James Faulkner

Xaquita, I like your comment. Thank you for sharing it. James Faulkner

Ella,Would you agree that compliance is an action best managed through factual transparency? That the result is our student(s) ability to make a factual decision to join us and trust us to provide them the type and quality of education they need to be successful? James Faulkner

lisette,I see where you are going with your discussion. Equally important is not placing a student in a situation where they feel required to provide a positive testimnial. Similar to our transparent portrayal, we want our students to be transparent when communicating with potential students and the community so that they too can make a fair value judgement. When a school is proud of their product - the student - and works diligently toward their successful outcome, it reverberates in our community through our students. James Faulkner

I think that use of a superlative deprives an individual or the public of an accurate fact. If a person says our graduation rate is superb and it is a 100% graduation rate on our fact sheet there is no harm. Unintentionally or purposfully portraying a superb graduation rate that is actually 70% misleads the prospective student's value premise and may create future mistrust by the student, withdrawal, or even legal action.

What I learned was that it could easily be construed as a violation of federal regulations since a student may believe they are under duress to provide a testimonial. The duress exists because the grades and future of the student are controlled by the same people who are asking for the testimonial.

Xaquita, I agree. It is also a violation of federal guidelines that could lead to loss of eligibility for federal aid, sanctions, and ultimately school closure. James Faulkner

Xaquita, What a great way of wording it. James Faulkner

Xaquita,Equally important is that the value decision is based on factual information enabling the prospective student to make an informed decision. The accountability for the decision rests with the student, not the associate in a totally transparent disclosure of all the facts. James Faulkner

Robert, The realization that a prospective student or active student may assume something that if not be corrected through transparent facts, can lead to a major issue in their career and a change in their premise of the school. In 20+ years of dealing with irrate students or their families,99% of the time it is their premise that needs to be examined to help resolve of proble. James Faulkner

Robert,I agree. I have had to explain FERPA to many students and parents as well. James Faulkner