College and University Online

Kaplan University has opened a support center in Plantation, Fla., and has started moving in 265 employees.

Formerly the Broadspire Building, the 124,000-square-foot building at 1601 S.W. 80th Terrace was completely leased to the for-profit online university. It will house online student support staff, a learning center for face-to-face interaction with students and Kaplan Virtual Education employees, who work with sixth through 12th grade students.

In September, Broward County and the city of Plantation each approved a $100,000 incentive payment under the Qualified Target Industry tax refund program. In return, Kaplan University is to create 300 jobs in Plantation from 2010 through 2015 with average wages of $47,233. The state would add $200,000 to that award.

The contract also said Kaplan University would spend $3 million on renovation and buildout and $1.7 million on furniture, fixtures and equipment.

“As more and more students enroll with us, we will continue to build our staff and facilities to preserve the supportive community that they have come to expect from Kaplan,” said Gregory Marino, president of the Kaplan University Group, a subsidiary of the Washington Post Co., in a news release.

In the first half of 2009, enrollment at Kaplan has increased 45 percent, to more than 55,000 online students.

In addition to its existing support offices in Fort Lauderdale, Kaplan University recently opened a student interaction office in Delray Beach.