National Advisory Council on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) on Accreditation to the Department of Education
January 20, 2022 Herman Bounds Director, Accreditation Group Office of Postsecondary Education U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202 Dear Director Bounds: We submit this letter on behalf of the undersigned [...]
Inside Higher Ed: Judging a Degree by the Program, Not the College
Two new studies examine which degree programs at which institutions offer graduates the best chance of recouping their costs and repaying their loans. Read the full Inside Higher Ed story here.
Bloomberg Businessweek: Apollo Doubles Its Money in $1 Billion Bet on Tarnished Colleges
“We haven’t seen anything that would indicate a dramatic change in their behavior,” says Aniela Szymanski, a senior director at Veterans Education Success, a research and advocacy group. “It is kind of disappointing when we [...]
USA Today: A College Closed, Upending One Veteran’s Life. Two Years Later, He’s Still Rebuilding
"Harrison didn’t know the safeguards he’d depended on were not as solid as they appeared. For example, the Veterans Affairs Department doesn’t track how well a university prepares its students for the workforce, said Carrie [...]
Policy Makers Need Additional Data to Better Understand Postsecondary Outcomes for Undergraduate Veterans of Color
Source: National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey, 2016. Blog Post By: Walter Ochinko May 2021 Our report, Postsecondary Outcomes for Veterans of Color, compares their outcomes to those of their white veteran counterparts using U.S. [...]
Battle Borne: Trade School Scams, Trucking, and the Uncertain Future of Veteran Work
"One of the few available analyses into G.I. Bill-eligible trade schools comes from the policy non-profit Veterans Education Success (VES). In a 2019 report, they found that ten years after their trade schooling, less than half of [...]
Diverse Issues in Higher Education: NACAC Creates Committee to Improve Financial Aid and College Admissions Systems for Racial Equity
"The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has announced a committee to reimagine financial aid and college admissions in the pursuit of racial equity in postsecondary education. Members include... Kendra Allen, associate director of [...]
Senators raise GI Bill questions at nomination hearing for VA Nominee Denis McDonough
In case you missed our live-tweeting, Senators asked important GI Bill questions of VA Secretary Nominee Denis McDonough at his confirmation hearing on January 27, 2021. We are grateful that Senators on both sides of [...]
Press Release: Veterans Education Success Petitions the Federal Trade Commission to Investigate For-Profit Colleges and Controversial Lead Generators
For Immediate Release Contact: Aniela Szymanski, Senior Director of Legal Affairs and Military Policy | [email protected] June 24, 2020 Veterans Education Success Petitions the Federal Trade Commission to Investigate For-Profit Colleges and Controversial Lead [...]
Press Release: Veterans Education Success and The Century Foundation Release Toolkit for State Policymakers to Better Protect Veterans & Military-Connected Students in Higher Education
For Immediate Release Contact: Carrie Wofford, President, and Ramond Curtis, State Policy Manager, Veterans Education Success (202) 838-5050 Alex Edwards, Director of Communications, The Century Foundation, [email protected], (810) 986-0880 May 29, 2020 Veterans Education [...]
Washington Post: VA Plans to Suspend University of Phoenix and Other Colleges from Accessing GI Bill Benefits
“We’re grateful VA intends to suspend enrollment of new GI Bill students at these institutions,” said Carrie Wofford, president of Veterans Education Success, an advocacy group. “This sends a powerful message … that the federal [...]
Our Statement for the Record: Legislative Priorities for 2020
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES SUBMITTED TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES ON VETERANS AFFAIRS SECOND SESSION 116TH CONGRESS March 9, 2020 Chairmen Moran and Takano, Ranking Members Tester and Bilirakis, and Members of [...]
Stars & Stripes: VA to Suspend Some GI Bill Enrollments, Holding Back More Than $200 Million from ‘Deceptive’ Universities
“We’re grateful VA intends to suspend enrollment of new GI Bill students at these institutions. This sends a powerful message, one we’ve been advocating for VA to exercise since 2012, that the federal government and [...]
New York Times: Protect Veterans from Fraud
On January 1, 2020, the New York Times ran a full-page editorial by the Editorial Board featuring Veterans Education Success' work: "Nevertheless, a 2018 report from Veterans Education Success, a nonprofit that provides legal help [...]
Report from New America: “The Bermuda Triad: Where Accountability Goes to Die”
New America released a report detailing the role of the Triad (federal government, states, accreditors) in holding institutions of higher education accountable and provided recommendations for how to strengthen the Triad. Link here.
Georgetown Center on Education & the Workforce: A First Try at ROI: Ranking 4,500 Colleges
Using data from the expanded College Scorecard to rank 4,500 colleges and universities by return on investment, A First Try at ROI: Ranking 4,500 Colleges finds that bachelor's degrees from private colleges, on average, have higher [...]
