Lingering questions on Purdue-Kaplan deal, regulators' records reveal

But in the weeks leading up to the final step in the Purdue University Global deal – dubbed innovative, controversial or both, depending on who’s being asked – the Higher Learning Commission gave Purdue President Mitch Daniels indication that it was generally in favor of a newly branded and non-profit version of Kaplan University, according to documents obtained by the Journal & Courier through a records request.

Still, a team of Higher Learning Commission staff and peer reviewers who came to Purdue in October to do interviews and help determine whether Purdue Global should be accredited came away with a number of concerns and questions about how Purdue and Kaplan would make the online university marriage work.

That’s according to a 61-page report sent to Daniels from Robert Rucker, research and advocacy coordinator for legal and governmental affairs for the Higher Learning Commission.

That report went to 19 Higher Learning Commission trustees, who oversee the accreditation of about 1,000 colleges and universities in 19 states. They are expected to reveal their decision within two weeks, according to Steve Kauffman, a spokesman for the Chicago-based commission. Following earlier approvals from the U.S. Department of Education and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the Higher Learning Commission’s decision is the final regulatory step for the Purdue-Kaplan arrangement.