Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements of the University have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistent in all material respects with those applied in its financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Such interim financial information is unaudited but reflects all adjustments that in the opinion of management are necessary for the fair presentation of the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A should be read in conjunction with the University’s audited financial statements and footnotes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 from which the December 31, 2010 balance sheet information was derived.

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

A significant portion of the University’s revenue is received from students who participate in government financial aid and assistance programs. Restricted cash and cash equivalents primarily represents amounts received from the federal and state governments under various student aid grant and loan programs, such as Title IV. These funds are received subsequent to the completion of the authorization and disbursement process for the benefit of the student. The U.S. Department of Education requires Title IV funds collected in advance of student billings to be segregated in a separate cash or cash equivalent account until the students are billed for their portion. The University also classifies the $5,200 that it agreed to pay to settle the qui tam matter as restricted cash, subject to the distribution of the settlement amount from escrow in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement. The University records all of these amounts as a current asset in restricted cash and cash equivalents. Restricted cash and cash equivalents is excluded from cash and cash equivalents until the cash is no longer restricted. The majority of these funds remain as restricted cash and cash equivalents for an average of 60 to 90 days from the date of receipt.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, the counterparty to the University’s interest rate swap made a collateral call and the University posted $760 of pledged collateral as noncurrent restricted cash. The pledged collateral was reduced to $445 as of March 31, 2011.

Derivatives and Hedging

Derivative financial instruments are recorded on the balance sheet as assets or liabilities and re-measured at fair value at each reporting date. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

Derivative financial instruments enable the University to manage its exposure to interest rate risk. The University does not engage in any derivative instrument trading activity. Credit risk associated with the University’s derivatives is limited to the risk that a derivative counterparty will not perform in accordance with the terms of the contract. Exposure to counterparty credit risk is considered low because these agreements have been entered into with institutions with strong credit ratings, and they are expected to perform fully under the terms of the agreements.

On June 30, 2009, the University entered into an interest rate corridor instrument and an interest rate swap to manage its 30 Day LIBOR interest exposure related to its variable rate debt, which commenced in April 2009 and matures in April 2014. The fair value of the interest rate corridor instrument as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $25 and $27, respectively, which is included in other assets. The fair value of the interest rate swap is a liability of $583 and $686 as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, which is included in other noncurrent liabilities. The fair values of each derivative instrument were determined using a hypothetical derivative transaction and Level 2 of the hierarchy of valuation inputs. These derivative instruments were designated as cash flow hedges of variable rate debt obligations. The adjustment of $74 and $245 in the first three months of 2011 and 2010, respectively, for the effective portion of the loss on the derivatives is included as a component of other comprehensive income, net of taxes.

The interest rate corridor instrument hedges variable interest rate risk starting July 1, 2009 through April 30, 2014 with a notional amount of $11,268 as of March 31, 2011. The corridor instrument permits the University to hedge its interest rate risk at several thresholds; the University will pay variable interest rates based on the 30 Day LIBOR rates monthly until that index reaches 4%. If 30 Day LIBOR is equal to 4% through 6%, the University will pay 4%. If 30 Day LIBOR exceeds 6%, the University will pay actual 30 Day LIBOR less 2%. This reduces the University’s exposure to potential increases in interest rates.

The interest rate swap commenced on May 1, 2010 and continues each month thereafter until April 30, 2014 and has a notional amount of $11,268 as of March 31, 2011. The University will receive 30 Day LIBOR and pay 3.245% fixed interest on the amortizing notional amount. Therefore, the University has hedged its exposure to future variable rate cash flows through April 30, 2014. The interest rate swap is not subject to a master netting arrangement and collateral has been called by the counterparty and reflected in a restricted cash account as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 in the amount of $445 and $760, respectively.

As of March 31, 2011 no derivative ineffectiveness was identified. Any ineffectiveness in the University’s derivative instruments designated as hedges would be reported in interest expense in the income statement. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 $8 of credit risk was recorded in interest expense on the derivatives. At March 31, 2011, the University is not expected to reclassify gains or losses on derivative instruments from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income into earnings during the next 12 months.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

As of March 31, 2011, the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, account payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value based on the liquidity or the short-term maturities of these instruments. The carrying value of debt approximates fair value as it is based on variable rate index. The carrying value of capital lease obligations approximate fair value based upon market interest rates available to the University for debt of similar risk and maturities. Derivative financial instruments are carried at fair value, determined using Level 2 of the hierarchy of valuation inputs, with the use of inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.

