tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263344203998045622.post4959599184766664660..comments2024-03-28T01:06:58.927-06:00Comments on mid coast views: Investor says for-profit colleges are morally bankrupt and socially destructiveMichael Rosenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350109037494237071noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263344203998045622.post-59197636700423844392010-07-19T08:35:52.195-06:002010-07-19T08:35:52.195-06:00I'm unsure there is a given connection between...I'm unsure there is a given connection between graduation rates and quality of education and learning experience. In fact, if the goal is retention --which translates to "more money for shareholders" -- isn't the incentive to move people through classes and courses regardless of their performance? Does't the very business model create incentives for grade inflation? Doesn't it encourage "fudging" on performance competencies and diminish the quality of the learning experience.<br /><br />Take a look at the business model. Most have ACCELERATED approaches to learning. Why? So they can move MORE people through faster. Yet, faculty have no training in teaching in accelerated formats, and a vast population of students within these colleges need more remedial -- not accelerated -- programming. How is this student focused? How is quality education even POSSIBLE under such a business model, when education takes a back seat to profit for investors?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263344203998045622.post-8133806437104034822010-06-25T06:29:39.251-06:002010-06-25T06:29:39.251-06:00To the anonymous poster...
I have some first hand...To the anonymous poster...<br /><br />I have some first hand experience here. I have served as Chief Education Officer at one of these for profit mills. This piece reflects exactly what I witnessed first-hand in for-profit education. Integrity of the educational experience, by the very business model, takes a back seat to profits for investors. In such a model, retention (which translates to graduation rates) translates to dollars. The quality of the educational experience is rarely even discussed. And it was poor. I resigned my position after six months because of the very issues outlined in this piece. Frankly, from my experience of being there, he nailed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263344203998045622.post-43768714741094644772010-06-11T17:53:48.492-06:002010-06-11T17:53:48.492-06:00Replace "for profit schools" with "...Replace "for profit schools" with "the government" and it pretty much reads the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263344203998045622.post-52166653879482158042010-06-11T09:07:13.315-06:002010-06-11T09:07:13.315-06:00First, what is the graduation rate at MATC? Secon...First, what is the graduation rate at MATC? Second, please clarify if you are painting with a broad brush by including an entire sector? Just wondering about the ignorance employed at one of our fine establishments of "academia".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263344203998045622.post-17591476073270312382010-06-09T06:19:56.309-06:002010-06-09T06:19:56.309-06:00Anonymous,
Your glib comment reflects the same re...Anonymous,<br /><br />Your glib comment reflects the same reasoning that allowed banks and mortgage companies to dupe unsophisticated consumers into taking out adjustable rate (sub prime) mortgages that crashed the entire financial system and almost caused another Great Depression.<br /><br />Businesses should not be allowed to engage in unscrupulous and socially irresponsible business practices. And contrary to neo-classical theory, the market as we saw with housing market bubble and as we are now experiencing with large numbers of student loan defaults does is not up to the task of regulating these abuses of market manipulation by powerful economic interests.<br /><br />It is well documented that for profit colleges frequently break the law paying recruiters by for increased headcount and that they routinely recruit people at halfway houses and homeless shelters who have no business taking out loans or enrolling in colleges. They are gaming the system to line their pockets at taxpayer and student expense. Your attempt to blame unsophisticated students for profit colleges dupe into taking out large loans for courses that don't lead to work that pays enough to pay off the loans denies the reality of the unethical business model these firms have developed.Michael Rosenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02344680466748084825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5263344203998045622.post-28893738024825252112010-06-08T10:09:05.778-06:002010-06-08T10:09:05.778-06:00Yeah, can't we please do something about those...Yeah, can't we please do something about those people who hold guns to the heads of the folks who take out these loans? Apparently, the borrowers play no role in this mess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com