To conduct our research on restrictive provisions that colleges impose on students, we needed to collect copies of the contracts that students sign when they enroll at a college. Very quickly our research hit a snag. If we could find an enrollment contract used by an institution, then we could, from that document, make a determination about the use of the four types of restrictive provisions. The problem was that at most traditional nonprofit and public institutions, college representatives had no idea what we meant when we asked for their “enrollment contract” or their “enrollment agreement.” While all of the for-profit institutions in our sample used enrollment contracts, none of the public institutions did. (Ten of the thirty-four nonprofit …show more content…
The original impetus seems to have been consumer protection. We found a number of states that require private postsecondary schools to provide students with a contract that indicates the name and duration of the educational program the student is signing up for, the costs, and the refund policy. Several states include an additional disclosure informing the student that the program does not guarantee employment. Some include a cancellation process for students who change their mind, such as Texas (three days) and California (seven days). The Illinois contract prohibits students from being charged for, or being required to commit to, more than one term at a time. In addition, most or all of the agencies that accredit, primarily, for-profit institutions (the “national” accreditors) require colleges to use enrollment contracts, with consumer protection as the purported …show more content…
Department of Education should prohibit the use of pre-dispute arbitration requirements and class action bans in enrolling students in institutions that receive federal aid. The U.S. Department of Education has the authority to take action and should do so without delay.13 Accrediting agencies should consider restrictive clauses in enrollment contracts to be indicators that an institution lacks the integrity to qualify as an accredited institution. State agencies that collect schools’ enrollment contracts should make those contracts publicly available electronically so that they can be used by law enforcement to identify potentially predatory schools, and to can be analyzed by consumer protection experts. When students choose a college, they have every reason to believe that the college is on their side, leading them to academic success and a bright future. A college that takes advantage of students at that optimistic moment, requiring them to sign away their rights, does not deserve taxpayer support. Appendix:
In general, for-profit schools cost more to attend, because they are run like businesses. And it definitely does not take a college degree to see that these high prices plus low income students equal greater risk of default. For-profit colleges began as family owned trade schools but over the years they have expanded into educational businesses that accept any student, regardless of their financial wellbeing or aptitude. On the other hand, traditional schools have neglected to notice the rising need for an education that is flexible and convenient. In his article “Why Do You Think They’re Called For-Profit Colleges,” Kevin Carey writes to an audience of higher education students and faculty to convince them the pros and cons of both traditional and for-profit schools using different rhetorical, organizational, and stylistic strategies.
Kevin Carey takes a deep look into the controversies concerning for-profit colleges. For-profit colleges have received harsh criticism from institutions because of the way they recruit new students and use the loan system to gain even more of a profit, added on to the price of schooling. Even though only 10 percent of students get enrolled, a quarter of all federal aid goes to for-profit colleges. That seems extremely unfair. Carey begins with bringing us bad news, for-profit colleges do abuse the system of student loans, however they also bring educational opportunities for those who may have not had the option to attend college.
With the possibility of World War III looming over the world’s head and domestic unrest, federally paid tuition should not become a topic of discussion in a political debate. Evidently, prepaid college is a big topic. Can the citizens of America live with their consciences if they were to accept such an irrational national expense? The United States Federal Government should not pay for the first two years of college for all U.S. Citizens. The U.S. Government does not comprehend the idea of cash flow, but they do understand that the Federal Reserve is there to back up all of the expenses that they acquire. This act would basically add two more years in high school; thus, adding more chances for the national dropout rate to soar even higher. School systems are not the business of the Federal Government; there are bigger issues that must be dealt with before subsidizing tuition.
Starting in the 1960s as the turmoil surrounding Brown V. Board of education died down, parents and taxpayers began to bring lawsuits against state funding systems arguing that these systems violated either state or federal constitutions (Augenblick, Myers & Anderson, 1997). Thus far, federal claims have all failed. In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the San Antonio independent School
As described earlier in this report, for-profit colleges are allowed access to federal financial aid only under particular circumstances. First, for-profit schools must meet a market test, demonstrating that a portion of their revenue comes from somewhere other than federal aid. Even though this requirement has serious loopholes, many for-profit colleges still come very close to transgressing the 90 percent limit on Department of Education revenue, so the
College in general has been questionable for quite some time about whether it should be free or at least lowered in the tuition prices. In this discussion, only community college is in question on whether or not it should be free. Most states are even offering a program that allows high school students to earn college credits before ever even graduating. This is one of a few ways that they are trying to provide “low-cost or no-cost tuition for community colleges” (“Free Community College”). Throughout the “At Issue: Should community college tuition be free?” published in CQ Researcher, Walter G. Bumphus and Richard Vedder display their unique approaches on the issue of community college tuition. Bumphus argues that community college should
Where would we all be if we played hide and seek with our opportunity for a college education? Where do our doctors, surgeons, teachers, nurses, dentist, dental hygienist and dental assists come from? A person doesn’t need a four- year degree to be successful in pursuing a college education. We all know that nobody becomes a pharmacist or an engineer with a high school degree. So why not make all Community Colleges tuition in Indiana free? Making this issue effective will not only create more job opportunities, it will increase the state’s economy, decrease crime, drugs use, and student debts. It will also give people the opportunity to share and explore their ideas.
