ABSTRACT
Each institution in the study has its own unique characteristics that define it as an organization. One of the most apparent distinctions between institutions participating in the study relates to the make-up of their faculty. Conversely, faculty members from the remaining three institutions were recruited from outside the education arena. As with Distance Learning University (DLU) and PAU, the level of degree programs offered was directly linked to the type of faculty members hired. Since faculty members at for-profit institutions are employed on a contingent basis, administrators retain much of the employment discretion. Their teaching model is grounded in adult learning theory, with a curriculum that contains relevant and applicable knowledge. "Business decisions" are not meant to suggest that academic quality is overlooked or compromised in favor of profits. Centralized decision-making allows an institution to make quick decisions because fewer individuals are involved in the process. The governance structures of for-profit institutions are intended to promote swift decision-making.
