May 20

Quick Takes: What SUNY Lost at the Mayflower, DeVry Faces Inquiry, The Leading Higher Ed Metropolises

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A few months ago, the State University of New York was anticipating an infusion of funds from the state, prompted by a special commission created by Gov. Elliot Spitzer. But as an article in The Albany TImes Union outlines, the months since Spitzer’s downfall have left the system without a chief advocate for the plan — at a time that a deteriorating state budget has hindered the ability of legislators to provide any extra funds. The topic of discussion these days is more likely to be managing budget cuts.
DeVry Inc., which operates colleges nationwide, has agreed to turn over to the U.S. Education Department various docments related to compensation for student recruiters and others, Bloomberg reported. DeVry announced that it is the subject of an inquiry based on allegations the department has received. While few details are available, the compensation for student recruitments has been controversial for many for-profit entities, in part because they are banned from offering incentive pay based on enrollments. DeVry said that while it doesn’t know details of the allegations, it believes that it has done nothing wrong.
Among the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, a handful of urban centers have maintained dominance in enrollment and research expenditures for more than 15 years, according to a report released today. The report, released by the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, shows that a largely predictable group of metro areas — including Los Angeles, Boston, New York and Atlanta — led most other major city hubs in notable categories, including degrees awarded, between 1989 and 2005.

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Comments

Yes, but not the top 50 college towns

It is worth noting that the ARCHE study was limited to the 50 largest metro areas, which means that some cities (e.g., Birmingham, Lincoln, etc.) are omitted even though their total student enrollment and degrees granted are greater than some of those in these rankings. In other words, a list of the top 50 college towns would look quite different — and would be equally interesting.

Dr. J, at 10:05 am EDT on May 20, 2008

DeVry v. the Department

Here we have yet another uninspiring action on the part of DOEd. DeVry—a well led, well run organization—has achieved an admirably stable balance of academic and operational excellence for decades.

The Department, on the other hand, can make no claims to stability or having done much of anything admirable. Much like the FDA, DOEd can be observed most any day serving the personal aspirations of its senior bureaucrats. We would all be better off were the Department even half as effective as DeVry in achieving its organizational goals.

Watch this situation closely! When the Department fails to make an evidence-based case against DeVry, they will quietly seek a settlement payment so as not to appear what, in fact, they are.

Senior Higher Education Observer, at 2:10 pm EDT on May 20, 2008

Why ban incentive pay for enrollments?

Why is there even a rule banning incentive pay to recruiters based on enrollments? That’s what the recruiter’s paid for, isn’t it? If there’s something wrong with that (and I fail to see that there is), then the job itself should be banned.

What harm has been done to a prospective student by persuading him/her to enroll at DeVry or any other school? My alma mater regularly beseeches me to steer promising candidates their way. And why not?

DeVry invests a lot into a program aimed at delivering a reliable, consistent “product,” which of course is and should be evaluated by accreditating organizations and various government agencies. A company’s product or service should, in general, be subject to oversight and regulation to prevent fraud. But why prevent sales and/or advertising?

Rod Bell, Adjunct Professor at College of DuPage, at 3:35 pm EDT on May 20, 2008

Wrong incentive

The incentive for colleges should be to graduate individuals who could possibly passa GRE, GMAT, etc. exam or read, write, spell, and do math for some employer.

Just dragging in warm bodies with faint pulse should not be the main incentive. Retention and student success begins at first recruiter contact.

Dr. F. Gump, at 10:40 pm EDT on May 21, 2008

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Quick Takes: What SUNY Lost at the Mayflower, DeVry Faces Inquiry, The Leading Higher Ed Metropolises

Comments

Yes, but not the top 50 college towns

DeVry v. the Department

Why ban incentive pay for enrollments?

Wrong incentive

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