Will U of Arkansas buy U of Phoenix?!

[bjcheung77]

Oh, I don't know how I missed this a couple of weeks ago...  This might actually work out for U of Phoenix in the long run.  U of Arkansas invested in their own eVersity, then purchased Grantham, now looking at U of Phoenix as another acquisition.  Hmm, eVersity was 'merged' into Grantham I think, just recently too...

Link: Report: U of Arkansas system may buy University of Phoenix (insidehighered.com)

[sanantone]

I found this part most interesting.

The University of Phoenix “has been on a mission of going from being an advertising juggernaut and accepting everybody, a number of which weren’t able to graduate, to being much more selective and trying to manage their online programs at a much lower enrollment number with a much higher-quality student,” Wallace Boston, co-founder of Green Street Impact Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in education technology companies, said.

[jsd]

If they do buy it, first thing they need to do is rebrand it under the U of Arkansas name.

Deserved or not, the UofPhx brand is a scarlet letter that most people have a very negative opinion of.

[sialiblo]

Used bing chat (chatGPT on bing) to get me key takeaways of this article:

"Here are some key takeaways from the article:

- The University of Arkansas System is considering a transaction in which it would transform the for-profit University of Phoenix into an independent nonprofit affiliate¹.
- The deal, if it came to pass, would be the latest in a series of absorptions of formerly massive for-profit colleges by public universities, most of which have stirred controversy¹.
- The two institutions confirmed they are discussing a potential deal after a local newspaper broke the story based on a leak¹²³.
- The article also discusses some of the challenges and benefits of such a deal, such as regulatory hurdles, academic quality, financial viability, student outcomes, and access to online education¹.
- The article also provides some examples of similar deals in the past, such as Purdue University's acquisition of Kaplan University and Grand Canyon University's conversion to a nonprofit institution¹."

followed by asking, "what might go wrong with the deal between University of Arkansas System and University of Phoenix, if it passed ?"

There are many possible challenges and risks associated with this deal. Some of them are:

- Regulatory hurdles: The deal would require approval from various federal and state agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Education, the Higher Learning Commission, and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education²⁴. These agencies may have concerns about the quality, integrity, and financial stability of the University of Phoenix, which has faced lawsuits and investigations in the past for deceptive marketing practices and poor student outcomes³⁴.
- Academic quality: The University of Phoenix has a reputation for low academic standards, high dropout rates, and low graduation rates³⁴. The University of Arkansas System may face criticism for associating with such an institution, and may have difficulty integrating its academic programs, faculty, and accreditation with those of the University of Phoenix³.
- Financial viability: The University of Phoenix has seen a decline in enrollment and revenue in recent years due to increased competition and regulatory scrutiny³⁴. The University of Arkansas System may have to invest significant resources to improve its infrastructure, technology, curriculum, and student services². The deal may also affect the system's funding from state appropriations and federal financial aid programs².
- Student outcomes: The University of Phoenix serves a large number of adult learners, low-income students, students of color, military veterans, and working professionals who may have different needs and expectations than traditional students at public universities²³. The University of Arkansas System may have to adapt its policies and practices to better serve these students and ensure their success². The deal may also impact the transferability of credits, the recognition of degrees, and the employability of graduates from both institutions²³.

[collegecareerstudent]

I wonder if this has something to do with them phasing out their Self-Paced online courses in June!

[sanantone]

I also noticed that University of Arkansas - Grantham is teaching out its nursing programs.

[Alpha]

On a certain level this becomes a budgetary (legislative) issue.  I have no idea how the Arkansas state legislature might view this kind of a deal.
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023...as-system/

[ashkir]

Totally agree that if done, they need to rebrand University of Phoenix to use Arkansas. Phoenix is okay now, but, their reputation from the 90s and early 2000s still haunt them.

[davewill]

Totally agree that if done, they need to rebrand University of Phoenix to use Arkansas. Phoenix is okay now, but, their reputation from the 90s and early 2000s still haunt them.

I don't know. It's a huge brand and getting that kind of name recognition is hard, even if it carries some baggage.

[sanantone]

Aren't all of these for-profit schools renamed when acquired by public university systems? I don't think there's a debate here. If University Arkansas acquires University of Phoenix through a nonprofit, it's almost guaranteed to be renamed. There would be no reason for University of Arkansas to be a part of this if University of Phoenix wouldn't be renamed. University of Phoenix could transition to a nonprofit on its own. Remember that Grantham was purchased for $1.

“However, I do want to confirm that the UA System itself would not be acquiring the University of Phoenix, and no public or university funds would be involved in this potential transaction. The contemplated structure would also not include any remaining private ownership of the nonprofit entity or the University of Phoenix.”