Revenue Recognition

Net revenues consist primarily of tuition and fees derived from courses taught by the University online, at its 100 acre traditional campus in Phoenix, Arizona, and onsite at the facilities of employers, as well as from related educational resources such as access to online materials. Tuition revenue and most fees and related educational resources are recognized pro-rata over the applicable period of instruction, net of scholarships provided by the University. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the University’s revenue was reduced by approximately $19,769 and $13,771, respectively, as a result of scholarships that the University offered to students. The University maintains an institutional tuition refund policy, which provides for all or a portion of tuition to be refunded if a student withdraws during stated refund periods. Certain states in which students reside impose separate, mandatory refund policies, which override the University’s policy to the extent in conflict. If a student withdraws at a time when only a portion, or none of the tuition is refundable, then in accordance with its revenue recognition policy, the University continues to recognize the tuition that was not refunded as pro-rata over the applicable period of instruction. Since the University recognizes revenue pro-rata over the term of the course and because, under its institutional refund policy, the amount subject to refund is never greater than the amount of the revenue that has been deferred, under the University’s accounting policies revenue is not recognized with respect to amounts that could potentially be refunded. The University’s change in April 2010 to a non-term borrower-based institution from a term based institution for federal student financial aid funding purposes does not have any impact on the timing and recognition of revenues.

Instructional Costs and Services

Instructional costs and services consist primarily of costs related to the administration and delivery of the University’s educational programs. This expense category includes salaries, benefits and share-based compensation for full-time and adjunct faculty and administrative personnel, information technology costs, bad debt expense, curriculum and new program development costs (which are expensed as incurred) and costs associated with other support groups that provide services directly to the students. This category also includes an allocation of depreciation, amortization, royalty to former owner, rent, and occupancy costs attributable to the provision of educational services, primarily at the University’s Phoenix, Arizona campus.

Selling and Promotional

Selling and promotional expenses include salaries, benefits and share-based compensation of personnel engaged in the marketing, recruitment, and retention of students, as well as advertising costs associated with purchasing leads, hosting events and seminars, and producing marketing materials. This category also includes an allocation of depreciation, amortization, rent, and occupancy costs attributable to selling and promotional activities at the Company’s facilities in Arizona. Selling and promotional costs are expensed as incurred.

Through December 2010, the University was a party to a revenue sharing arrangement (the Collaboration Agreement) with Mind Streams, L.L.C. (Mind Streams), a related party pursuant to which it paid a percentage of the net revenue that it actually received from applicants recruited by those entities that matriculated at Grand Canyon University. Mind Streams bore all costs associated with the recruitment of these applicants.

As a result of new rules adopted by the U.S. Department of Education and effective July 1, 2011, the University determined that revenue sharing arrangements like the Collaboration Agreement, and the manner in which it pays amounts under the Collaboration Agreement, will most likely no longer be permitted. Accordingly, the University and Mind Streams entered into an agreement, dated December 30, 2010, pursuant to which the University agreed to pay Mind Streams an amount equal to (a) $8,500, plus (b) Mind Streams’ applicable share of any net revenue actually received by the University on or before February 28, 2011 with respect to any such Mind Streams identified students commencing University courses prior to November 1, 2010. In return, Mind Streams agreed to (i) accept such amounts in full and complete satisfaction of all amounts owed by the University to Mind Streams under the Collaboration Agreement, and (ii) transfer to the University a proprietary database of potential student leads. A payment of $8,500 was made in January 2011 in conjunction with this agreement. Additionally in 2010, Gail Richardson, the father of Brent D. Richardson, the University’s Executive Chairman, and Christopher C. Richardson, the University’s General Counsel and a director, formed a new entity, Lifetime Learning, which plans to generate and sell leads to the University and other entities in the education sector. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the University expensed approximately $401 and $2,347, respectively, pursuant to these arrangements, exclusive of the settlement arrangement discussed above. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 $564, and $9,367, respectively, were due to these related parties.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses include salaries, benefits and share-based compensation of employees engaged in corporate management, finance, human resources, compliance, and other corporate functions. General and administrative expenses also include an allocation of depreciation, amortization, rent, and occupancy costs attributable to the departments providing general and administrative functions.

Exit Costs

In November 2009, the University finalized a plan to centralize its student services operations in Arizona and, as a result, closed its student services facility in Utah. The exit costs incurred in connection with this decision have been expensed and are presented separately on the income statement. The costs incurred included severance payments; relocation expenses; future lease payments, net of estimated sublease rentals; and the write off of leasehold improvements associated with this leased space. The following is a summary of the University’s exit activities:


	Accrued Exit Costs
	at							Accrued Exit
	December 31,							Costs at
	2010		Exit Costs		Payments in 2011			March 31, 2011

Accrued exit costs	$	64	$	—	$	(24	)	$	40

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Information

The University operates as a single educational delivery operation using a core infrastructure that serves the curriculum and educational delivery needs of both its ground and online students regardless of geography. The University’s Chief Executive Officer manages the University’s operations as a whole and no expense or operating income information is generated or evaluated on any component level.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period balances to conform to the current period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The University has reviewed and evaluated all recent accounting pronouncements and believes there are none that could potentially have a material impact on the University’s financial condition, results of operations, or disclosures.