Accrued Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2011

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

Accrued liabilities consist of the following as of August 31:



($ in thousands)	2011		2010
Securities class action liability	$	161,150	$	177,982
Salaries, wages and benefits	93,763		80,773
Accrued advertising	50,172		52,472
Accrued professional fees	32,607		30,895
Student refunds, grants and scholarships	17,360		9,842
Other accrued liabilities	43,754		23,497
Total accrued liabilities	$	398,806	$	375,461

Refer to Note 20, Commitments and Contingencies, for discussion of the securities class action liability. Salaries, wages and benefits represent amounts due to employees, faculty and third parties for salaries, bonuses, vacation pay and health insurance. Accrued advertising represents amounts due for Internet marketing, direct mail campaigns, and print and broadcast advertising. Accrued professional fees represent amounts due to third parties for outsourced student financial aid processing and other accrued professional obligations. Student refunds, grants and scholarships represent amounts due to students for tuition refunds, federal and state grants payable, scholarships, and other related items. Other accrued liabilities primarily includes sales and business taxes, facilities costs such as rent and utilities, costs for curriculum materials and certain accrued purchases.