Search results for: for-profit college investigation

(D. Michelson)

25 States Urge Betsy DeVos To Not Let Student Loan Companies Sidestep The Law

Since Betsy DeVos took over as Secretary, the Department of Education has been — to put it mildly — generous to the student loan industry. Through DeVos, the Trump administration has stopped cooperating with federal financial regulators to rein in unscrupulous loan servicers, and announced its plan to put all federal student loan accounts into the hands of a single company. But several states are letting it be known that they will not go easy on student lenders and servicers, even if they ask nicely. [More]

Student Loan Debt Relief Operations Allegedly Bilked $95M From Borrowers

Student Loan Debt Relief Operations Allegedly Bilked $95M From Borrowers

The federal government and 11 states have joined together to accuse 30 purported debt relief operations of using deception and false promises to swindle more than $95 million from student loan borrowers. [More]

MeneerDijk

States Ask Betsy DeVos To Not Drop Protections For Student Loan Borrowers

Earlier this month, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos declared that the Department of Education would no longer work with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to root out bad players in the student loan servicing arena. While the CFPB fired back, accusing DeVos of misunderstanding just what the Bureau does, a coalition of state attorneys general are now joining the choir, claiming the decision to end the agencies’ agreements undermine protections for student borrowers.  [More]

fblumongoose

Disgraced College Accreditor Asks Betsy DeVos For Second Chance

Last year, the Department of Education revoked federal recognition for the accrediting body that ignored red flags at failed for-profit educator Corinthian Colleges and allowed billions in federal aid dollars to schools under investigation. Now, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is back, asking new Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for another chance. [More]

(D. Michelson)

Dozens Of Organizations Come Out In Support Of Gainful Employment, Borrower Defense Rules

A week after two separate lawsuits were filed by 19 state attorneys general and a group representing students accusing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos of breaking the law by delaying protections for student loan borrowers, a coalition of more than 50 consumer groups have stepped forward to join the opposition against a “reset” of regulations put in place to protect students at for-profit colleges.  [More]

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos “Resets” Rules On For-Profit Colleges

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos “Resets” Rules On For-Profit Colleges

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has announced plans to “reset” two regulations that were recently put in place to hold for-profit colleges more accountable and prevent students at these schools from being left with nothing but debt if their college collapses. [More]

Michael

For-Profit Colleges Sue To Stop Rule That Protects Students Of Failed Schools

Federal regulations that aim to protect and refund student loan borrowers defrauded by their schools could end before they even go into place, thanks to a lawsuit filed by the for-profit college industry. [More]

Purdue University Buys For-Profit Kaplan University, But Is It A Good Idea?

Purdue University Buys For-Profit Kaplan University, But Is It A Good Idea?

On the surface, Purdue University and Kaplan University don’t have a lot in common: One is a public university from Indiana and the other is a for-profit chain mostly offering online courses. But now they have one rather large thing in common: ownership. Purdue has purchased Kaplan — for a dollar. [More]

Not Too Late To Get Federal Loan Forgiveness, States Remind Corinthian Students

Not Too Late To Get Federal Loan Forgiveness, States Remind Corinthian Students

Earlier this week, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rescinded relatively new federal guidelines intended to make the student loan repayment process more accurate and transparent. With the possibility that other federal student loan protections could face the same fate, the Attorneys General from dozens of states are reminding former students of defunct for-profit college chain Corinthian Colleges to apply for federal student loan discharges. [More]

Former Lobbyist, Son Of Student Loan Debt-Collector, Resigns From Dept. Of Education

Former Lobbyist, Son Of Student Loan Debt-Collector, Resigns From Dept. Of Education

In our recent story on the Trump administration’s decision to roll back protections for potentially millions of student loan borrowers, we also told you about new Department of Education advisor Taylor Hansen, a former lobbyist for the for-profit college industry whose father is the CEO of a student loan debt collection company that has been suing Taylor’s new employer since 2015 for the right to charge thousands of dollars in fees to people who are already having trouble paying back their loans. Now comes news that Hansen’s brief life as a federal employee has come to an end. [More]

Freaktography

18 Attorneys General Ask Education Secretary DeVos To Not Go Soft On For-Profit Colleges

A number of high-profile for-profit educators shut down or scaled back operations in recent years, among accusations of overcharging and under-educating students, and new rules intended to hold schools accountable. However, these companies’ fortunes began to turn after the election of Donald Trump and his naming of pro-industry Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. That’s why a group of 18 state attorneys general is calling on the administration to not ease up on these controversial schools. [More]

DeVry Will Pay $2.75M To Settle State’s Allegations Of Misleading Advertising

DeVry Will Pay $2.75M To Settle State’s Allegations Of Misleading Advertising

One month after DeVry Education Group agreed to pay $100 million to settle federal regulatory charges that it used deceptive ads to recruit students, the for-profit educator has come to a multimillion-dollar settlement that should close the book on one state-level investigation. [More]

For-Profit College Industry Eyes Resurgence Under Trump Administration

For-Profit College Industry Eyes Resurgence Under Trump Administration

At its height, the for-profit college industry represented about 25% of all federal student aid, even though these schools only accounted for about 8% of U.S. college students. Meanwhile, these schools were spending the large majority of their money on advertising instead of education, and their students were defaulting on loans at double the rate of other borrowers. Since then, several education chains have shuttered due in no small part to federal investigations and regulations, but investors are seeing sunnier days ahead under a business-friendly Trump White House. [More]

ken fager

Senators Urge Continued Oversight Of For-Profit Colleges Amid Another Closure

For-profit college operators continued to take hits this week, as lawmakers called for federal aid restriction on the Computer Systems Institute brand, and smaller Regency Beauty Institute brand announced it would close.  [More]

MeneerDijk

Education Dept. Revokes Recognition Of Troubled Accreditor Of For-Profit Colleges

The accrediting body responsible for holding a large number of for-profit schools accountable — including the recently shuttered ITT Tech, and the now-bankrupt Corinthian Colleges — received some bad news this week. The U.S. Department of Education has terminated its federal recognition.  [More]

Dept. Of Education Offers Online Service For Students Stranded By ITT Shutdown

Dept. Of Education Offers Online Service For Students Stranded By ITT Shutdown

Thousands of students affected by the abrupt shutdown of all 130 ITT Tech campuses received a lifeline of sorts from the government this week, as it unveiled additional resources to help displaced students understand their new reality and to continue their education or receive federal loan discharges. [More]

Former ITT Tech Students Talk About School’s High-Pressure Sales Tactics, Underwhelming Classes

Former ITT Tech Students Talk About School’s High-Pressure Sales Tactics, Underwhelming Classes

The recent collapse of ITT Technical Institute has left thousands of students stranded, unsure if they’ll be able to finish their educations, repay their loans, or even transfer their credits to other schools. Now, some of these ITT students are talking to Consumerist about the school’s high-pressure marketing, underwhelming courses, poor job-placement, and other shady practices. [More]

For-Profit College Operator Bridgepoint Agrees To Forgive $23.5M In Student Loans

For-Profit College Operator Bridgepoint Agrees To Forgive $23.5M In Student Loans

Two months after Bridgepoint Education, the operator of for-profit colleges Ashford University and the University of the Rockies, revealed it was being investigated by the Department of Justice over its federal student aid funding, another federal agency has ordered the company to forgive $23 million in student loans and pay an $8 million penalty over allegedly illegal student lending practices.  [More]