University of Idaho Abandons Plans to Acquire University of Phoenix: What This Means for Students and the Future of Higher Education

BOISE, Idaho — The University of Idaho is parting ways with the University of Phoenix. This decision comes after two years of planning, which recently faced bumps due to worries about transparency and responsibility. Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador filed a lawsuit against the Idaho State Board of Education, claiming the agreement was made in secret, breaching open meeting laws.

A special meeting was held to discuss this termination agreement. It’s set to end their partnership and refund $17.2 million to the University of Phoenix.

Kent Nelson, the Special Counsel for the University of Idaho, noted that while they saw potential benefits from the collaboration, the deal could not be finalized. "We believe it’s time to step back," he said, expressing gratitude to the University of Phoenix.

Despite the termination, University of Idaho President Kurt Liebich emphasized the ongoing need for an online education platform. The board plans to address this issue in their next meeting scheduled for August.

This situation reflects larger trends in higher education. Online learning has surged, especially since the pandemic. According to recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment in online courses grew by over 30% in 2021 alone. This highlights not only the demand for accessible education but also the need for universities to navigate partnerships carefully.

Moving forward, universities must balance collaboration with transparency. As we see from this case, public trust is crucial in educational agreements.

For more on education policies and trends, check out the latest insights from the National Center for Education Statistics.

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