In 1976, Dr. John Sperling, a Cambridge-educated economic historian and professor, founded University of Phoenix on an innovative idea: making higher education accessible for working adults.
In the early 1970s, while a tenured professor at San Jose State University in California, Dr. Sperling and several associates conducted field-based research on new teaching and learning systems for working adult students. From this research, Dr. Sperling realized that the convergence of technological, economic and demographic forces would herald the return of working adults to higher education. He saw a growing need for institutions that are sensitive to the learning requirements, life situations and responsibilities of working adults. These beliefs resulted in the creation of University of Phoenix.
Since its founding, University of Phoenix has helped transform the landscape of higher education in widely recognized ways. Many of the conveniences that 21st-century students enjoy — evening classes, flexible scheduling, continuous enrollment, a student-centered environment, online classes, digital library, computer simulations — were pioneered through University of Phoenix's efforts. In fact, University of Phoenix has removed many of the barriers to education for busy adults by providing accessible scheduling and rigorous degree programs centered on professional goals.
Today, University of Phoenix is the nation's largest private university, offering more than 100 degree programs at more than 200 locations, as well as Internet curriculum in most countries around the world.
For additional information on University of Phoenix, please check out Phoenix Newsroom.