Delivering on a Bright Future for Online Education at the U of A
Dear colleagues,
Online education is an essential component of the University of Arizona’s mission and a core strategy for advancing our strategic imperative of success for every student.
I’m pleased to share that we are embarking on a new era for online education to better serve all learners, consistent with our land-grant mission. As a public research university, our responsibility is to provide all qualified students with the opportunity to continue their academic journey in ways that fit their lives, careers, and circumstances. We also must respond to external factors driving the need for change in online education, including the aftermath of the pandemic, the emergence of AI, and federal and state regulations.
Today we are taking a major step toward optimizing our online portfolio through our online modernization plan. This effort will give all qualified students access to the excellence of one of the nation’s preeminent public research universities regardless of their life circumstances. It will also strengthen our role as a national leader in social and economic mobility by providing flexible, lifelong pathways to career success.
This work is grounded in a clear strategic framework that aligns with our academic strengths, expands access, and positions the university for long-term impact.
Our Online Modernization Plan
Our plan for online education is anchored in two complementary and clearly defined pillars, each serving a distinct purpose and population.
- Arizona Online (AZO): AZO is the primary gateway for learners seeking online access to flagship academic programs at the U of A. To enable such access, every AZO degree is powered by the same faculty and curricula as our residential campus. AZO will focus on delivering flagship academic programs aligned with the university’s strengths. Further, AZO's mission will expand to recognize the online modality as a core component serving all U of A students and not just students enrolled in its online degree programs. This approach will create consistent online flexibility to support all students in progressing to on-time degree completion.
- University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC): UAGC will serve as our primary vehicle for career education and workforce development through upskilling and cross-skilling. It provides the accessible and supportive environment required to serve working professionals. UAGC also provides educational pathways for veterans, active-duty, and National Guard service members, and their families who would benefit from a distinct, targeted, and highly flexible pathway to a degree.
Executing our Plan
To enable this plan, we will implement several structural changes designed to ensure clarity, reduce duplication, and dismantle existing barriers. These improvements will align infrastructure and market presence to support the plan at scale and move us from a period of evaluation to disciplined implementation:
- Unified Online Service Center: In the coming weeks, we will thoughtfully and intentionally bring together many of the key functions that support online education. This collaborative process will move us toward a unified service model that removes existing barriers between UAGC and AZO and will help the university be responsive to the needs of all students.
- Unified Marketing and One Online Brand: In an increasingly competitive landscape, our recruitment efforts must speak with one voice. We will merge all online marketing into University Marketing and Communications under the leadership of Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Johnny Cruz to create one source of accurate information for all our programs and deliver a clear, consistent message to every prospective student. By integrating our marketing and establishing a single online brand for the public, we will eliminate market confusion and present a cohesive approach to academic excellence and distinct offerings.
- Authoritative Data and AI Readiness: All online marketing and program data will be more closely aligned so that there is a single, accurate, and primary source of information for AI discovery tools and search engines. We also will transform our digital presence to strengthen institutional authority in an era that is highly influenced by AI platforms.
Updates on UAGC Integration into the U of A
In June 2025, the WASC Senior College and University Commission reaffirmed UAGC’s accreditation for six years following a comprehensive review.
We reached a major milestone in September 2025 when the U.S. Department of Education approved our application for UAGC to join the University of Arizona. By recognizing UAGC as a public institution under the Arizona Board of Regents, the department has cleared the way for UAGC to operate as an essential part of our university rather than as a separate organization.
I’m pleased to share that the Department of Education also has resolved all legacy financial matters stemming from conduct prior to the UAGC acquisition. We appreciate the Department’s actions to clear these hurdles and are grateful for the advocacy of our federal delegation.
This resolution provides certainty as we continue to integrate UAGC as a vital part of our institution.
Leadership Transition
As we pivot to a new focus for AZO and UAGC, our leadership in online education will also transition. Gary Packard, who has been serving as interim senior vice provost of online initiatives, will step away from his role and return to the faculty. Gary’s leadership has been instrumental in managing our online entities through a complex period of transition, discovery, and organizational change. He previously served as dean of the former College of Applied Science and Technology following nearly two decades of service at the United States Air Force Academy. We are grateful to Gary for his service in these multiple leadership roles at the U of A and the support he provided to UAGC during this transition period.
I have asked Frank Dooley, former chancellor of Purdue Global, to oversee online initiatives at the U of A during this period of integration and modernization of our online entities. Few individuals bring deeper experience or more relevant expertise to this work.
Since joining the U of A in November as special advisor for online initiatives, Frank has provided valuable insights and feedback regarding the current and desired state of our online offerings. His leadership will serve as the bridge until a permanent leader with similar experience in online pedagogy and best-practice implementation is hired. A permanent leader for U of A online education will be selected through a global search. In the interim, Frank Dooley will be supported by several leaders, including Caleb Simmons, Blake Naughton, Christine Hardy, Nikki Koji, and Katie Scheie, all of whom are already deeply engaged in the day-to-day operations of AZO and UAGC.
Moving Forward
This is more than a change in structure. It is an opportunity to build an online university experience that reflects the best of our institution: mission-driven, student-centered, and prepared to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Aligning this online plan with our strategic imperatives and land-grant mission will provide all learners, regardless of where they begin, with a clear path to education and graduation.
Thank you for supporting our efforts to strengthen online education at the University of Arizona so that it truly blossoms in a way that benefits all our current and future students.
Sincerely,
Suresh