Inside INdiana Business is reporting that nearly a year after announcing the planned acquisition of Kaplan University, Purdue University has made the purchase official. Purdue University Global has received all of Kaplan’s assets and operations for $1.
The agreement calls for Purdue to receive Kaplan’s 14 campuses and learning centers, current students, and approximately 2,100 employees. The agreement includes a long-term operations support agreement that requires Kaplan Higher Education to provide Purdue with “back-office” services that cover human resources, tech support, facilities management, and other areas. Purdue Global’s main campus will be located in Indianapolis and is expected to open April 2nd. Former Kaplan University President Betty Vandenbosch will serve as Purdue Global chancellor and will report to Purdue President Mitch Daniels and the new school’s six-member board of trustees, which is made up of one external trustee and five Purdue trustees.
Kaplan’s approximate 30,000 students will transition immediately to Purdue Global. These students will be able to complete their coursework with their current instructors without interruption. A 45-percent tuition discount for Indiana resident students was approved by Purdue Global Trustees last year, along with a plan for free tuition for Purdue employees seeking a degree.
Prior to the acquisition, Purdue did not offer significant online degree options, but now becomes one of the largest online-degree granting networks in higher education. You can learn more about Purdue Global by clicking here.