University of Phoenix and the (ISC)² Foundation Offer 10 Full-tuition Cybersecurity Scholarships

PHOENIX & CLEARWATER, Fla., Apr 01, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- University of Phoenix and the (ISC)²® Foundation today announced they are offering 10 full-tuition scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in the cybersecurity field. The opportunity for qualified and educated security professionals is expected to be very high, with employment of security analysts projected to grow by 37 percent from 2012 to 2022.1
“Employers are facing unprecedented shortages of qualified cybersecurity professionals who serve as the front line of defense in protecting data assets,” said Dennis Bonilla, executive dean of University of Phoenix College of Information Systems and Technology. “Partnerships with leading industry organizations like (ISC)² help us better align our education so it is relevant and produces qualified cybersecurity professionals.”

The (ISC)² Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust for (ISC)² that aims to empower students, teachers and the general public to secure their online lives with cybersecurity education and awareness programs. The scholarships will provide education opportunities for individuals interested in entering or furthering their information security careers.

(ISC)² and University of Phoenix work with industry leaders to identify and advance the skills of IT and security professionals to help reduce the shortage of qualified people in these fields.
“Cybersecurity attacks are making global headlines every day, and no industry is excluded,” said Julie Peeler, director, (ISC)² Foundation. “It’s a problem that we simply can’t ignore. Much of the solution lies within developing more qualified information security professionals to combat cyber threats. Offering students more opportunities for assistance to get into this field is critical. We are grateful to University of Phoenix for recognizing and supporting this need to help develop the talent necessary to solve this problem.”

Applications for the University of Phoenix/(ISC)² Foundation Cybersecurity Scholarships are currently being accepted. The deadline to apply is June 2, 2015. Each scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate or master’s degree program at University of Phoenix and can choose to attend a local University of Phoenix campus or online. (ISC)² will also provide recipients with a voucher to take either the SSCP® or CISSP® certification exam within one year of graduation. The exam voucher will be provided to the awarded recipients upon proof of graduation in an area of study with an emphasis on cybersecurity and/or information assurance. For scholarship terms and conditions or to learn more about the scholarship, visit www.phoenix.edu/isc2scholar.
To learn more about University of Phoenix efforts to better equip the workforce through innovative corporate alliances, learning tools and educational programs, visit phoenix.edu/industry.

About the (ISC)²® Foundation

The (ISC)² Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust that aims to empower students, teachers and the general public to secure their online lives by supporting cybersecurity education and awareness in the community through its programs and the efforts of its members. Through the (ISC)² Foundation, (ISC)²’s global membership of over 100,000 information and software security professionals seek to ensure that children everywhere have a positive, productive and safe experience online, to spur the development of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, and to illuminate major issues facing the industry now and in the future. For more information, please visit www.isc2cares.org.

About (ISC)²®

Formed in 1989, (ISC)² is the largest not-for-profit membership body of certified information and software security professionals worldwide, with over 100,000 members in more than 160 countries. Globally recognized as the Gold Standard, (ISC)² issues the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) and related concentrations, as well as the Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP®), the Certified Cyber Forensics Professional (CCFPSM), Certified Authorization Professional (CAP®), HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPPSM), and Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP®) credentials to qualifying candidates. (ISC)²’s certifications are among the first information technology credentials to meet the stringent requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17024, a global benchmark for assessing and certifying personnel. (ISC)² also offers education programs and services based on its CBK®, a compendium of information and software security topics. More information is available at www.isc2.org.
© 2015, (ISC)² Inc., (ISC)², CISSP, ISSAP, ISSMP, ISSEP, CSSLP, CAP, SSCP and CBK are registered marks, and CCFP and HCISPP are service marks, of (ISC)², Inc.

About University of Phoenix
 
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.
1 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm

SOURCE: University of Phoenix
(ISC)², W2 Communications
Nicole Nolte, 703-877-8111
Nicole.nolte@w2comm.com
or
University of Phoenix
Jennifer Marshall, 847-476-2734
jennifer.marshall@apollo.edu
Copyright Business Wire 2015

University of Phoenix has lost half its students

The University of Phoenix probably wishes the students were just cutting class. But many aren't even enrolled anymore.

Enrollment at America's largest for-profit university was about 460,000 students five years ago. Now it's 213,000.