Joint Press Release: Veterans & Military Service Organizations Response to Sen. Alexander’s Higher Education Legislation
October 19, 2019 For Immediate Release Contact: Tanya Ang | Vice President | (202) 838-5050 Lauren Augustine | Vice President of Government Relations (SVA) | (703) 772-9919 Barrett Y. Bogue | Senior Communication Advisor | [...]
Politico: How to fix education’s racial inequalities, one tweak at a time
PASADENA—Last fall, when introductory biology professors at Pasadena City College erased a rule banning late assignments or makeup exams, their colleagues joked that students would soon have imaginary grandmas perishing every weekend. In years past, [...]
House Veterans Chairman Takano’s statement on VA’s suspension of California SAA
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the Department of Veterans’ Affairs decided to break with the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education [...]
VA’s FOIA response re FTC referral for investigation of deceptive practices
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released the following documents in response to a Freedom of Information Act request regarding any VA referrals of schools to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for investigation [...]
Comstock’s Magazine: Lobbying Blitz Stymies California’s Crackdown on For-Profit Schools
Ramond Curtis, the state policy manager for the advocacy group Veterans Education Success, said he felt outgunned. His group supported Assembly Bill 1343 by Asm. Susan Eggman, aimed at closing a loophole in federal law that [...]
TICAS Updated Gainful Employment Rule Fact Sheet (August 2019)
The Institute for College Access and Success published an updated "What to Know About the Gainful Employment Rule,"which worked to improve quality, lower costs, and save taxpayer money. The Trump Administration rescinded the rule on [...]
Our Oral Testimony July 17 House Veterans Economic Subcommittee Hearing on Proposed Legislation
Oral testimony of our Senior Advisor, retired Army Col. Robert Norton, who testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee's hearing on proposed legislation, including many bills we collaborated on to improve GI Bill college quality [...]
Our Written Testimony for July 17 House Veterans Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Hearing on Proposed Legislation
Written testimony of our Senior Advisor, retired Army Col. Robert Norton, before the House Veterans Affairs Committee's hearing on proposed legislation, including many bills we collaborated on to improve GI Bill college quality and student [...]
On the 75th Anniversary of the GI Bill, Military-Connected Students Need The College Transparency Act
Note: This post was originally published by The Institute for Higher Education Policy on June 22, 2019. On the 75th Anniversary of the GI Bill, Military-Connected Students Need The College Transparency Act By Tanya Ang, [...]
Washington Denies Ashford University’s Application to Recruit, Advertise, or Offer Field Placements to Students
On May 3, 2019, the Washington Student Achievement Council notified Ashford University that it is not permitted to engage in any actions that constitute "operating" in Washington, as defined in the state's Degree-Granting Institutions Act. [...]
Written Testimony from Veteran Tom Corbett to US Senate HELP Committee for Hearing on HEA Act
VES submitted written testimony of Air Force veteran Tom Corbett to the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, regarding his insights as a for-profit college executive about for-profit colleges’ abuses of students [...]
Opening a Dangerous Floodgate: A Former For-Profit College Executive Says the Education Department Shouldn’t Weaken College Oversight
Thomas Corbett, a former for-profit college executive, speaks out against plans by the U.S. Department of Education to weaken requirements for oversight of college quality.
Republic Report: Clash Over Ashford Univ. Casts Doubt On VA Protection of Students
"The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is charged by law and principle with shielding veterans from predatory abuses — deceptive recruiting, high prices, low-quality programs — by colleges seeking to profit off the GI Bill, [...]
Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Senate Democratic Committee principles
“Go back and say to your children and to your grandchildren, and those who come after you and follow you—tell them that we have made a promise to them. Tell them that the truth is [...]
Press Release: Veterans and Military Service Organizations Urge Education Department Not to Rollback Student Protections and Quality Controls in Program Integrity Rules
September 14, 2018 For Immediate Release: Contact: Carrie Wofford, (202) 838-5050 Veterans and Military Service Organizations Urge Education Department Not to Rollback Student Protections and Quality Controls in Program Integrity Rules Veterans also Travel [...]
Press Release: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ Rescission of Gainful Employment Fails Statutory Obligation to Stop Waste, Fraud, and Abuse and to Protect Taxpayer Dollars – and Knowingly Puts Veterans and Servicemembers at Risk
September 13, 2018 For Immediate Release: Contact: Carrie Wofford, (202) 838-5050 Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ Rescission of Gainful Employment Fails Statutory Obligation to Stop Waste, Fraud, and Abuse and to Protect Taxpayer Dollars – and [...]
