WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) — The Pentagon has temporarily barred the for-profit University of Phoenix from recruiting on military bases and using veteran tuition assistance amid an ongoing investigation into possible policy violations.
The school, the nation’s largest private university, is not allowed to enroll new military students under the Defense Department’s education assistance program. The Department of Defense indicated the violations include misusing trademarked United States military insignia and failing to get the proper authorization when recruiting on military bases. A Pentagon spokesman cited “reports of non-compliance” by the school but would not provide more information.
In July, the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting and PBS NewsHour aired a report that examined the school’s recruiting practices. In a correspondence to the school earlier this week, the Pentagon gave the school 14 days to respond to the allegations.
The Federal Trade Commission and California’s attorney general are also reviewing the school’s recruiting practices. The Department of Justice and the Department of Education are reportedly coordinating ongoing investigations.
The University of Phoenix has more than 200,000 enrolled students, both civilian and military, in 29 locations in 17 states.
