I feel the Employability of Graduates and Relationship with the Department of Education is important because student need to know what and if they will be able to obtain a career after attending school. Getting money to pay for school is not that hard but paying it back is the challenge. I ask them all the time what do you expect to make once you have job in your field b/c of the entrance counseling and many have no idea. So, they are paying 20,30,40 thousand dollars and do not know if they will be able to recoup this debt. I know I wouldn't pay all this money and not have a clue on how much I could make once I completed my program. Would you?
If this isn't a trick question (as all are equally important to me) and you are pressing me to select one, I would choose employability. It has been my experience that is the biggest concern of most students and the main reason they are expanding their education.
I think the Employable of Graduates and relationship with he department of education is the most important to know because in my experience that is the question I most get from students
While I believe that they are all important, the Nature of Financial Charges would be most important. Prospective students must be aware of the debt they are incurring during their educational experience. The loan repayment notices shouldn't come as a surprise, the student should expect to know.
Nature of Financial Charges because misleading a student into thinking they can afford something they can't is morally wrong.
Employability of graduates is what will matter most to our students and secondly their Financial Charges. Prospective students need to receive accurate information that is well documented in order for them to make informed choices about their education leading to long term favorable reputation for our educational institution.
I say all of the areas. If you misrepresent a student in any one of these areas then you have done a disservice to that student and mislead them. That is wrong and against compliance.
I believe all the areas are important to gain and sustain the trust of the student as well as to not mislead or give information that is not factual. Professional ethics is very important to the image and culture of a school or business.
Michelle,
Thanks, I agree, simply put as well - what's my investment and what's my return on investment?
Jay Hollowell
All are important; however, the most important are the financial charges and the employability of graduates. How can a student be a wise consumer if they don't know the cost or the utility of something they are investing in? They can't!
Barbara,
Thanks, yes, they are all integral parts of extremely important disclosures, and as you reference, can cause dire consequences if the information is not fully and accurately disclosed.
Jay Hollowell
In trying to explain which are of misrepresentation are federally regulated, Nature of the Educational Program, Nature of Financial Charges, Employability of Graduates and Relationship with the Department of Education I feel all of them are equally important. The reason I say this is because each one can have a negative impact if not handled correctly.
Theodore,
Financial aid is a vital part of a student's education. It is the first step to being able to afford their education. Students should feel as confident in their knowledge about their own loans as they do about their career field.
Cindy Bryant
I feel Financial Aid has a very important part in helping a prospective student in understanding what it will take to move forward in the educational experience and therefore accuracy and honesty is extremely important.
I believe the most important is "Employ-ability of Graduates". While all the others are easily verifiable through documents available on line etc. Misrepresenting employment success ultimately has the most potential for distorting a prospects decision making process. Causing personal as well financial hardship if the ultimate goal of employment is not reached.
Asking which areas of misrepresentation is most important is like asking which part of a car is most important? The steering wheel, the breaks, the engine, the wheels and tires...? All have an intergral function. If any one area is misrepresented it would undermine the soundness of the decision involved in the time, financial and emotional commitment to the students coninued education; and therefore underscoring credibility of the institution.
I think that employability of graduates is ultimately the most important. If students cannot get a job in their chosen fields, they will have wasted valuable time and money getting their degree. In addition, the school's reputation is at stake. The Department of Education seems to be looking for private educational institutions to be increasing the placement rates of their graduates.
You cannot misprespresent a student.It will cost you in the long run.
I think the most important area a student needs to have made very clear is the relationship of the student and the Department of Education. The enrolling student, the enrolled student, the graduated student as well as the employed student are representing four different stages of that relationship. I believe it is easy to counsel students about the nature of their relationship with the Department of Education. However my experience has lead me to believe that misunderstandings in this area lead to some very harmful outcomes for a student with long term consequences
Brittany,
Thank you for sharing your insight on the process. You raise some very good points. The real issue is balance and boundaries and know how and where they begin.
Cindy Bryant
