The University of Phoenix was allowed to keep accreditation during its application for a Change of Control last week, moving the affiliation process forward, according to a news release sent out by President Scott Green on Monday.
The seemingly rushed approval for the universities to become affiliated has slowed over the last few months. The affiliation, which is said to help the University of Idaho face the looming 2025 enrollment cliff and improve online learning, has been criticized by many people.
However, in the release, Green argues a different point. He said the Phoenix was allowed to keep accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. When Phoenix was last accredited, in February of this year, the Higher Learning Commission had zero findings. For reference, Green said in UI’s last bout with accreditation, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities pointed out five findings, something Green said was positive.
This process assures that the two universities can continue in their journey to become affiliates. Another potential roadblock to the affiliation was a complaint by Idaho’s Attorney General, Raúl Labrador, that claimed UI’s Board of Regents violated the state’s open meeting laws.
This complaint refers to the Board of Regent’s April 25, May 15, and May 18 meetings where the board approved the establishment of Four Three Education Inc., the nonprofit entity that would acquire Phoenix.
A judge ruled on the Labrador’s complaint, according to the release.
“The motion was largely successful in that the judge’s order dismissed the AG’s motion for a continuance, which would have delayed justice. The order also dismissed claims of violations relating to the agenda for the May 18 board meeting and the lawfulness of the April 25 meeting,” Green said in the release. “He partially found for the Board of Regents for the May 15 meeting, but allowed the case to continue on a technical question of whether the board reasonably believed that competition existed when the meeting was held.”
With the accreditation and the Attorney General’s complaint largely solved, the affiliation is free to move forward. Green and Chris Lynne, Phoenix’s president, met with the Department of Education in Washington D.C. recently to address concerns, the release said.
“These conversations were positive, and we believe telling our story to this important agency and receiving their feedback will help us navigate a successful closing and future together in a way that conforms with the department’s expectations,” Green said in the release.
Green continued to say in the release that volunteers have already come forward to join working groups for the affiliation, which he sees as a major positive. He also says the college landscape has already begun to change, citing out-of-state recruiters such as the University of Tennessee, the University of Arizona and Arizona State University all attending a college recruiting event in Idaho Falls.
Green said that it is evidence that out-of-state universities are trying to entice Idaho students to leave the state for higher education. This recruitment could steepen the enrollment cliff, and the Phoenix affiliation could provide some safety.
“Fortifying our position as we enter the enrollment cliff has never been more essential,” Green said in the release. “…I believe that, once again, we will emerge from this next challenge stronger than when we entered it.
Joanna Hayes can be reached at [email protected]