It's amazing to me how the proactive strategy of shopping your own schools can be viewed as negative by admissions personnel.  After all, there are SO many great things happening that should be celebrated.  On the occasion of an infraction...shouldn't that be viewed as a training opportunity?  Why do so many view as a GOTCHA???

Thomas Edison State College President Dr. George Pruitt said that some of the regulations that are being proposed for higher education are not rational. Does he have some good points regarding State Authorization, the non-linear pattern of today's adult learner and the impact of this reality on completion rates?

Well it's that time again the Department of Education is gearing up for negotiated rule making and it will be interesting to see how it turns out.  A few items that we should expect to be placed on the table are gainful employment, military veterans and overall program integrity.  As we recall programs had to meet one of three benchmarks: At least 35 percent of graduates had to be repaying federal student loans, or have total loan debt of less than 30 percent of their discretionary income or 12 percent of their overall income. They would lose eligibility if… >>>

Radio Higher Ed’s most recent podcast features Dr. Mark Schneider, president of College Measures and vice president at the American Institutes for Research. Dr. Schneider and the hosts of Radio Higher Ed discuss what students should know before attending higher education institutions, the economic values of different degrees and majors from various universities and the relationship between student loan debt and earnings outcomes.

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released the criteria it will use in examining private student loan lenders, which is an extension of the Bureau’s General Supervision and Examination Manual that will be used as a field guide by CFPB examiners to ensure that private student lenders comply with federal consumer financial laws.

Through passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB has the authority to supervise large banks, as well as nonbanks, that make private student loans, CFPB notes that the examination procedures released today may be used to examine both types of lenders. According to the… >>>

It’s hard to believe that it has been over a year since the Program Integrity rules were published and everyone was scurrying around to meet the regulations.  Schools had to work very quickly to create disclosures, link them to their websites and inform their students. Another area that necessitated attention was the formalization and streamlining of the student complaint process.

Schools can't afford to be naïve and unaware about illegal and unethical activity taking place. Confronted with these realities, and understanding that students and employees do not want to work in an unsafe or unethical environment, management understands that… >>>

The U.S. Department of Education released official FY2010 two-year and official FY2009 three-year federal student loan cohort default rates marking the first official 3-year rate published.  The press release indicated a 13.4% CDR nationally, which was a slight decrease from the 13.8% FY2008 cohort.  CDRs decreased for for-profit institutions from 15% to 12.9%. 

Are the new federal regulations proving to have the desired effect of lowering CDRs, or are there other variables to consider?  

Join Radio Higher Ed co-hosts Kathryn Dodge, Alison Griffin, and Elise Scanlon for a conversation with Jason Delisle, Director of the Federal Education Budget Project with the New America Foundation. Mr. Delisle discusses the history of the federal student loan programs, the difference between student loans and home mortgages and the current debate in Congress about the pending rate increase.

Join Radio Higher Ed co-hosts, Kathryn Dodge, Alison Griffin and Elise Scanlon for a conversation with Dr. Judith Eaton, President of the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).  Dr. Eaton discusses the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) on the Department of Education’s recognition of accreditation and the increasing interest and role of the federal government in quality assurance of higher education.

Over the past few years, the career college sector has become accustom to full transparency whether it involves tuition or outcomes. In June, the federal government posted information regarding a standardized financial aid form, referred to as the Shopping Sheet to help guide students and their families when making a decision about colleges and their associated costs.

Students and their families spend a great deal of time researching to determine the right college to meet their educational and financial needs. The Shopping Sheet was designed as a model by the Obama Administration to allow families to make comparisons more… >>>

The "C" Word

Language shapes the way people think.  If you believe this premise, what thoughts come to mind when you hear the word, “compliance?”  More importantly, what attitudes, behaviors, and institutional cultures take shape when compliance is the word used to frame behavioral expectations?  The “C” word, compliance, has a negative undertone meaning to obey, typically in a subservient manner and when compliance is raised as a training topic, it is typically framed as a matter of understanding rules and the consequences of violation. 

This poses a challenge for private postsecondary leaders who need all employees to understand the… >>>

Join Radio Higher Ed for a conversation with Dr. Carol Geary-Schneider, President of the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U). Dr. Schneider will discuss the importance of civic learning and the work of AAC&U in the area of student learning and accountability for institutions of higher education.

Introduction: Crucial Connections produced by ACCSC will introduce you to ways to enhance communication, connection, and collegiality between states and accreditors. The goal is to collaborate ways to enhance monitoring of institutional operations using partnerships. The accreditation community is keenly aware of the important role that the triad plays as gate-keepers and respects the role that each member of the triad serves to ensure the reliability of our nation’s current higher education oversight system. Please share your thoughts regarding this critical initiative.

Crucial Connections: State Regulator and Accrediting Agency Collaboration

Recently I read an article published in the Inside Higher Ed, April 30, 2012 edition regarding a new ethics code for agents. What made this article so intriguing to me was the fact that countries other than the United States face some of the same challenges education.

Australia, Britain, Ireland and New Zealand just released a document referred to as the London Statement. This document was finally introduced after two years of discussion among many countries, the United States being one of them. The reason for such a code is to provide reciprocity of protection to foreign students that… >>>

Reindl oversees the Education Division's postsecondary education work area. His concentration is on postsecondary access and completion. He also leads the 2010-2011 NGA Chair's Initiative Complete to Compete, which focuses on increasing college completion and productivity.

David Paris, Executive Director of the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability.  David will speak on the work of the Alliance, including an overview of their most recent report, "Committing to Quality: Guidelines for Assessment and Accountability in Higher Education."  He will share his work with the Alliance within the context of the current higher education policy community, which has recently put a greater emphasis on student learning and learning outcomes.

There are two metrics that stand head and shoulders above the rest, they are Completion and Employment outcomes.  I would like to share my Best Practices for Career Services that will impact both of these metrics. Many of you may be practicing these solutions already. But just in case…

Get to Know Your Students Before Externship-Getting to know your student’s is the single most important thing that you can do to help your students.  Too many schools wait until externship to begin working with students at this point it could be too late. Why? Because most of… >>>

The Default Management landscape is changing, and it’s important to stay abreast of regulations- both old and new. With regard to managing your school’s portfolio, planning, education and organization are critical to the stability of your institution.

1.Educating the Current Student Body- Although your current students won’t affect your CDR for years to come, it’s important to establish an education plan. Start with the basics of financial health- equating it to physical health- before moving onto building a simple budget. Next, teach the students about credit and debt; include the mantra that credit is not a form of payment-… >>>

Best Compliance Practice:  The Student File for Education Department

1. Once you have verified the High School Diploma or GED place a small dot on the right side of the tab.  This can be done in a bright color felt pen.  Just one look at the file tabs and you can see who is missing the document to make them a qualified student.  This is a compliance priority.
2. Create a Student checklist for file documents with spaces for initials to verify that the documents are in the Student Education File.  
3. The first document should be the High School Diploma

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Best Practices for completing self study report

• If it isn’t documented, it doesn’t exist.
• Answer every question completely.
• Explain yes/no answers.
• Ask questions.  The accreditation staff is ready and eager to provide assistance if you have questions regarding the process.  Please give us a call!
• Make the Self-Study Report user friendly.  Remember the reader has no idea of your school.
• Date everything.  Documents used as exhibits should have dates that relate to when they were developed or occurred.
• Meet deadlines. 
• Quality, not quantity.  Be thorough, but not exhaustive.
• Have a good reason for what you are doing.
• Document –

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