A Florida college is facing a backlash after a company took over its research, academic programs and books.
In December, the university announced plans to close the College of Engineering after its faculty members decided to leave.
But the move did not come as a surprise.
Since 2011, Dell has been buying out more than a dozen colleges, universities and private institutions across the US and Canada, taking over faculty positions, hiring staff and setting up research labs.
Critics say the move is a sign of the US’s increasing reliance on online services and the dominance of online education over traditional universities.
The move has prompted concern among some professors and researchers.
Some of them have been calling for a boycott of Dell.
Dell said the company was taking steps to ensure the integrity of its academic programs.
In a statement, Dell said: “We are committed to our faculty members’ safety, wellbeing and well-being.
The company is conducting an internal review of all faculty positions at Dell, and will be making further announcements in due course.””
Dell is also taking the necessary steps to support our faculty and students,” the statement said.”
While the Dell acquisition was never our intent, we believe the purchase of the College is in the best interest of the entire University.”
Dell purchased the College in May and has been working to integrate it into its existing corporate research programs.
Its move comes as the number of universities in the US has exploded.
The number of American universities rose from 3,000 in 1980 to more than 17,000 today, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In addition, the number has risen from one in three American women to one in four.
In the US, about 20% of undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled in an online course, according the Education Next Foundation.
In its statement, the company said it was reviewing the academic programs of all of its campuses to ensure they “remain accredited and fully funded.”
“We are also evaluating all our faculty positions across our campuses and will continue to take the appropriate steps to make sure they remain in the College’s best interest,” it said.