College is important for the majority of Americans. Most colleges’ tuition rates are quite high, which in turn causes student debts to sky rocket. In most cases the students’ credit to be low. Well paying jobs often require a higher education than just high school. Some people can simply not afford to go to college. With all that said, state colleges should be free to attend for American citizens.
1. Matt Taibbi argues in his Rolling Stone article “Ripping Off America: The College-Loan Scandal” that the government, colleges and universities, are all perpetuating this scandal of ripping off unknowing students. He states that students have essentially been backed into a corner because any good paying job requires a 4 year degree, but the debt gathered in doing so makes life after getting a degree just as difficult. Taibbi’s first point of surprise was “In 2010, it estimated that one in five had defaulted on their loans since 1995, that 31 percent of community-college students default and that an astonishing 40 percent of students attending for-profit schools end up defaulting” (Taibbi). Pursuing a higher education is something that has been disguised as doable for everyone, but what such high defaulting percentages, the current method clearly does not support this. Furthermore, Taibbi went on to say that, “After the latest compromise, the 10-year revenue projection for the DOE 's lending programs is $184,715,000,000, or $715 million higher than the old projection - underscoring the fact that the latest deal, while perhaps rescuing students this coming year from high rates, still expects to ding them hard down the road” (Taibbi). This is surprising because it further shows that deceit is a very prominent theme when it comes to understanding and pursuing a higher education. They make it appear like they are finding a solution or trying to be fair, when their true
The for-profit college and university (FPCU) is an institutional type that “’do[es]’ education or schooling but also ‘behave[s]’ like a business, while preparing students for occupational roles (Hentschke, Lechuga & Tierney, 2010, p. 2). This paper will discuss history; cite changes in curriculum, degree offerings, and institution classification; and explore current issues of financial viability, accreditation, and fraudulent practices of the for-profit college.
In today’s society, it is said that having a college degree will have long term benefits. However, for some people, they wonder if college is worth it. The reason why is because of the cost of attending college. Unlike public schools, going to college is not free. Being able to attend a four-year accredited college with scholarships is almost deemed a miracle. Being able to choose which school to fit in your price range is almost heart breaking. The cost of attendance will increase based on accreditation and location. You cannot pay for college with cash money alone. With the help of financial aid, students are given money based on their parent’s income. For some low poverty students, the hopes of getting financial aid is their way to college. For others, parents set aside a trust or college fund to give to their children. Another way students pay for college is through scholarships that they earn locally, through the state, or even on a national scale. However, when the scholarships run out, a student is forced to take out student loans, and the steps after taking the money are not told until after graduation. The student debt rate is overwhelming in this country. No one wants to talk about it because it is being swept under the rug.
Many colleges raise the issue of low budget funds, struggles with the student loans and financial aid. Now that the government has put the pressure on the students to pay for their education many schools have trouble saving up money or giving out financial supports to all their students
Just as Affirmative Action can be utilized within the admission process for college institutions, it can be used in the financial aid decisions for student’s funding of their education. And, while the decisions for college admissions can be based in part of affirmative action pending the institution’s election of voluntary, race-neutral, or race-conscious admissions – Federal financial aid must have specific boundaries as well. Chace (2012) states a structure of financial aid and admissions systems within a higher education institution give clear indications to incoming students what a school’s value and mission may be, without having to say it distinctly word for word.
The debate over granting public funds for the support of nonpublic schools has existed for years. There are compelling arguments on both sides that are deeply rooted in their beliefs. Historically, nonpublic schools were designed for Caucasian children in an effort to not have to attend the same schools as African Americans. In recent years, more children of color have started to receive an education from private schools. Nonetheless, concern arises when funds are taken from public schools and given to private schools.
Finally, a college student is a consumer with a demand for a product, an education. The teachers are the producers. Who wants to pay thousands of dollars for something, and then be regulated on when, how, and where to get it? Nobody. Which is probably why Texas Tech has a freshman dropout rate of 21% for the Fall 1999 semester according to Roger Terry, an author of the "Fall 1999 Retention Summary" produced by the Texas Tech Institutional Research department. According to Mr. Terry, this dropout rate is one of the highest in the Big 12 Conference and is a problem over-looked by many school officials. It is true that in a job situation the