University of Phoenix

1. University of Phoenix Good Business Plan

2. University of Phoenix • Founded by Dr. John Sperling • Corporation • Corporate name is Apollo Group • Founded in 1976 • John Sperling is worth about $1.4 billion • Peter Sperling is worth about $1.5 billion • Brother also works for University of Phoenix • Wealth through stock ownership of Apollo

3. University of Phoenix • Some people do not value the degrees • Originally classes were taught through mail • i.e. students were buying the degree • i.e. students were not learning • i.e. low quality

4. University of Phoenix • Why are studying this education model? • University management is smart • Good model to incorporate in a growing educational facility • Created two billionaires in education • I think the only billionaires in education

5. University of Phoenix • Campuses • Located in large cities throughout the United States • Expanded into Mexico and Canada

6. University of Phoenix • Caters to working adults • Most adults work 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. • Classes are • Monday through Friday 6 – 10 P.M. • Saturday 9 A.M. – 1 P.M. • Tutoring Sessions • Friday evenings • Saturday mornings and afternoons

7. University of Phoenix • A campus is small • Houston, Texas has about 5 campuses • Spread throughout the city • Students prefer to go to school near home • Campus is close to home • After class, students are home within minutes

8. University of Phoenix • Do not have “physical” libraries • UOP has electronic libraries • Search engines • Google is a search engine • Econlit is a search engine for economics • Subscribes to many electronic journals • Students can download articles at home via the internet

9. University of Phoenix • Textbooks will be electronic • Usually protected pdfs • Some courses have computer tutorials • Computer keeps track • Student progress • Identifies a student’s problem area • Informs instructor of progress • ALEX is the algebra tutorial program • About ½ the students like ALEX and the other half did not

10. University of Phoenix • Students’ records are computerized • Student can take a course at any campus • Example • Student has to leave Houston, Texas and work at a project in Chicago, Illinois for a month • Student can take a course in Chicago • Student can finish degree on time

11. University of Phoenix • The university rents office space • If the market is saturated • A campus can no longer attract students nearby • University shuts down campus • Students who did not graduate can still finish at another campus

12. University of Phoenix • Courses are standardized • All instructors have to follow course syllabus • No matter where student takes course, they learn the same material

13. University of Phoenix • A team of professionals creates a course at corporate headquarters • Faculty can download materials through internet • A detailed syllabus • Contains topics • Contains exercises and homework • Selects textbook • Faculty notes and suggestions

14. Methods of Education • Ground Courses • Students attend class at campus • Online Courses • Students attend course via through the internet • FlexNet • Students can take both ground or online courses to fulfill degree requirements

15. Ground Course • University of Phoenix uses active learning • Students get involved in • Discussions • Debates • Reflections • Applications

16. Ground Course • Undergraduate class • Duration is 5 weeks • Students attend a class once per week • Class is 4 hours long • 10 minute break each hour • Total contact hours is 20 hours • Standard University Class • 3 hours per week for 15 weeks • Total contact hours is 45 hours

17. Ground Course • University claims • Students make up the remaining time as homework • Homework • Team assignments • Team has to meet once a week • Because corporate workers work in teams • Individual assignments

18. Ground Course • From experience • Some teams work on the problems together • Other teams • One or two people do all the work while other team members do little • Other teams assign homework problems to team members • Team assignment is a “collection” of different styles and handwriting • Some students copy homework from other team members

19. Ground Course • Graduate courses • Duration is 6 weeks • Students attend a class once per week • Class is 4 hours long • 10 minute break each hour • Total hours is 24 hours • Still less hours compared to a regular university

20. Ground Course • Students attend classes throughout year • Students can graduate within 3 years for bachelor’s degree

21. Expanding into Corporate Training • Caters to corporations • Some corporations contracted with UOP for training programs • Many students are staff employees at corporations • Some corporations reimburse for their employee’s tuition

22. Criticism • Not against a university earning profit • However, • Textbooks cost over $100 • Even electronic textbooks • A class cost about $1,000 • ALEX costs over $50 • ALEX is algebra tutorial software • Software is non-transferable • Students cannot re-sell software

23. Criticism • Courses are viewed as too easy • Remember, course is only • 5 weeks for undergraduates • 6 weeks for graduates

24. Criticism • Corporate headquarters designs course • Instructor may want to incorporate new material • Course should be updated with newer information • Need approval to modify course

25. Criticism • University accepts anyone who is willing to pay • Does not have name recognition • Employers want college graduates from top universities • Top universities are selective • The lower the acceptance rate, the higher the reputation

26. Criticisms • Relies on part-time faculty • 95% of faculty are part time • Retention problems??? – Not sure • I enjoyed working at this place • In theory, part-time faculty work full-time professional jobs and teach part-time during evenings and weekends