Many times, financial aid is the final determining factor for a student in the enrollment process. This can foster a pressure for the financial aid representative to "make it happen" but due to our strict guidelines and regulations, it is the financial aid rep's responsibility to make sure all information reported is factual and accurate, regardless if it works in the student's favor or not.
Joy,
Many people would agree with you, maybe the level of importance comes into play based on what is most important to the student. The student may not pay attention to an incorrect statement regarding the equipment but will more than likely pay close attention to employment percentages. That in it's self may create a hierarchy of importance?
Cindy Bryant
Is is possible to place one of higher importance than the other? All are equally important. All demand attention to complete disclosure, clear and concise delivery of the message.
Learning outcomes that would directly impact the placement ratio.
Ramon,
Thank you for bringing up the supervisors role in mitigating problems within the admissions department. Everyone understands that key metrics are measured and affect a performance review. However an effective supervisor is able to counter balance the pressure of such metrics and coach their team accordingly. On the other hand if the position is not a good fit for the employee there will always be an internal struggle to meet the metrics and no matter how much coaching occurs you will not be able to turn that into a positive situation.
Cindy Bryant
Jennifer,
Thank you for joining the forum. Student employment is critical for two reasons 1) this is the students ultimate goal 2) Without employment students are not able to pay back their loans. This perpetuates not only the students problems but the school as well in areas of default and accreditation.
Cindy Bryant
All of them are important, but if I had to narrow it down I would say Nature of Financial Charges and Employability of Graduates. Prospective students should be given accurate information in regards to the likelihood of finding employment and how much they are required to pay back monthly after graduation in order to determine if they would be possibly be comfortable financially in repaying student loans.
Yes, in addition the pressure is on the recruiters and effective supervison must be in place to mitigate problems with misrepresentation.
Ramon,
Agreed, misrepresentation regulations are very clear but this regulation is the easiest to circumvent and create problems for the institution.
Cindy Bryant
The detail Federal Regulations dealing with misrepresentations and disclouses are the two areas that I consider most important. The definition of misrepresentation is clear but in practice proper training of our employees is central to compliance.
Mirtha,
Poor financial advisement or planning can be devastating to anyone. Everyone has the right to fully understand their indebtedness. Thanks for your response.
Cindy Bryant
I would say that I feel even though ALL of these are extremely important, I would go with the Nature of Financial Charges because when students start taking out loans and they really don't understand what the means or details, it may cause a problem in the future. Taking out loans for school is like buying a car or a home that will have monthly payments. This must be made so clear with students in regards to wkly payments, monthly payments and or futrue payments because students will need to make a budget and or adjustments to their life style.
I would say that even though ALL of these are extremely important, but I would have to say the Financial Charges. Students although they are getting loans to pay for the school, they most also include that it is money that needs to be paid back. I feel that this area should be very clear with the student because it may not affect the student while they attend school but afterwards when the start getting the bills.
Jeanette,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with the forum group. The goal of Program Integrity rules is to create transparency so students can make an informed decision about their education.
Cindy Bryant
I believe that they are all equally important, as any of these misrepresentations can lead to the prospective student losing trust in the school and worst, law suits.
These are all areas that should be federally regulated as each of them is crucial to our students as they enroll, as they receive training and as they graduate. Making a decision to make changes in your life that will improve the quality of your life is a big decision and it is vital we provide accurate and complete information so they are informed consumers and successful citizens in whatever program they select.
I feel that the EMplyability of Graduates is one of the most important to understand and effectively discuss with potential students, because this ecompasses the reasons behind why a student looks for education and assistance with learning a new skill.
Knowing the factual information about employment, and how that directly impacts a potential student can be a determining factor in choosing an institution and as well, the program or course offering a student may likely go in to.
Being forthright and factual about the Department of Labor and Statistics information as well as providing our school's graduation rate as well as placement rate, is key in providing a proper respresentation of the school and what we offer.
Danielle,
Hi. For your position disclosing how tuition is effected by federal funds is critical. The root of several student complaints is the failure to understand their federal aid or institutional payments.
Cindy Bryant
For me Cindy the nature of Financial charges is most important because I work in the Financial aid office and if a student is misqouted as price and I am charging something different...well I think you see the issue.
While all of these are important, as a career service adviser, I feel Employability of Graduates is the most relative, therefore important to me for two reasons. For one, just the fact that we have to report these numbers gives credence to our college and the programs we provide. We only keep programs that have a viable need in the local community. We cannot and should not misrepresent these numbers – and anytime we report an actually percentage, it must be supported. It is easy for a prospective student to hear what they want to hear. It is also easily misleading since reporting periods vary: annual reviews vs. current cohorts; start dates vs. graduation dates. Reason number two: we must be aware that all prospective students, active and graduated all see and hear what they want to hear. They will know that their father or uncle is making X amount of dollars, so that must be the same for them. Referring them to disclosure statements and the BLS.gov reminds them that each employer, despite industry, hires on a case by case system. Unless the graduate enters the military, nearly all companies have salary ranges that they work within and base that on a series of reasons. These disclosures, as well as ensuring the student understands them, are very important.
