(Author’s Full Name)
For-profit Colleges:
Introduction
With rapid change in technology, highly competitive environments and a busy life, new educational and training methods were introduced. These new methods aimed at providing easily accessible and quality education to both students and working professionals. Study materials, lectures, seminars and tuition were made available online. Easy payment methods were also introduced, such that students can easily enroll to universities and courses of their own choice, using easy credit facilities. As a result, education itself became a profitable business instead of a welfare/non-profit activity. Universities all across the globe engaged in “selling education” and making profits, rather than focusing on the quality and value of education imparted on the students. This raises a fundamental question; do these profitable colleges provide good value and quality education or are they merely involved in a rat race over who makes more money?
- According to data compiled by the US Department of Education, the graduation rate at University of Phoenix is the lowest in the nation at merely 16%.
- Many students dropped out of the university and frequently complained about unprofessional tutors employed and recruitment abuses.
- The president and top ranking officers of Apollo Group (the university’s parent company) were forced to resign due to the increasing number of complains.
- In 2003, two enrollment officers at the university filed a lawsuit in California against alleged bias in recruitment process. They reported that the university offers incentives to recruitment officers based on the number of students they enroll (in turn, the admission and tuition revenue they generate) rather than the quality of students enrolled. This is a clear violation of US Department of Education laws.
Offering Big Debts and Broken Dreams
For profit colleges often dwell on the high fees they generate, rather than the quality of education they offer. This was the case of the Business Computer Training Institute (BCTI). Over 400 students filed a lawsuit against BCTI and complained that the institute promised to provide high quality education and placements in the leading business organizations globally, but only delivered low-quality and high-cost education indebting the students’ further and clerical jobs at retail stores and fast food outlets only. The institute further went on to recruit students from unemployment offices, violating the state laws, and pressurized the administration to retain students and recruit more to keep financial aid flowing. . Students also observed poor teaching and instructive techniques employed by lecturers at the university, yet chose to stick with their course in the hope that things will improve. They certainly did not.
Misleading Information and Suspicious Classes
Apart from agenda of maximizing revenue by any and all means necessary, several for-profit colleges give misleading information to their students in order to “build-up” revenues at the cost of education. Noted cases include the following: .
- Over 80 students in Bryman College claimed that the college misled them regarding the accreditation status of a medical assistant program and the eligibility criteria to acquire a national certification exam.
- Around 11 students sued Tacoma’s Crown College, which offers criminal sciences, business and other courses. They claimed that the school misled them by assuring them that their credits are transferable to traditional nonprofit colleges, although they do not.
- In 2007, 10 students from Washington lodged a complaint with the state about the Court Reporting Institute, which mislead them to believe that they would graduate within 30 months from the date of admission.
- A state agency unearthed a scam involving hundreds of students paying thousands of dollars for a program they were never meant to complete. The institute was officially shut down in August 2007.
- In the same year, the license of Go2cert, a computer school, was revoked, because it did not provide refunds to students who withdrew from the courses.
In addition to misleading information, certain institutes (such as BCTI) would unnecessarily increase the duration of their courses in order to qualify for federal financial aid in 1993.
Conclusion
Works Cited
Dillon, Sam. "Troubles Grow for a University Built on Profits ." The New York Times 11 February 2007. 1-2.
Hechinger, John, Daniel Golden and John Lauerman. "Obama Plans New Rules as For-Profit Colleges Mobilize ." Bloomberg 4 May 2010: 1. Report.
Wickert, David. "School sailed past the system." The News Tribune 20 May 2008: 2. Article.
—. "Students stuck with big debt, broken dreams." The News Tribune 20 May 2008: 1-2. Article.
