Traci Lee

About me

I currently serve as the Vice President of Business Solutions for Bridgepoint Education. In my present role, I provide guidance to the company's ground based and online colleges to optimize their operations while staying within regulatory guidelines.

I have over 22 years of experience in the education industry. My experience encompasses virtually all aspects of the education business, including admissions, financial aid, academics, career services, and management of multi-campus operations. I’ve held senior level management positions at Career Education Corporation, MedVance Institute and the University of Phoenix (Apollo Group) as well as providing consulting services to a multitude of colleges and universities during my tenure with Campus Management Corporation.

My focus has been on campus start ups, regulatory compliance, process improvement, and operational oversight of multiple campus colleges, including international campuses. I recognize the challenges of working in a highly regulated environment that has grown more complex as companies have expanded operations, either organically or through acquisition, to include multiple regulatory bodies and governing oversight entities.

I hold a B.S. degree in Business from Arizona State University and an M.A. degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. I have completed the Apollo Group's Executive Development Program and the Career College Association's (now APSCU) Leadership Institute.

Activity

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Effect of Media

I like the positive perspective on this topic! It does seem that the various regulatory and accrediting bodies are in tune with the issues. The focus of reviews seems to change periodically based on current "hot topics". Lately, there has been a lot more focus on placement and completion than in the past. I am aware of some state regulatory agencies that are adding or intensifying their review and thresholds in these areas.

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Preparing for an Audit

Seth - I agree with your areas of prep - and, it's also important to have the source data behind the statistics to be able to validate/prove the statistic. Additionally, since various regulatory bodies have differing formulas and timeframes for reporting statistics, it is necessary to understand and communicate which is being cited at any given time.

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Compliance in Business Areas

Great points, Seth. This is clearly a "people" business and from an HR and marketing/recruitment perspective, it's easy for employees to say something wrong even if they do so inadvertently and/or with good intentions. Many schools who have done "mystery shopping" and/or call recording and review have been surprised by what they hear their employees say to prospects.

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Compliance in Business Areas

Jorge - You bring up a good point about personnel understanding the importance of the various laws and regulations. Training is key to ensuring compliance - if employees don't know the guidelines, they don't know they are in violation and can unknowingly create problems for the college.

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Corrective Action Plans

I completely understand the concern about defensive reactions - I agree with Richard that working directly with the respondent to determine root causes can be beneficial. In some cases, I have actually seen this make people LESS defensive as they have the opportunity to help find the root cause instead of feeling like they are being accused behind their back to their supervisor during "private" meetings. I tend to lean toward the "transparency" approach whereby keeping communications open, as much as possible, brings a greater element of trust and understanding in the positive goals of an audit process. Regardless, the… >>>

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Preparing for an Audit

Robert - you mention a key item - making sure all documents are available upon request. Failure to produce documents not only leads to findings but, also give cause for concern on the overall operations of the campus. Demonstrating the ability to provide info promptly gives auditors a sense that the campus is organized and operating smoothly. With regard to your question on internal vs external, there are varying points of view but, if the appropriate structure is in place, an internal audit team can certainly be successful. There are various charter document samples on the web that outline some… >>>

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Compliance in Business Areas

Privacy laws are increasingly strengthened and protection of confidential information should be a priority in schools and as part of a solid audit function.

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Compliance in Business Areas

Cheryl - Excellent points. The culture of the company is tied to perceptions of the employees and the HR department can influence this from the start. In addition to the governance of employment you mention, there are also accreditation requirements that tie back to HR including verification of credentials, licensing where necessary, and specific document collection. This is certainly a department that should not be overlooked as part of a comprehensive internal audit.

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Preparing for an Audit

Cheryl - I will post some information on the guest auditor program this weekend. I think it's great to tie it into a leadership development program.

Traci Lee

Discussion Comment

Corrective Action Plans

I'm sure there will be varying opinions on this but, I try to keep these discussions out of the exit interview to keep that meeting short and to the point. Ideally, the department with this finding has already been informed, prior to the exit, of the matter. Typically, if they know the "why", they will offer it up immediately. Other times, it requires research. Eventually, the root cause should be identified in their formal written response, but, I agree that if the discussion can happen in the field, it encourages open communication between the team and the campus. Additionally, it… >>>

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