Dive Summary:

• The University of Phoenix has announced plans for 100 new partnerships with community colleges across the country.
• The proposed deals will enable community college graduates to complete bachelor's degrees with the for-profit institution. 
• The new partnerships come in the wake of intense scrutiny for the University of Phoenix, which has lobbied heavily against increased regulation of for-profit schools.

From the article:

"... But the initiative also comes as the company is embroiled in controversy. Earlier this year, Democratic Senator Tom Harkin released a report that criticized for-profit colleges for predatory recruiting practices, low graduation rates, and high student loan default rates.

The report said that in the recent past, the Apollo Group, the University of Phoenix’s parent company, 'appears to have made critical decisions that prioritized financial success over student success.' It added that the company has instituted some important reforms but that 'serious concerns remain,' such as poor student retention – particularly in associate’s degree programs – and the fact that the company 'makes one of the lowest investments in per student spending on instruction.' ..."