7 thoughts on “Policy Options Briefing on for profit universities”
Dear Rozaan Daniel,
Thank you for addressing this important issue. Education plays a very important role in our lives nowadays. The job requirements have been toughening and majority of them require at least some type of college degree or certificates. Not everyone is available to attend regular institutions so they look up for those that will go along with their schedules. There are so many institutions that provide convenient curriculum. I think online schools are one of the best inventions of our century. It allows people to get desired education while they work or take care of loved ones. However, as you have mentioned the degrees provided by these institutions have low values.
I can not suggest any other option because you have thoroughly addressed the most important ones. If I had to pick an option that would be the one where you suggest the regulations and shutting down of institutions. If government has its guidance over these establishments, they will not abuse the given resources for students. Thus people with busy schedules can acquire their education. I really liked the idea of standardized rating systems for these institutions. This will help the applicant to make a right decision.After making sure that all those institutions follow the laws and regulations, job markets should be encouraging hiring with those degrees.This in its turn will higher the values for the degrees.
Sincerely,
Tamara
1) Is the case for the seriousness of the problem sufficient? If not, how could it be stronger?
It is not that I don’t think it is a serious problem. I simply think your approach is somewhat limited in that it only appeals to those victimized by these online for-profit schools. You almost hit it on the nail when you mentioned tax payer money for federal loans. I feel that you just need one more reason to convince someone like me who is not these for-profit school targets to consider it a more serious problem.
2) Can you think of any options not mentioned by the author(s) that might solve the problem? What are they?
No, I think your solutions are sound and well-explained.
3) Do you have all the information you need to make a decision about which option(s) to choose? What more would it be helpful to know.
I believe you provided all the necessary information for me to understand the solutions. The only clarification I would like is whether the government can even shut down a school for false advertising.
4) Which option or options seem best to you? Why?
I see the grading system as the best option. It allows people to see if they are investing in the right schools. Awareness if really all these people need because they can simply choose to not go to these for-profit schools.
I think its easy to ignore a problem that doesn’t directly affect us. For-profit schools drive up the cost of regular schools by charging high fees for poor quality education. They are siphon funds that could benefit public institutions. Rather than 100 million in federal loans going to University of Phoenix, 10 million could go to school like Baruch to hire more professors, keep tuition low, and repair the Public Affairs building.
What I am most struck by in this memo is the hurdles that career changers face in a more traditional classroom setting at the undergraduate level. If that is the main source of student recruitment for the for-profit universities, perhaps they are being failed at the state school level. Perhaps there is no alternative for someone looking for a classroom with peers of the same age group (career changers) with policies that are more flexible around attendance and course load. What are the non-profit educational options for people returning to school? What are the financial incentives and resources available to students at that level. It seems that the for profit universities are picking up those who have fallen through the cracks and have been failed by state schools and public education.
Dear Rozaan,
You brought up a very important issue. Some for-profit schools are in business only to make money. The primary focus which should be educating today’s workforce to meet the demands of a changing job market has shifted to profit making. This behavior is particularly prevalent in some two year colleges and trade schools. The schools in question meanly offer programs in healthcare and health technology, two areas where the need for professionals are on the rise. I think its laudable that some for-profit schools goals are to fill the void of a rising demand for healthcare workers but doing so with individuals who are not fully prepared to carry out these functions can have adverse effects on the healthcare industry.
The US Department of Education recently closed down ITT Tech because it was not meeting the necessary standards required to operate. The rationale behind the closure was government felt it needed to protect students and taxpayers dollars. This is a prime example of why I believe your suggestions should be given consideration. Students, taxpayers, and the nation lose when some educational institutions put profit before providing the requisite learning environment for students to thrive in their pursuit of a better future.
I think that problem could have been made more serious. This could have been done with more statistics. Targeting for profit schools would protect a lot of people who attend these schools with false hopes. The second option for I think would be the best would to target these schools. I also think that public institutions should get more support and funding from government to exist in order to drive out the competitive market these schools are presenting.
1) Is the case for the seriousness of the problem sufficient? If not, how could it be stronger?
This is a very real problem. Perhaps the case against for-profit schools could be defined more precisely. First, what are the different types of colleges that exist? What distinguishes each type? Poor management and/or service delivery is not exclusive to for-profit schools, and if low post-college employment rate is one of the benchmarks being used to determine the quality of education provided, then many CUNY colleges could be similarly charged. Effective marketing (not misrepresentation) isn’t a crime, no matter how sleazy it is—as the pharmaceutical industry has shown. Additionally, every college has eyes on federal financial aid funding. Finally, are there any for-profit schools delivering on their promises? If so, would you argue against them just because they are for-profit?
2) Can you think of any options not mentioned by the author(s) that might solve the problem? What are they?
I think the solutions provided address the issues discussed.
3) Do you have all the information you need to make a decision about which option(s) to choose? I have sufficient information.
4) Which option or options seem best to you? Why?
Better regulation seems the best option, with financial aid funding tied to the accreditation of colleges.
