ASUJ Interim Chancellor Dan Howard is not the only person associated with ASU administration to have ties to subsidiaries of Academic Partnerships, formerly known as Higher Education Holdings.  Les Wyatt, former ASU system president, is also listed as president and chairman of the American University System in Washington D.C., which is a subsidiary of AP.

The website, auspartnerships.com, also lists Arkansas State University as a partner school, along with the likes of Purdue University, Florida International University and Ohio University. Howard resigned from his position on the board of trustees of American College of Education, which is also listed as a partner school on the AUS website, Monday after faculty members raised concerns about it being a conflict of interest since ACE is a subsidiary of Academic Partnerships.

Wyatt, who stepped down as system president on June 30, was given full professor status of higher education at ASUJ.  He is expected to teach a graduate course in educational leadership in the spring semester.

The executive committee of the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors sent a Freedom of Information Act request Thursday to the ASU System Office.  Under FOIA, they have requested any and all documents over the past three years disclosing, reviewing, analyzing, or discussing potential conflicts of interest between Howard or Wyatt.  They also requested all communications showing effort by Howard and Wyatt to seek approval by the board of trustees, chancellor, president or other ASU administrator to be a member of a board or serve in a paid or unpaid position with ACE, AUS or AP, formerly known as HEH.

Wyatt's job description with ASU and records of any payments he has received since he stepped down as president have also been requested. The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act requires receiving parties to respond within a three-day period.

The American University System website said, "American University System provides access to higher education from outstanding colleges and universities across North and South America at tuition savings of up to 60%.  All degrees are fully accredited and 100% online."

The degree fields listed include business, nursing, education, and criminal justice.

Tom Moore, executive assistant to the ASUJ chancellor, said on Tuesday he was not familiar with the partnership and that he was not able to say whether Wyatt's position with AUS is allowed with his position at ASU.  He suggested contacting Wyatt through the phone number listed on the website to have him answer questions.

Brandi Hinkle, communications officer for the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, said AUS was owned by HEH and that ASU is a partner school along with ACE, the board Howard recently resigned from.

If Wyatt is allowed to serve in both positions, Hinkle said, "That comes back to institutional policy.  It would have to be approved by someone on the campus."It is still unconfirmed if Wyatt, who is earning a reported annual salary of $115,600 with ASU, is being compensated for his work with AUS. Attempts to contact Wyatt at the phone number listed for AUS were not returned.  The phone calls were also not sent directly to Wyatt.