Compliance department, Monthly audits, scripts written, Training manuals, Mystery shopping, realistic expectation videos for prospective students.
The regulatory environment has intensified immensely over the past 5-6 years, with the focus squarely on for profit institutions. Rules and regulations have been introduced and finalized intended to focus on one sector of higher education over all others, and when other sectors are somehow swept up in the rules, the regulatory agency creates "exceptions" for those specific sectors. A discriminatory way to govern, to say the least. The for-profit institution that I work for has been adversely impacted to the point of a 40% drop in enrollment, the closure of a campus, and the loss of jobs for multiple employees. All so that the administration can further their agendas.
Nicole,
Thanks, Nicole, for your comments! As you reference, what's fair is fair, but it should be fair for everyone. As noted by many participants, regulatory policies regarding outcomes should be applicable to ALL institutions.
Jay Hollowell
Thanks Victoria, you're right, training is the key!
Jay Hollowell
Agreed Cindy! The increased regulatory oversight has increased which is a good thing. We are dealing with people and we need to ensure we are always doing right by students. If student outcomes at a College are positive, word of mouth on your school doing a great job will reach the community!
Over the past few years there has been a noted increase in defaulting of student loans, to the point of schools having to implement drastic measures to ensure students understand the importance of repayment. Because of the high default rate across the nation our school has become proactive so as not to allow students to fall into that sector and ensuring that each student understands their responsibilities to the lender.
Michelle
Your point about why we have the current regulatory environments is well said. It is sad that because of a scant few, the majority pay. Thanks for the added insight.
Dimitrios,
Agreed as well, it's all about student outcomes!
Jay Hollowell
Our school we are very aware of compliance to make sure that we don't mislead or lie to the prospective students in any way. Sometimes I find myself repeating myself to make sure that the prospect knows what they will be getting into.
Regulations have become tighter and more protective of the student. All involvement of admissions personnel with financial aid has been dissolved.
It has no impact on the school I am with right now, as we do not receive Title IV funds.
The more government involvement the more requirements and restrictions are put onto institutions. Most are helpful to the consumers or students but sometimes they become to repetitive and conflicting with agencies stepping over. For example in the lecture it indicated that the USDE did not have direct contact with the schools and relied on the accreditation departments to handle that interaction but then the question indicated that both agencies inspected school facilities.
The change has been good because it has keep the school on top of things that were missed in the past. Now, when you need information it is there and you do not have to wait several weeks for an answer or even not get one at all. The new regulations are good because now everyone should be working on the same page from one book. Not everyone doing what they think are the regulations.
Gainful Employment regulations have made it even more important that our admissions staff inform potential students of the realistic demands of the industry they are exploring. Potential students need to understand the types of jobs that our training will prepare them for before enrolling in the program.
Our institution has changed to meet the specific requirements that are need to instil our good name as a college.
The regulatory environment is increasingly demanding. Therefore, institutions have to ensure that regulations are distributed and discussed with staff from each department. Each institution must have a compliance office to ensure compliance of each area.
It is true. There are times that regulations tend to drown. But know that the institution meets standards is a great satisfaction.
Amy,
Thanks, this is by far one of the most important points. Students often have a perception of the career they are exploring that may be very different from the realities and demands of the position. Part of assisting students in making informed decisions about their education is to ensure they are, in fact, informed about the characteristics and requirements of their chosen fields. This must be done right from the beginning of their educational pursuit.
Jay Hollowell
The regulatory environment has changed dramatically over the last several years. Previously, our accrediting body took responsibility to make sure that we were in compliance with laws, regulations, and best practices. But more recently, the federal government has taken more control over higher education. Most of the new rules seemed aimed at for-profit schools. It almost seems as if certain members of Congress have a personal vendetta against proprietary schools. We have to be very careful to ensure that we follow every rule to the letter.
The environment has changed by many misleads in the school and financial systems. Some schools are not being truthful so the impact has been bad by removing their accreditations or shutting the schools down. That is why we should always be honest.
In financial aid the regulatory environment is constantly changing and to ensure that students understand their obligations and their rights we have done several things. We have extended our length of time we meet with them, found additional handouts and websites to further their understanding. When we give them handouts, we review the same information in several different ways. When we discuss borrowing of students loans we review SULA, Sub, Unsub, their definitions and how they impact a student now and later. We review current borrowing amounts, estimated future borrowing and expected loan repayment amounts for all possibilities. Some students are visual, some audio and some need to work it out for themselves and with meeting our students individually it gives us an opportunity to explain FA in a way they understand.
