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For-Profit Colleges, Including Bridgepoint, Boost Lobbying
Chris Spohn should not be the fall guy...he and Jeff Cross were the only ones that had real integrity. Andrew Clark, who constantly refers to himself as " THE CEO" is the guy!— January 5, 2011 3:43 a.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
The people who are in other departments are like being in a different company. Enrollment is the heart and soul of for profit universities and the one department that pays the bill and make the profit. The other departments are akin to social workers...whatever their motives and visions are it does not make what the real purpose of these schools honorablethey are just the front. Seearticle below and take off your rose tinted lenses. Ashford University, an online division of Bridgepoint Education Inc, announced that it had entered into “a national alliance agreement” with the United States Postal Service. Under the agreement, “the USPS and its 623,000 employees will receive significant cost savings through the waiver of various fees and a prior learning credit evaluation toward their Ashford University degree program”. The USPS already has similar agreements with other online “universities”, including the University of Phoenix. Ashford’s operating practices have been under investigation by the Department of Education’s Inspector General for “compensation policies and practices relating to enrollment advisors; calculation of returns of Title IV program funds; timeliness of returns of Title IV program funds; student authorizations to retain credit balances; disbursements of unearned Title IV program funds; and maintenance of supporting documentation for students’ leaves of absence.” In December, in a story on risks facing for profit educators including Bridgepoint, Barron’s reported that the Department of Education was considering sanctions for “schools that run admissions offices like high-pressure telemarketing operations and overburden students with federally backed loans”. (In 2007, the most recent year reported, Ashford had a 17.4% default rate on government backed student loans). Federal law prohibits paying so-called “enrollment advisors” on the basis of the numbers of students they enroll. During the Bush Administration, however, rules were implemented that allowed the payments to resume, effectively turning the “advisors” into salesmen working on commission. The rulemaking was hardly surprising, given that Bush’s assistant secretary for post-secondary education was a longtime University of Phoenix lobbyist). The Obama Administration has indicated that it would rescind those rules, raising questions as to how long the scholls will continue their rapid growth. That might also explain why the schools are expanding their marketing activities to include “partnerships” with organizations like the USPS. Perhaps the most surprising fact about Ashford, though, is that despite all the talk about the new free enterprise, for profit model of higher education, in 2008, 87 percent of its revenue came from federal financial aid. For more on Ashford’s recruiting practices, and an interesting perspectives on how much an Ashford degree might actually be worth, read “Marine Can’t Recall His Lessons at For-Profit College” at Bloomberg.com.— May 21, 2010 11:16 a.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
Response to post 120...Right on! As a fromer high level manager I can validate your writing. There are members of an enrollment team that are the stars and get the prime leads...these are uasually the people who don't take no for an answer and are highly skilled in sales. The mantra at Ashford is get the app! Period.— May 19, 2010 2:41 p.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
I see that is blog has totally gotten away from the subject at hand..Profit Education and in particular the Bridgepoint model. Does anyone want to go back to this subject? Don, cetainly you are not done exposing what the Union Tribune glorifies?— May 19, 2010 10:18 a.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
We are not talking about the education at Ashford but the mere fact that they target the poor and the uneducated and these target studnet end up with enormous debt. Look at the fact that this just compounds the problem and the only one who benefits is Ashford. Don't compare the tutition or the education at a state university to AShford's cost. and Clarrisa what are you talking about in post 94...wow.— May 17, 2010 7:21 p.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
People, stop the bantering back and forth and let us expose the truth. The for profit universities and Asford University especially is taking advantage of their "student" and certainly the system and who pays? The taxpayer. It is the tax payer that bought Andrew Clark his new Porsche, vacation...paid for the ridiculous Enrollment conferences at the Ivy Hotel, the Wynn, The Bellagio, Hotel Se',.... This is the art of selling at its best. A great business plan and attracted the very best private equity compnay to fund the plan.— May 17, 2010 5:20 p.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
At Ashford enrollment advsior and the "admission" Department is considered the elite...the Financial Advisor, and especially theAcademic Advisors are considered on the low end of the pay scale. The instructors receive a min. pay for each class they "teach." The online classrooms are packed and as I stated before the instruction is very little. The entire emphasis, the money goes directly to the enrollment department and not academics. I will grant you the fact that education is changing and there is a need for on line classes but not like Ashford presents it. Its model is strcitly for profit. UoP has class time once a week where student actually go to satellite campus and exchange with one another and their instructor. Lets not confuse quality education with for profit education.— May 17, 2010 4:25 p.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
Surfpuppy you are so right. The default rate at "on line" school is much higher because of many factors. The first consideration is the quality of the student...I know for a fact that many students that Ashford enrolls do not have their own computers and rely on going to the library to complete work or don't have the money for books, that is a recipe for disaster. The sell in itself leads to default with promises that it will change your life. Lack of education is not these potential studnets only problem! THe military is a big target for these schools, heck one advisor can sign up an entire unit...referrals are huge! Really, ask yourself, is this the best way to utilize the GI bill? I wnet to private schools my entire life and paid top dollar but I received a qualtiy education. At these on line schools you are paying top dollar but getting....— May 17, 2010 12:12 p.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
In my executive experience the "Academic Advisor" at Ashford usually is a former enrollment advisor that couldn't perform well in the enrollment advsior position. The Academic Advisor has a case load of about 500 hundred students. Tell me how does one truly "advise" 500 hundred students? One of the biggest compliants from enrolled studnet would always come back to the enrollment department and that is that their Academic Advisor were not returning calls. Don, the recruiter in HR looks for a candidate that has a sales background. The talk on the floor is sales talk, ie: controlling the conversation; getting to the pain; emphasis on the start date; close and get the app. I don't remember my University using such tactics when I enrolled. I do remember waiting to see if I was accepted. That is not to say that education should be only for the rich but certainly one should have the academic requirements to handle and succeed. Really, a 4page papaer and answering question or a dialogue on line in a classroom, not in real time either, should not be the ciriculum for an MBA degree. When I received my MBA it was by way of rigorous study, readings, interaction in class, lectures with my professors and endless amount of work. Not the drive thru experience of an on line degree. Granted it meets the needs of a working adult but it should never be compared to a real experience.— May 17, 2010 11:25 a.m.
San Diego’s newest corporate darling, Bridgepoint Education
Let me tell you about the training foe these "advisors"...first, the interview for hire consists of questions pertaining to sales, sales experience...what was your most difficult sale? what did you do to prepare for it? How did you ocercome objections? How did the sale turn out? What is the most important thing about selling over the phone?...these are some of the questions...very few questions touch on education. ...once the perfect cnadidate is selected they are put through two weeks of training "before they hit the floor; these people are referred to as "newbies." The training consist of touching on programs offerered; Financial aid qualifications and lots and lots of role play and getting to the "pain." This is the most intense sales training that I have ever witnessed. Aftet training you are put on a "team" of 15 with a manager as your direct supervisor and the games begins.... Key words..."get the app" = get the student to enrol Make sure the "docs are complete" = finish their fiancial aid documents Make sure they stick = complete their class. it goes on and on....— May 15, 2010 7:45 p.m.