Today, we're excited to announce that Rize is expanding how we support partners to strengthen and maintain the existing programs in their catalogs.
While much of our initial work at Rize has helped colleges launch new programs in emerging fields like AI and cybersecurity, our partners have increasingly turned to Rize to support existing programs like Computer Science and Digital Marketing. These programs often struggle with program economics, faculty coverage, and keeping pace with industry changes.
Accounting and Finance are the first “Hybrid Department” Rize programs that were specifically developed to integrate into an existing major or be used to launch a new program.
Unlike emerging fields where colleges often don’t offer an existing major, Accounting and Finance are foundational business programs that most institutions already offer.
Our partners have consistently shared challenges that go beyond simply needing new programs:
This isn't about abandoning what's working. It's about strengthening existing departments when they need it most.
Our Finance program includes 10 comprehensive courses that blend traditional financial knowledge with forward-looking skills. From foundational topics like Corporate Finance and Financial Markets to specialized areas like Portfolio Management and Financial Modeling, students gain both core knowledge and emerging skills needed for modern finance careers.
What makes our Finance program unique:
The program was developed with Sandy Leeds, Senior Lecturer at the University of Arizona and former faculty at UT Austin's McCombs School of Business. Sandy brings 23 years of academic experience plus real-world expertise managing $1.6 billion in assets as a portfolio manager.
Our Accounting program offers 11 courses providing complete preparation for all four sections of the CPA examination, updated for the new 120-credit eligibility requirements that many CPA boards have adopted.
Program highlights:
The program was developed with Lisa De Simone, Professor of Accounting at UT Austin's McCombs School of Business. Her research on multinational tax strategies has been published in top journals, and she currently serves as Senior Editor of the Journal of the American Taxation Association.
What sets both programs apart:
We want to address this evolution directly: Hybrid Department Programs represent a strategic expansion of Rize's model based on partner feedback and recent partner behavior.
When we started Rize, our focus was helping colleges launch programs they'd never offered, filling gaps in emerging fields where internal development would be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. That work continues and remains crucial.
But as we've grown, our partners have shared a different challenge: "What about the programs we already have?" They've told us about departments losing enrollment, overstretched faculty wearing too many hats, difficulty staffing courses, and curricula that haven't kept pace with industry changes.
In the last few years, many partners began using Rize to support existing programs without Rize specifically focusing on that use case.
This feedback eventually emerged into direct requests for support in existing departments.
This expansion aligns perfectly with our mission of improving student outcomes and institutional sustainability. Some departments need entirely new programs; others need support making their existing programs stronger. Rize now explicitly offers both and will be adding new subjects that meet this growing demand.
Support for Staffing and Existing Faculty Hybrid Department Programs give colleges the academic capacity to keep essential programs running and evolving, even when existing faculty are stretched thin. Hiring and retaining qualified faculty, particularly in specialized fields like Accounting and Finance, has become increasingly difficult for small institutions. HDPs allow you to supplement your existing program with high-quality, reliable online options, filling gaps caused by retirements, sabbaticals, or adjunct shortages without compromising quality.
Flexible Modality That Meets Today's Student Needs Today's students demand options. Whether they're traditional undergraduates, working adults, or commuters balancing life and school, HDPs offer the flexibility modern learners expect without compromising academic rigor. Our online courses give students access to high-quality instruction from anywhere, while preserving in-person engagement and community on your campus. This model helps you better serve your full student population and stay competitive with fully online alternatives, without having to build the infrastructure yourself.
Solving Resource-Intensive Modernization Most institutions recognize the importance of modernizing curriculum, marketing high-demand programs, and hiring faculty with current industry expertise. Few have the budget or staff time to do it all. Our programs are designed and maintained by industry-aligned experts, updated regularly to reflect evolving workforce needs, and supported by our partner marketing and enrollment teams. Your college can offer competitive programs without continually diverting internal resources to maintain them.
Hybrid Department Programs represent our commitment to meeting institutions where they are. Whether you need to launch entirely new programs or strengthen existing ones, we're here to support your specific goals.
If your business department is facing staffing shortages, enrollment challenges, or pressure to modernize curriculum, we'd love to discuss how our Accounting and Finance programs might help. We're offering exclusive previews and planning sessions for interested institutions.
Contact us to learn more about Hybrid Department Programs and explore how we can support your business education goals.