The University of Phoenix's parent company, Apollo Education Group (APOL), announced more losses Wednesday. Its revenues and enrollment both sank roughly 14% in its latest quarter compared to a year ago.
Apollo CEO Greg Cappelli tried to strike an optimistic tone, but investors gave the stock an "F" for falling. The stock tanked almost 30% Wednesday.
"While we faced challenges in the second quarter, we believe Apollo Education Group has the right long-term strategy in place," Cappelli said in a statement.

What happened: Apollo's fast fall is another sign of the decline in for-profit education. Last July, one of Apollo's former competitors, Corinthian Colleges, shuttered its doors. In 2012, the University of Phoenix closed 115 of its campuses.
Once a cash cow industry, for-profit education companies have struggled to overcome criticism of the quality of its education and the costs. They're the sore spot in the national debate about value of higher education.

For-profit colleges only enroll roughly 12% of the country's students, but students at for-profit colleges accounted for about half of student loan defaults in 2013, according to federal data.
On a call with analysts Wednesday, Apollo noted that default rates at the University of Phoenix have actually declined significantly in recent years.
But the headwinds continue for for-profit institutions in the U.S. Last March, the Obama administration proposed new limitations on federal aid doled out to for-profit colleges.
President Obama then announced another initiative in January to make community college free. For-profit universities compete for many of the same students that community colleges take in.
What's ahead: The numbers are telling: Apollo Education Group had revenues close to $5 billion in 2010. This year it will be lucky to take in $2.7 billion.
Wall Street analysts have lowered their forecasts for Apollo in recent months, and most have a "hold rating" on the stock.
With rough earnings and mounting challenges, the University of Phoenix has a difficult road ahead.

University of Phoenix makes interim provost permanent

University of Phoenix (Nasdaq: APOL) has made Meredith Curley's interim position as provost permanent, effective immediately.

Curley, who has been serving as UOP's interim provost and previously as the executive dean of UOP's College of Education, will oversee more than 20,000 faculty practitioners with applied experience in the disciplines they teach. She also will be charged with spurring innovation to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers.
"Her focus is to ensure we build an institution prepared to serve the next generation of adult learners through our deep understanding of students' and employers' needs, world-class assessment, innovation and academic excellence," said UOP President Timothy Slottow.
Curley replaces Alan Drimmer, who left his position as provost to become UOP's chief academic officer in 2013.

Curley said she is grateful for the opportunity to serve as provost.
"The university has a rich legacy of delivering career-relevant higher education that changes the lives of working adult students, their families and future generations," she said.
In her 21st year with UOP, Curley currently serves on the Executive Board of the National Association of State Directors of Teachers Education and Certification. With a bachelor's degree in history from University of Arizona, Curley also holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Argosy University, where she focused her research on accreditation and accountability. She also has a master's degree in business administration from UOP.

University of Phoenix affiliate to move or cut hundreds of jobs in San Francisco

Apollo Marketing Group, an online advertising network affiliated with the University of Phoenix and its parent company, will move as many as 200 staffers out of town and eliminate dozens of positions before its Financial District lease runs out in the fall.
The "vast majority" of up to 300 San Francisco positions will move to Seattle, Chicago and Phoenix, according to a spokesman for Phoenix-based Apollo Group Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL). "Only a fraction are likely to leave the company," said a spokesman.
In a statement late Tuesday, Mark Brenner, Apollo Education Group's chief of staff, said that Apollo is "repositioning its marketing group for further success."

See Also

• University of Phoenix fires up tech

It contained few details, but said the "team" in San Francisco is being relocated to Phoenix, Seattle, Chicago and Dallas, "as part of our continued efforts to ensure constantly improving service."
But another informed source said as many as 75 staffers in Apollo Marketing's San Francisco staff are likely to lose their jobs. They are primarily people in its brand marketing, project management and creative units, the source said. The latter includes copywriters and graphic designers, said the source.
Those functions "will be outsourced," the source said. But most of the group's roughly 150 to 200 IT and other technology staffers are expected to land jobs elsewhere in the company.
The moves reportedly were announced Monday morning to groups of employees as being part of a consolidation effort. The marketing group's lease at 199 Fremont St. is up in November and is not being renewed, they were told, and Apollo Marketing Group wants to vacate the space by late August.