The University of Phoenix said today it would welcome scrutiny of the findings in its first “Annual Academic Report,” which was described this morning by The Chronicle.

Some of those scrutinizers aren’t wasting any time.

The conclusion that the “university’s instruction is responsible for the score differential is not supported by the data, or by logic,” contended Trace A. Urdan, an analyst who covers the university’s corporate parent, Apollo Group Inc., for Signal Hill, an investment bank. He said the university’s use of the data appears “disingenuous.”

Mr. Urdan said he took issue in particular with the university’s decision to measure its success by comparing test scores of its freshmen against those of its seniors. That’s because the freshmen the university now admits, via its four-year-old Axia College, tend to be far-less-prepared academically than Phoenix’s traditional bachelor’s degree-seeking students. The latter students tend to be older and typically enter with some college credits under their belt.

Mr. Urdan has questioned the educational value of Axia, which is now an important part of the university’s growth strategy and which has tuition levels low enough that federal loans and grants often cover most of the students’ costs — until they have to start repaying the loans.

Not only is the university not measuring the students as a cohort, but it’s comparing two very different kinds of students, said Mr. Urdan. “It sure hasn’t persuaded me on the value of Axia.” —Goldie Blumenstyk