Agreed, Scott. We are all certainly feeling that right now with the various regulations in the works.
Reporters posing as prospective students have shopped schools in order to uncover noncompliance in certain areas. The subsequent news reports can cause major controversy within a community and the schools effected. This can lead to a public outcry for stricter regulation.
The media has focused its attention on for profit schools in a negative manner. This has lead to for profit schools to become even more heavily regulated and scrutinized than the public or private non-profit schools. As a result, for profit schools have become more aware of their practices.
I have heard both perspectives on this "chicken and egg" debate on if regulations are impacted by media or if media reports are a result of enforced regulations. Regardless, it seems as though, like any industry, the public perception can be influenced by what they hear/see in the media which may only paint a picture of the "news worthy" items vs. the full scope of what the industry does that includes positive, but often less news-worthy activities/benefits.
The media influence to the regulatory environment is a small blip on the radar. Regulators are focused on what's currently happening and why it is happening with an attempt to keep major issues under control. Most media stories are focused on what people want to hear but not necessarily what they need to know. The regulators certainly pay attention to the media but I really don't believe the issues that are published come as a surprise.
The social and regulatory trends are undeniable, but investments and strategies should not be based on short-term social or political fads. Being informed of the larger trends as well as the specific regulatory developments can give firms better information to help them make better and earlier strategic investment decisions. A better understanding of the broader context will help executives focus on how external forces are shaping the regulatory environment.
Agreed that it would be great to see more media pieces on the "good news". I encourage all to engage with the media by providing positive news pieces. Even if they are not always utilized, don't give up! Sometimes they don't make the cut just because of the volume of "hot news" for the day but on another day, it may make it! Graduation, spotlights on students/graduates, and employers hiring graduates all make for positive news. Community services and other initiatives can also be a good way to share some good news.
The media wanted to catch our attention with a fraud case causing a negative impact on other schools and also causing a review on the regularoty environment. It would be great if the media worked the same way focusing on good news. I am with a career institute and know that we have to comply with very strict regulations, the same as community colleges or universities. Even though there might be the idea that community colleges or universities are better, I believe we offer the pratical training people need for programs like the ones we offer.
Because our programs are short, students end up with loans that they have to pay back, and I believe the majority of our students are people who are working hard to prepare themselves on a short period of time to go out there and do something in life, be able to support their families, and pay their loans back.
Hi Tera,
Your comments are excellent and optimistic! When we discover a media source that is willing to objectively review the services that we provide for our students, then we need to work that source to the absolute limit! Too often, the media carries a built-in negative bias about our industry. But you are so right in getting the word out there to the media and the community.
I appreciate your comments!
Alan
The media is always looking for a dramatic story that is dripping with fraud, or something salacious involving a student and a supervisor. If the story will inspire readers or spice up the airways, then it matters little if the media assault is aimed at a public or proprietary educational institution. However, proprietary schools have the universal negative media byline of making money while educating economically-challenged students.
Generally speaking, there is a high level of academic elitism among the media who view the for-profit, career college with disdain. This negative image is not lost on the legislators, as the education reauthorization bills will attest.
All of the above watchdogs definitely impact the level and volume of regulations that are attached to the proprietary industry. We need to operate our institutions with a high level of integrity and oversight. We also need to constantly develop informative and postive communication/interaction with the community.
Hi Cheryl! Thanks for your observations! It's true, a few less than professional operations can damage the perception about all of the schools that are sincere in their mission of teaching relevant job skills,and creating an opportunity for career success for their students. It is so crucial for us to continue to keep a pulse on our employment communities, particualrly during these challenging times, to help ensure that our professional institutions are teaching the skills that are in demand.
Jay Hollowell
CM201 Guest Facilitator
Unfortunately, negative media can and has been detrimental to the industry. It is imperative that all who work in the vocational proprietary sector operate at a high ethical level and strive to change the perception many have of our induatry.
I would say that the media has definitely influenced a lot of changes in the regulatory environment in the education industry. No school wants to be within the far reaching arm of the media and the ruthlessness of some reporters. Everyone wants to make sure that they are not the subject of the expose and therefore more emphasis is placed on compliance. There is also more awareness of regulations and when they change.
The challenge for some is that they don't use media outlets but, the media "finds them" when there is a negative issue.
I am sure it has but we do not use media outlets for our school.
I think it's important that schools attempt to provide the media with the "good news" messages. Although not as "exciting" for them to publish, if they have space, these positive messages may make it in, which helps.
The media today definitely tries to slant things negatively. At the school where I am the director, we strive every day to make a difference in our students' lives. But if a student is upset over something that they feel has not been handled the way they wanted, their first response is usually that they are going to call the news. They don't understand that we have to follow laws.
The media, as everyone knows, has it positive and not as positive traits. I would suspect that when the media gets involved they then become a regulatory conduit. In my opinion, the media causes the regulatory agency to be more aware of what's happening inside of these educational institutions as well as causes it to work harder to dispel some of the "untruths" surrounding specific institutions.
Actually when the media steps in and "uncovers" something it makes the regulatory agency look incompetent! Its perceived that the media is more informed about the institution than the actul auditing firm is. Not a good look at all!
It has helped to some extent to weed out school that were fly by night and had no clue how to run a school. It seems the media has opened student minds to the fact that they need to check out a school before signing up. It may have effected some schools who weren't in compliance to begin with. Those of us who were, it made us double check our work.
I'll be curious to see others chime in on this, Gloria. My personal opinion is that generally speaking, yes. My comment is based on the theory that regulations are intended to protect the student. All students - whether they attend large or small schools - should be entitled to this same protection. Having said that, I know that some of the regulations are very cumbersome for smaller schools and, in many cases, a handful of students can significantly impact statistics of smaller schools, putting them at regulatory risk.
I have seen some schools put on job placement monitoring as a result of a few students swinging the statistic into the unacceptable category.The opposing viewpoint would say that these schools also get the benefit of a couple students helping their statistics if the students secure jobs. In a graduating class of 10, each student represents 10%, whereas a graduating class of 100 would mean each only represents 1%. While one perspective suggests the seemingly unfairness of a few students putting the school at regulatory risk in the smaller school, the larger could argue that the small school only has to assist in providing up to 10 jobs vs. the 100 jobs - a big difference in certain disciplines and job markets. I don't envy the regulatory bodies when trying to find the right balance and how to deal with all ranges of school sizes, disciplines, markets, etc. I think the practical approach is ensuring the school can demonstrate good practices and effort. When a small school is scrutinized for something negative that may seem unfair due to size, if the school can provide evidence of their efforts and compliance with their policies and procedures, typically the penalty or consequences are minimized. While there are certainly exceptions, in my experience, the regulators are reasonable when conducting a review, particularly if the school can demonstrate valid effort.
