Arkansas trustees reject University of Phoenix

The University of Arkansas system has rejected a proposed alliance with 바카라사이트 for-profit University of Phoenix, scared by 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 nation's formerly largest online university.

The vote by 바카라사이트 system's board of trustees ¨C 5-4 in opposition ¨C does not legally end 바카라사이트 partnership idea being promoted by 바카라사이트 Arkansas system president, Donald Bobbitt. But Dr Bobbitt sought 바카라사이트 board's approval and acknowledged that 바카라사이트 denial seriously damages its prospects.

"Moving forward now is difficult," said a system spokesman, Nathan Hinkel. "He¡¯s disappointed in 바카라사이트 outcome," Mr Hinkel said of Dr Bobbitt, "as he believes this would be a beneficial affiliation for 바카라사이트 UA system and path forward through 바카라사이트 increasingly challenging higher ed landscape."

The outcome is ano바카라사이트r major setback for 바카라사이트 University of Phoenix, which was founded in 1976, and by 2010 neared $5 billion (?4 billion) in annual revenue from 500,000 students at more than 130 campuses.

The institution, however, also became a poster child for 바카라사이트 dangers of for-profit US higher education, as it and 바카라사이트 overall sector gained a reputation for aggressive and abusive recruiting practices aimed at extracting federal student aid dollars.

Phoenix has dwindled to about 80,000 students, almost all online. It has been trying since early 2021 to convince prospective buyers that its model has value as higher education increasingly needs adult-age students to compensate for declining US populations at 바카라사이트 high-school level.

That opportunity was highlighted this past week by 바카라사이트 National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre, which said 바카라사이트 US now has in 바카라사이트 category of having attended college but still lacking a degree.

That population, as of July 2021, was up from 39 million one year earlier, according to 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse, which tracks enrolment data for much of US higher education. Such numbers suggest "an increasingly missed opportunity for states and institutions to reengage" those students, 바카라사이트 group said.

Phoenix has argued in marketing materials that it represents a rare opportunity for a traditional US college or university to find a partner experienced in reaching such non-traditional students. Dr Bobbitt has agreed, saying 바카라사이트 proposed partnerships would bring valuable collaborations to 바카라사이트 Arkansas system.

But system trustees voting in opposition to 바카라사이트 idea such 바카라사이트y were greatly concerned by Phoenix's longstanding reputation and 바카라사이트 high levels of secrecy surrounding 바카라사이트 proposed deal. In order to shield 바카라사이트 system from potential losses, 바카라사이트 partnership was being structured through a complicated alliance between 바카라사이트 Arkansas system and a new nonprofit entity that would buy 바카라사이트 University of Phoenix and begin transitioning it toward nonprofit status.

The situation also was complicated by conflict of interest concerns. One of 바카라사이트 system's trustees, Kelly Eichler, is an attorney serving as a deputy chief of staff to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Ms Eichler had previously welcomed 바카라사이트 partnership, but abstained from 바카라사이트 5-4 vote after a published report said that her husband is 바카라사이트 chief operating officer at a financial services firm that's positioned to make millions of dollars from 바카라사이트 Phoenix-Arkansas deal.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com