Aug. 3, 2020

Media Availability on New University of Arizona Global Campus

TUCSON, Ariz. — University of Arizona Vice Provost for Global Affairs Brent White will discuss the University of Arizona's intention, announced today, to acquire the assets of Ashford University and create a new nonprofit entity – University of Arizona Global Campus.

University of Arizona Global Campus will be a fully online university providing access to affordable high-quality higher education with flexible opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds around the world.

Ashford University is one of the nation's most innovative online universities with approximately 35,000 students and a geographic reach across the United States.

As student populations turn increasingly to online platforms for higher education, University of Arizona Global Campus will meet students wherever they are in their educational journeys. University of Arizona Global Campus will focus on serving underrepresented and nontraditional students, including veterans and those who work or parent full time and who are in need of flexible pathways to advance their education or to learn new skills.

Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is currently owned by Zovio, an education technology services company based in Chandler, Arizona. The University of Arizona signed a definitive agreement with Zovio, which includes the sale of the assets of Ashford University to University of Arizona Global Campus. Zovio will continue to provide its education technology services under a long-term Strategic Services Agreement.

The University of Arizona plans to take immediate steps to commence the final approval process with WSCUC, Ashford's accreditor, which is needed to formally operate University of Arizona Global Campus. Ashford University's faculty and students will continue coursework and degree programs with no interruptions or delays.

For more information, visit the University of Arizona Global Campus website.

# # #

 
Media contacts:
Holly Jensen
University Communications
520-626-9422
hollyjensen@arizona.edu

Pam Scott
University Communications
Office: 520-621-1951 | Cell: 509-570-4610
pscott@arizona.edu

The University of Arizona, a land-grant university with two independently accredited medical schools, is one of the nation's top public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. Established in 1885, the university is widely recognized as a student-centric university and has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. The university ranked in the top 20 in 2018 in research expenditures among all public universities, according to the National Science Foundation, and is a leading Research 1 institution with $687 million in annual research expenditures. The university advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships as a member of the Association of American Universities, the 65 leading public and private research universities in the U.S. It benefits the state with an estimated economic impact of $4.1 billion annually. For the latest on the University of Arizona response to the novel coronavirus, visit the university's COVID-19 webpage.