each employee brings to our team.
• We will conduct our business in a socially and environmentally responsible manner

As an ACHS student, you can:

• Earn an accredited certificate, diploma, or degree.
• Study with highly qualified instructors who work in the industry.
• Receive ongoing support from your instructor and student services.
• Study with like-minded peers in a dynamic and lively online learning environment.
• Join your class from any computer, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• Enjoy round the clock technical support by telephone and email.
• Enjoy joining a community of learners focused on holistic medicine.
• Focus on holistic approaches to health.
• Learn tools to support your own health and well-being as you learn how to educate others.

Personal Growth and Knowledge

You can take ACHS courses to extend your knowledge and self-awareness for your own health, enjoyment, and development or to give you and your family a holistic foundation for personal health care. Graduates tell us that their experience at ACHS has a powerful and positive impact on the way they think, feel, and live. Your studies will immediately be applicable to your personal and professional life.

Sustainability at ACHS

Maintaining the health and vitality of our world is the everyday responsibility of everyday people. But it’s not a gray-cloud situation. Rather, we like to think of our choices as opportunities—the opportunity to promote sustainability, the opportunity to project a worldview that values holistic health care, and, above all, the opportunity to provide you with classes that are informative, accessible, and environmentally aware.

We choose to help our community and local environment, but not through large, overwhelming initiatives. Rather, we promote sustainability through small, local initiatives that we can commit to, promote, and educate about.

In recognition, Green America approved ACHS for their Green Business Network February 2009. To be accepted, ACHS passed a rigorous screening of both social and environmental criteria. By supporting ACHS, you are part of the solution for today's social and environmental challenges--growing the green economy. Click Here to read more about our commitment to greening the economy and approval by the Green Business Network.

ACHS at Home

ACHS Sustainability Committee — Started by ACHS Senior Vice President Erika Yigzaw, the Sustainability Committee works to promote sustainable practices on the ACHS campus and within the larger global community. The Sustainability Committee recently launched their tree planting initiative, which will plant 10 trees for every 2010 Summer School in Greece participant. Current Committee members include: Vice President Erika Yigzaw, President Dorene Petersen, and Assistant Dean of Student Services Joel Strimling.

Botanical Teaching Garden — ACHS herb garden takes the place of a student parking lot and provides hands on education to local students and the community. The garden provides oxygen-producing plants, and preserves local plant and animal life. Only organic methods of plant and pest control are used in the garden.

Compost —In January 2010 ACHS started participating in the Portland Composts! program through the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, which allows our office and Apothecary Shoppe College Store to compost food items like fruits and vegetables, food-soiled paper like napkins, tea bags, and coffee grounds and filters, as well as plant material.

Energy — The ACHS campus makes use of skylights to reduce energy dependency, uses florescent lighting where possible, and unplugs all auxiliary electronics when not in use.

Preservation — All course manuals are printed on 30% recycled paper, ACHS graduates receive the quarterly newsletter by email to preserve paper, and all staff use paperless processes as much as possible to reduce paper and ink usage.

Save More, Matter More —Last year, the American College of Healthcare Sciences pledged to use renewable power to save energy and help the environment. This year, ACHS renews their pledge to renewable power and further commits to: 1. Replacing traditional incandescent lights with energy-saving floodlights; 2. Turning off lights when we leave a room; 3. Unplugging electronics that are not in use; and 4. Educating our students and staff about the importance of energy conservation.

ACHS in the Community

Tree Planting— Like you, we value the natural world and want to preserve it for future generations. We encourage all students who participate in our study-abroad programs to purchase carbon offsets for travel (such as NativeEnergy or TerraPass). In addition to the earth-friendly suggestions offered here, ACHS is launching a tree planting initiative as part of the ACHS Sustainability Committee. For every student who attends 2010 Summer School in Greece, ACHS will plant ten trees through American Forests.

Earth Day — Celebrating Earth Day every April is an ACHS tradition. Earth Day is an opportunity to volunteer in our community and builds awareness about sustainability.

Education — ACHS hosts monthly community wellness events that focus on practical applications of holistic health. ACHS also provides students with information about volunteer and community opportunities.

Herb Day — Herb Day is an annual event dedicated to the uses of herbs and herbalism. ACHS hosts a community Herb Day event, which includes information about organic certified, sustainably wildcrafted herbs.

United Aromatherapy Effort — In 2007, ACHS partnered with the Effort to provide aromatherapy relief to rescue workers in the Southern California wildfires. 

ACHS Staff & Faculty

Dorene Petersen — ACHS President Dorene Petersen maintains a large compost pile at the Summer School in Greece and has taught a number of people on Syros, Greece, about composting, which is not common in the area. She also is an avid cycler.

Erika Yigzaw — Senior Vice President Erika Yigzaw and her husband are starting an organic lavendar farm in their acreage. She recycles avidly, composts everything she can get her hands on, and refuses to spray. When faced with 15-foot-high blackberry bushes, what did she do? Make jam!

Portland Bridge Pedal — Dean of Admissions Tracey Miller and Production Assistant Justin Janicki have participated in the Portland Bridge Pedal this past summer. The Portland Bridge Pedal raises awareness for biking as well as environmental community.