Dear Rozaan Daniel,
Thank you for addressing this important issue. Education plays a very important role in our lives nowadays. The job requirements have been toughening and majority of them require at least some type of college degree or certificates. Not everyone is available to attend regular institutions so they look up for those that will go along with their schedules. There are so many institutions that provide convenient curriculum. I think online schools are one of the best inventions of our century. It allows people to get desired education while they work or take care of loved ones. However, as you have mentioned the degrees provided by these institutions have low values.
I can not suggest any other option because you have thoroughly addressed the most important ones. If I had to pick an option that would be the one where you suggest the regulations and shutting down of institutions. If government has its guidance over these establishments, they will not abuse the given resources for students. Thus people with busy schedules can acquire their education. I really liked the idea of standardized rating systems for these institutions. This will help the applicant to make a right decision.After making sure that all those institutions follow the laws and regulations, job markets should be encouraging hiring with those degrees.This in its turn will higher the values for the degrees.
Sincerely,
Tamara
1) Is the case for the seriousness of the problem sufficient? If not, how could it be stronger?
It is not that I don’t think it is a serious problem. I simply think your approach is somewhat limited in that it only appeals to those victimized by these online for-profit schools. You almost hit it on the nail when you mentioned tax payer money for federal loans. I feel that you just need one more reason to convince someone like me who is not these for-profit school targets to consider it a more serious problem.
2) Can you think of any options not mentioned by the author(s) that might solve the problem? What are they?
No, I think your solutions are sound and well-explained.
3) Do you have all the information you need to make a decision about which option(s) to choose? What more would it be helpful to know.
I believe you provided all the necessary information for me to understand the solutions. The only clarification I would like is whether the government can even shut down a school for false advertising.
4) Which option or options seem best to you? Why?
I see the grading system as the best option. It allows people to see if they are investing in the right schools. Awareness if really all these people need because they can simply choose to not go to these for-profit schools.
I think its easy to ignore a problem that doesn’t directly affect us. For-profit schools drive up the cost of regular schools by charging high fees for poor quality education. They are siphon funds that could benefit public institutions. Rather than 100 million in federal loans going to University of Phoenix, 10 million could go to school like Baruch to hire more professors, keep tuition low, and repair the Public Affairs building.
What I am most struck by in this memo is the hurdles that career changers face in a more traditional classroom setting at the undergraduate level. If that is the main source of student recruitment for the for-profit universities, perhaps they are being failed at the state school level. Perhaps there is no alternative for someone looking for a classroom with peers of the same age group (career changers) with policies that are more flexible around attendance and course load. What are the non-profit educational options for people returning to school? What are the financial incentives and resources available to students at that level. It seems that the for profit universities are picking up those who have fallen through the cracks and have been failed by state schools and public education.
Dear Rozaan,
You brought up a very important issue. Some for-profit schools are in business only to make money. The primary focus which should be educating today’s workforce to meet the demands of a changing job market has shifted to profit making. This behavior is particularly prevalent in some two year colleges and trade schools. The schools in question meanly offer programs in healthcare and health technology, two areas where the need for professionals are on the rise. I think its laudable that some for-profit schools goals are to fill the void of a rising demand for healthcare workers but doing so with individuals who are not fully prepared to carry out these functions can have adverse effects on the healthcare industry.
The US Department of Education recently closed down ITT Tech because it was not meeting the necessary standards required to operate. The rationale behind the closure was government felt it needed to protect students and taxpayers dollars. This is a prime example of why I believe your suggestions should be given consideration. Students, taxpayers, and the nation lose when some educational institutions put profit before providing the requisite learning environment for students to thrive in their pursuit of a better future.
I think that problem could have been made more serious. This could have been done with more statistics. Targeting for profit schools would protect a lot of people who attend these schools with false hopes. The second option for I think would be the best would to target these schools. I also think that public institutions should get more support and funding from government to exist in order to drive out the competitive market these schools are presenting.
1) Is the case for the seriousness of the problem sufficient? If not, how could it be stronger?
This is a very real problem. Perhaps the case against for-profit schools could be defined more precisely. First, what are the different types of colleges that exist? What distinguishes each type? Poor management and/or service delivery is not exclusive to for-profit schools, and if low post-college employment rate is one of the benchmarks being used to determine the quality of education provided, then many CUNY colleges could be similarly charged. Effective marketing (not misrepresentation) isn’t a crime, no matter how sleazy it is—as the pharmaceutical industry has shown. Additionally, every college has eyes on federal financial aid funding. Finally, are there any for-profit schools delivering on their promises? If so, would you argue against them just because they are for-profit?
2) Can you think of any options not mentioned by the author(s) that might solve the problem? What are they?
I think the solutions provided address the issues discussed.
3) Do you have all the information you need to make a decision about which option(s) to choose? I have sufficient information.
4) Which option or options seem best to you? Why?
Better regulation seems the best option, with financial aid funding tied to the accreditation of colleges.