TUI sold

quote:

"We are pleased to announce that agreement has been reached to sell TUI to Summit Partners, a global private equity and venture capital firm that has raised approximately $9 billion in capital since inception. This investment by Summit Partners, a firm with a clear commitment to educational quality and integrity, will allow us to accomplish TUI’s long-term strategic objectives and to respond to the education needs of diverse adult learners.

Students will not notice any changes. The institution they know as TUI will continue with the same programs, leadership, faculty, and staff. Tuition will not be changed. TUI will continue its unwavering commitment to provide high quality, student friendly, and affordable education programs to adult learners and to the U.S. military.
Once the change is completed, the name of our university will change from Touro University International to TUI University. Students in the middle of their degree program will be given a choice, upon successful completion of the program, of receiving a degree either from Touro University International or from TUI University.
Since its beginning, more than nine years ago, Touro University International (TUI) has been a free-standing branch campus of Touro College, and in 2005 it was accredited as a separate institution of higher learning by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

The sale will only be completed after receiving the necessary approvals including the approval from WASC confirming the continuation of the TUI University accreditation. Until such time, Touro University International will continue its operations as a branch campus of Touro College and under its current accreditation approval. In this way all student rights are fully protected. We will keep you informed and will advise when the announced change is final."

unquote

 

Interesting

As the veteran of more than one bank merger, I think saying that "students won't notice a difference" is similar to saying that a new name won't bring changes to a bank...it just doesn't work that way, although it is, technically, possible.

It seems as though they are protecting the students as much as possible.

 

man... this just sucks... I received this email also.

as a current student @ TUI, it brings up alot of red flags.

 

Well it certainly fits in logically to Summit's stable of unified holdings: computer cables, patio furniture, herbal remedies, pontoon boats, Eyeglass World, and so forth.

The new name has my nomination for the silliest of the year. "TUI University" which presumably means "Touro University International University."

Goes in the same bin as "FMC Corporation" (Food Machinery Corporation Corporation) and "SRI International" (Stanford Research International International).

 

mbaonline: "...similar to saying that a new name won't bring changes to a bank...it just doesn't work that way..."


Indeed. Our long-time wonderful bank, World Savings, probably the most liberal, progressive, socially responsible big bank in the US, has just been acquired by Wachovia.

One of the first communications from Wachovia said, "In order to provide you with our high level of service, the following fees are being raised..." Nearly all of them. A lot.

 

WTF?

 

LOL!

Since Touro College is a Jewish-sponsored not for profit I guess they did not want to have Touro in the name of the new school.

I wonder if TUI will now become one of those for-profit doctoral fantasy camps discussed in this thread?:

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?t=26796

 

As am I. I've just submitted the first draft of my completed dissertation. I'm hoping to get it done before this goes 'through'. I don't have any experience with these sort of changes, but hope that it will be 'months' rather than 'weeks' before the accreditation and sale are complete. At least I can tell myself that I went through the program when it was part of Touro.

 

Yet another example of a non-profit going proprietary, this one by purchase.

Makes me wonder what they'll use for their web site, since tui.edu belongs to, and is still the primary site of, Union Institute & University (formerly The Union Institute).

This leaves Union as the only significant long-time non-traditional program out there that is still a non-profit. Of course, Union acts like it's proprietary these days since they trashed their historic (doctoral) model in favor of the same program models used by the profits. Go figure...

 

As a current TUI student, I will say that I've been very pleased with the experience I've had. All my professors have held degrees from 'known', fairly prestigious institutions. The Phd program has been demanding, and I've only had one bad class.

At no point did I feel that I am 'buying' a degree. The months of editing and number of revisions I've had to do, as well as lessons learned have been invaluable. As with most goals, the amount of effort put in is directly related to the value you get out.

TUI has allowed me to study content that I would otherwise have been unable. At the same time, I do feel that they could improve the experience. As a totally online degree program, I do not feel they leverage current technology to the fullest (that is actually what my dissertation is on...). They could work harder at fostering a community of learners through the use of collaborative technology that would be of tremendous value.

I know nothing of Summit Parters except what can be Googled in a few minutes. They have made acquisitions that seem to have benefited the companies and organizations that were purchased. Perhaps Summit can bring a structure and organization that will improve the educational experience of future students.

Personally though, I did appreciate the fact that TUI was non-profit. Whatever that means these days.

 

Think they might use tuiu.edu?

 

Tui being sold to ?

Could this just be a positioning move to sell or merge TUI with another company? They tried to sell it themselves but were unsuccessful so I am thinking that this is basically a temporary hold at Summit. Summit Partners is not in the business of growing an educational institution, they invest and then sell. I could be wrong, of course. In my opinion, TUI has not yet found a permanent home. I gather from the email that current students can keep the Touro U. Intern'l name if they choose even after the sale is complete.

I've had a tremendous experience at TUI as far as educational value is concerned. The instructors do not pass out "A's" without you having worked for it. However, the corporate turmoil and constant rumor mills have taken their toll with me.

Susanna

 

Will current students graduate from Touro or TUI? What will it say on their diploma?

 

"Will current students graduate from Touro or TUI? What will it say on their diploma?"

The email is clear on that, if you are in the middle of your degree you get to pick which one you want on your degree.

Susanna

 

Renaming the school as "TUI University" is pretty strange. Newcomers will naturally want to know what "TUI" stands for and the answer will be _______? Weird.

I agree that the new buyer may "invest and then sell" for a profit -- or that may be their goal.

 

Congratulations! That's great news... Also, some closure on the issue is good for students and for the University.

Dave

 

I've considered this possibility many times since the purchase was rumored, and I don't see any real problems since the transfer of ownership is near consumation; the risk for students has largely passed. All the potentially negative motivations for finding an investor are off the table. Let's just say that if you invest in a University holding a premier regional accreditation, such as WASC, you're going to take very good care of it. Almost no worries here.

I'm sure that the also-rans in this marketspace will try to sell, if they have something that can be sold and is worth buying...

Dave

P.S. Anonymous shills pretending to be students of that also-ran online school may now begin posting... Ready. Begin!

 

SRI International was previously Stanford Research Institute

 

After the degree-mill scandal at Touro College and TUI being sold to a private equity firm, I foresee a large student exodus.

If this happens, Summit might have to re-sell TUI to yet another private equity firm for even less money.

 

But unfortunately, the diploma will no longer say "Branch campus of Touro College".