A pending merger could dramatically change public higher education in Arizona.
The Thunderbird School of Global Management has signed a letter of intent to join Arizona State University. The two schools have released a statement that said both sides are working on a possible integration.
A deal would provide broad educational cooperation, make Thunderbird staff part of ASU and put the Glendale-based school under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents.
ASU and Thunderbird officials said they're working toward a final agreement by the end of July.
The statement said staff reductions are possible, but officials said the nature and the scale of the reductions still are being studied.
Financial details of the deal haven't been disclosed.