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SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Phoenix will be closing 115 locations around the U.S., including one in Pleasant Grove and one in St. George.
The move comes as Apollo Group, the parent company of the nation's largest for-profit university, posted an 11-percent revenue drop during the fourth quarter. The company's net income dropped 60 percent in that time, according to transcripts of a Tuesday conference call between company executives.
The closure includes 25 full campus and 90 smaller learning and student resource centers, according to Gregory W. Cappelli, CEO, director and chairman of Apollo Global Inc.
"Times have changed, and we're changing in order to take into account the needs of our students today, their preferences and lifestyles, their ability to gain access to low-cost technology, as well as the realities of our socioeconomic conditions in the U.S. today versus the past," Cappelli said.
- Utah Campus (Salt Lake City)
- North Davis Learning Center
- Pleasant Grove Learning Center (closing)
- South Jordan Learning Center
- St. George Learning Center (closing)
Both the St. George and Pleasant Grove locations are "learning centers," which are smaller than full campuses.
The closures will be completed next year and will affect about 13,000 students, 4 percent of the university's 328,000. Of the university's staff of 17,000, 800 will be laid off. There will be 112 locations left nationwide.
The university's 328,000 students reflect a 14-percent decline in enrollment over the past year, according to Brian L. Swartz, Apollo Group CFO and senior vice president of finance. Swartz said on during the call that the drop in revenue was partially offset by tuition increases. With a tuition freeze currently in place, though, the university can no longer count on the additional padding.
"We are focused on the initiatives that support our efforts to enroll new students, improve retention and optimize our cost structure," he said.
The University of Phoenix and Apollo Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
