Restructuring Charges and Other Exit-Related Costs - Restructuring and Related Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		$ 10,614	$ 6,401	$ 7,906
Total restructuring charges and other exit-related costs	$ 8,000	17,116	6,967	7,906
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		29,933
Total expected restructuring charges		31,810
Q1’14 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		340	5,770
Total restructuring charges and other exit-related costs		340	6,336
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		6,110
Total expected restructuring charges		6,110
Q1’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		1,651
Total restructuring charges and other exit-related costs		1,651
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		1,651
Total expected restructuring charges		1,651
Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		8,623
Total restructuring charges and other exit-related costs		15,125
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		8,623
Total expected restructuring charges		10,500
Q4’12 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			631	7,906
Total restructuring charges and other exit-related costs			631	7,906
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		13,549
Total expected restructuring charges		13,549
Severance costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		5,721	4,607	2,443
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		15,512
Total expected restructuring charges		17,000
Severance costs | Q1’14 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		(37)	4,651
Severance costs | Q1’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		428
Severance costs | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		5,330
Severance costs | Q4’12 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			(44)	2,443
Contract termination costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		1,622	1,384	3,229
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		6,675
Total expected restructuring charges		6,810
Contract termination costs | Q1’14 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		377	709
Contract termination costs | Q1’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		0
Contract termination costs | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		1,245
Contract termination costs | Q4’12 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			675	3,229
Other restructuring costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		3,271	410	2,234
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		7,746
Total expected restructuring charges		8,000
Other restructuring costs | Q1’14 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		0	410
Other restructuring costs | Q1’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		1,223
Other restructuring costs | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		2,048
Other restructuring costs | Q4’12 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			0	2,234
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		6,502	566	0
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation | Q1’14 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		0	566
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation | Q1’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		0
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		6,502
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation | Q4’12 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations			0	0
Total exit-related costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		6,502	566	0
Total exit-related costs | Q1’14 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		0	566
Total exit-related costs | Q1’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		0
Total exit-related costs | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		6,502
Total exit-related costs | Q4’12 Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations			0	0
Segment Reconciling Items | Continuing Operations
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total restructuring charges and other exit-related costs		13,008	6,830	7,906
Segment Reconciling Items | Discontinued operations
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		1,442	137	0
Total restructuring charges and other exit-related costs		4,108	137	0
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost [Abstract]
Total restructuring charges to date		1,578
Total expected restructuring charges		1,650
Segment Reconciling Items | Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation | Discontinued operations
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		2,666	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items | Total exit-related costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other exit-related costs, including discontinued operations		$ 6,502	$ 566	$ 0