Media has influenced the regulatory environment in the education industry in numerous ways. First, we repeatly see shows on Television such as 60 Minutes, Frontline, Talk Shows, etc., with negative reports regarding tuition, enrollment stats which most often produces unfavorable images. Secondly, Media attacks via newspaper articles - addressing "limited graduate support for job placement." With the unemployment rate being at an all time high, positive images that is representative of colleges and universities should be advocated. For example, Media should stress the importance and the value added benefits for those individuals who embrace knowledge and seek obtaining a college education. This fact alone should be a motivational tool to encourage those indivuduals who have not sought to pursue higher education.
Nancy,
Great point - it's hard to determine from an article if there is a wide-spread, systemic issue or if there was an isolated incident, perhaps by an employee acting against the direction/guidance of the school.
Traci Lee
The media many times highlight areas of concern - sometimes regarding a common practice and sometimes regarding only one or a few isolated incidents. Regulators are apt to react to these articles when structuring new regulations whether or not they reflect a common problem.
Marci,
I agree - students should exhaust all means of escalation within a college before reaching out to external resources. I think schools can communicate and provide easy means for students to pursue such escalation to assist in encouraging internal resolution.
Traci Lee
Yes we are 100% accountable to our students. However, students need to give school authorities and opportunity to rectify an issue before threatening to call the news or get an attorney. I find that when an issue arises, school admin is usually the last to know and if the proper chain of command were used then the issue would be resolved/remedied.
The media can influence regulatory decisions in many ways. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of this process from the school perspective and a regulatory perspective. I do understand that some students unfairly represent their schools, however I have also seem more schools that do not offer quality education and charge unfair amounts of tuition. In my experienct this being reported on in the media has helped to create regulation that will help to protect the public.
In reading replies of others, i think a common theme is shown. Yes, it is unfortunate that bad news does sell, one just has to watch the evening news to see that. But, media can also be used for "good" purposes but all to often not seen or heard. The flip side of the coin to the negative is that it has changed the way that some "shady" schools are doing business or not doing business anymore.
Jenifer,
I like your positive attitude and commitment to delivering great service and education to students!
Traci Lee
The media has a huge impact on society & the education industry. The media seems to always focus on the negative things for schools & never focus on the positive things the school does for their students. In that sense negative things tend to put a bad mark on the school & when potential student arrive they have their guard up or the school loses a student because of it. However, a negative can always become a positive & it just a matter on how the school will deals with it. Provide their students with the best customer service & a great education that will help them sucessed in their future careers. That's what should count.
The media has been very good at updated information to the education industry.
Robert,
Well stated - the challenge is in some of the complexity which may not be apparent in a "summary". And now the regulations to manage to that complexity present additional challenges in trying to provide "apples-to-apples" comparison of things that fall into many categories.
Traci Lee
Regulatory requirements are partially designed to provide continuity, a measurable outcome, and the accountability of delivering on a certain set of standards. All too often when the media focus is negative it is the first few lines of the story that set the level of “outrage†and as you read on you should (if the reporter has done his or her homework) begin to see the complexity of the problem. The larger the problem the more effort is needed to regulate it. If you don’t match the effort to defraud with an equal effort to enforce and punish you will fall painfully behind.
The media has influenced the regulatory environment in the fact that it drew attention to the need for change. Not saying that all schools needed the scope of regulation there is currently in place, but there was obviously a need for for it and the media brought it to national attention where something could be done about it. Just as in all life, there is only change when needed. To say that the media placed a "negative slant" on schools is unfair, they reported a story that was more common than we would like to believe happens within our industry.
Elena,
Training and repetition are definitely important, as you noted. I think the ongoing monitoring and handling instances where there need to be changes to how something is said/handled go a long way to demonstrate an institution's intention to do the right thing.
Traci Lee
Due to one-sided media distortion and media bias the facts has been modified to show our hard work. It may be true that at times a slip of the tongue maybe a cause for concern. In some cases a lack of proper training has presented a distortion of facts and mis-information has resulted in actions that was unbecoming to all concern.
This is why we train, review procedures, train again, review again and train some more. To ensure that what we think, say and do are in compliance with the standard set forth by our institution, our accrediting agency and FLDOE/CIE.
treva,
I have seen some schools track the added costs of managing to certain regulations, which ultimately can drive costs to students which seems in conflict with the stated intention of such regulations.
Traci Lee
Tim,
Well stated. As schools commit to continuous improvement efforts, there is reduced opportunity for any weaknesses to be exploited with the commitment to do things right.
Traci Lee
Sara,
I agree that community involvement offers "win-win" for all parties. Students (and employees) should consider community involvement as a means toward professional development.
Traci Lee
I Feel the media has had a negative impactcausing Regulations to become more strict. Which in turn is harming the schools, the students and people who are trying to go to school.
Tara, Alan and Sara,
Thanks for your comments. Getting students involved in the community through outreach programs can have a far-reaching impact on the media's impression of a school, an industry and career colleges in general. Part of our intent has to be that students become professionals and continue to interact with the community in postive ways.
