Ethics of For-Profit Colleges Under Scrutiny in Contentious U.S. Senate Hearings
Oct 4th, 2010 • Posted in: NewsSome claim enrollment tactics are deceptive, employment statistics manipulated
WASHINGTON
A dispute over whether for-profit colleges provide a career boost for low-income students or simply cheat them out of their money was at the center of a fiery confrontation in the U.S. Senate last week.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), during a hearing on federal investment in the for-profit college industry, said that data from a survey of the institutions show that more than half of their students drop out before receiving a degree or certificate, reports the New York Times.
But industry officials and some Republicans were quick to dispute that conclusion, with Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi walking out in protest and North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr terming the proceedings a “witch hunt,” according to TIME.
USA Today reports that enrollment in for-profit colleges eligible for federal student aid has more than doubled in a decade.
Along with the increase in enrollment has come a spike in complaints and legal actions alleging that enrollment techniques are misleading and the training of dubious value — claims disputed by industry spokespeople.
Writes USA Today’s Mary Beth Marklein: “Advocates of for-profit colleges say their programs, which often operate online or in rented office space, serve a key role in educating students who juggle work and family demands. But the U.S. government has stepped up its scrutiny amid growing concern that for-profits are reeling in billions of dollars in federal aid by using aggressive — some say deceptive — practices to lure students to programs that might not yield a useful education.”
Recent hearings have focused attention on alleged abuses within the for-profit system, including claims by one witness who said in written testimony that the chain for which she once worked would produce statistics showing a high rate of graduate employment by counting students as “employed” even if they had only worked for one day, says a report from National Public Radio.
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