I have officiated and witnessed hundreds of students graduating from the for-profit colleges where I have worked. Many of these students were unable to attend traditional colleges, or wanted an education that focused on a real career, from a school held accountable to its completion, placement, and retention rates. (Could you imagine holding public universities accountable for the maximum time frame of their students?) Their education enabled them to graduate with the necessary skills and training to obtain jobs as graphic designers, game designers, interior designers, massage therapists, nutritional therapists, hypnotherapists, IT experts, and film producers.
As a taxpayer, an individual who funds the student loan program, I am appalled at the fearful rhetoric that drives this debate. The recent reports in the media are so poorly researched and presented, that they are clearly only meant to motivate votes, and are in no way intended to represent the real truth.
The ABC undercover investigation of the University of Phoenix was laughable. The way the representative's words were twisted from a simple statement of possibility (if you pass a state's teaching certification, you can teach in that state), to an implied promise (you WILL have a job teaching in that state) is infuriating, and demonstrates the ignorance ABC News assumes of its viewers.
Additionally, expecting anyone to believe the 4 findings, from a study of 15 out of more than 2000 for-profit schools, are generalizable to the whole of for-profit education is insulting, and abusive of the trust citizens are asked to place in the GAO. It is simply poor research method, and deceitful reporting practice. The political intentions behind these reports have become blatantly obvious. Land-grant universities are desperate for the enrollments moving over to for-profit colleges. And, because they cannot measure up to the standards for-profit education is held to, they must resort to political maneuvering and transfer credit discrimination.
In reality, by publishing that report, and allowing the media to misconstrue its contents and results, the GAO is doing more of a disservice to students than the supposed, profit-mongering organizations it is attempting to discredit.
The Department of Education`s proposed gainful employment rule would deny thousands of students the opportunity to use the federal financial aid – to which they are entitled – and to pursue their dreams and happiness in the field of their choice.
More importantly, it denies those students hope for a better future; for a chance to break free from where they are and build better lives for themselves and their families. It is true many of these students are the first student in generations to attend college. It is true many for-profit colleges follow open enrollment policies. But I beg you to consider the following perspective. We want EVERYONE to have an opportunity at improving their lives - unrestricted by their past challenges; undeniable by standardized testing that discounts the strengths of their unique backgrounds in favor of a singular vision of student success. We want everyone to have the opportunity to find and live their version of the American dream. And for MANY of these students, traditional universities are too inflexible, regimented, and archaic in their methodologies to nurture their dreams into a reality, and support the personal transformation these students so desperately seek.
Do not finalize this proposed rule. The Department of Education’s proposal to define gainful employment through complicated debt-to-earnings ratios and repayment rates will have a negative impact on thousands of students by limiting their ability to achieve their dreams at the school of their choice, in the program of their choice, and in the method of their choice.
Sincerely,
Brad
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