Rushmore University Rushmore University Rushmore University is an unaccredited institution of higher learning offering master's and doctoral degrees in a variety of business-related fields, exclusively via distance learning. Rushmore was started in 1996 in South Dakota by Michael Cox (professor) (1952-2006), whose credentials included a PhD in Accounting from Oklahoma State University and seven years' teaching at the University of Arkansas and Sam Houston State University. As of June 4, 2006 Rushmore had a mailing address in the Cayman Islands. The Maine Department of Education formerly listed it as having been located in South Dakota and the Cayman Islands. As of August
Mount Rushmore in popular culture operates as the Hotel Alex Johnson. The "North by Northwest" appearance has been parodied in several venues. In "North by North Quahog", a 2005 episode of the animated series "Family Guy", Mount Rushmore's forested plateau was the location of the villain's home, and characters Peter and Lois are chased down the monument by Mel Gibson. In "Richie Rich", the Rich family's imitation of Mount Rushmore becomes the setting for the film's finale, echoing the finale of "North by Northwest". Alan Weisman, in his book "The World Without Us", suggests that the Mount Rushmore memorial could last up to 7.2 million