With the University of Phoenix’s enrollment down more than 50% of what it was just two years ago and nearly 80% since the height of the private, for-profit’s enrollment of approximately 455,000 students, many are hedging their bets when it comes to attending the school. Early estimates of applicants for the coming academic year are down another 12% from last year, which has even instructors and administrators scrambling to find ways to attract more students. ‘Less students means smaller class sizes. When these classes are combined, that’s the indicator that means not only instructors but staff will be let go. I’ve seen the numbers in various programs and they’re all down. The need for that same amount of infrastructure just isn’t there anymore,’ commented one faculty member who preferred not to remain anonymous. When questioned regarding further campus closures, trustees were unavailable for comment Wednesday afternoon following a quarterly shareholders meeting. However, a source close to the principal shareholders did reveal that a reconsolidation and sell-off of assets is likely, which translates to further closures and lay-offs, as in recent years.
AP