Our Public Comment Opposing the Rescission of Gainful Employment
Public Comment by VES against the Education Department’s proposal to completely rescind the requirement that career college programs meet minimum Gainful Employment metrics
Press Release: Our Full-Page Ad for the Military Lending Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 CONTACT: Dom Slowey, 781-710-0014 [email protected] Mike Saunders: 202-838-5050 [email protected] Veterans & Military Service Organizations Urge CFPB & DOD Not To Rollback Servicemembers' Protections Under the Military Lending Act WASHINGTON [...]
The Washington Examiner: Don’t Lower Standards for Federally Subsidized For-Profit Colleges
Conservatives complained a lot about Barack Obama when he was president. But not everything he did was bad. One of the things Obama did that actually made a lot of sense was try to stop [...]
Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Veterans Education Success Statement for the Record
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the Higher Education Act Reauthorization. “These colleges are approved by the government; you think they must be good, butthey're not. Schools taking our GI Bill and [...]
Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Senate Republican Committee white paper
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is working on a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The law dates to 1965 and has been reauthorized 8 times. The last reauthorization occurred in [...]
Education Department Hearing: Video of Tanya Ang, Veterans Education Success
Good morning. I am Tanya Ang, Director of Policy and Outreach at Veterans Education Success. Our mission is to protect and defend the integrity and priority of the GI Bill and other federal education programs [...]
The Denver Post: DeVos Should Keep Rules Targeting For-Profit Colleges
For-profit colleges have their place in higher education, but too many operators have proved to be incredibly bad actors over the years, making reasonable rules meant to protect students the smart play.
U.S. Government Accountability Office: U.S. Education Department Should Address Oversight and Communication Gaps in Its Monitoring of the Financial Condition of Schools
The Department of Education (Education) reviews the annual audits of postsecondary schools to assess compliance with financial responsibility standards for schools that participate in federal student aid programs and increases its oversight of schools that [...]
Greensboro News & Record: Opinion: Debt But No Degree
The Trump administration set out to reverse federal regulations developed by its predecessor, and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is following that directive. Last month, she froze a rule that would help students get out of [...]
Boston Globe: Fighting Back Against For-Profit Universities
When Stephano Del Rose enrolled in the New England Institute of Art in Brookline, he had bold dreams of a future in Web design and filmmaking. Lured by promises of cutting-edge digital equipment, internships, and [...]
New York Times: Keep For-Profit Schools on a Short Leash
Editorial Keep For-Profit Schools on a Short Leash By The Editorial Board May 1, 2017 For-profit colleges that leave students with crushing debt and useless degrees must be feeling optimistic. They have longed to escape [...]
Inside Higher Ed: Feds Release Financial Responsibility Scores
The U.S. Department of Education this week released the annual update of its financial responsibility test scores for private colleges, which is based on data from 2014-15. The 187 institutions that have a failing score -- most [...]
Here Are the Programs That Failed the Gainful-Employment Rule
For the first time, U.S. Department of Education on Monday released the names of programs and institutions that failed accountability standards for the new gainful-employment rule. Over 800 programs that failed the department’s standards risk losing federal [...]
New York Times: A Conveyor Belt of Dropouts and Debt at For-Profit Colleges
As college attendance has risen and investment in public institutions has flagged, the United States has relied increasingly on for-profit colleges, with disastrous consequences for many students. For-profits, once a tiny corner of higher education, [...]
Huffington Post: For A Day, Broke Students Win
In a world of mass shootings, Brexit, and a looming dramatic presidential election, the deliberations of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity would hardly seem to matter. But, yesterday, it did.
Press Release: Veterans and Advocates Join Sen. Carper on Capitol Hill, Urge Congress to Close “90/10 Loophole”
June 22, 2016 For Immediate Release Contact: Carrie Wofford Veterans and Advocates Join Sen. Carper on Capitol Hill, Urge Congress to Close “90/10 Loophole” Closing loophole would protect G.I Bill funds and service members’ education [...]
Des Moines Register: Opinion: For-Profit Colleges Are a Bad Deal for Many
Like everything from cell phones to financial services, higher education is a heavily marketed product. Students and their families are customers. By now most Iowans should be cautious about buying what for-profit colleges are selling.
Newsweek: Opinion: Having Final Four at University of Phoenix is Madness
The madness is over. A NCAA basketball champion has been crowned for the 2016 season, and the Villanova men’s team is back on campus, their “One Shining Moment” now just a memory. And yet, the [...]
Politico: VA Watchers Want More GI Bill Oversight
VA WATCHERS WANT MORE GI BILL OVERSIGHT: The Veterans Affairs Department’s advisory committee on education wants the agency to improve how it oversees the Principles of Excellence program rolled out by President Barack Obama [http://1.usa.gov/1W68KlU] in [...]
HuffPost Education: Students Testify: For-Profit Colleges Stole Our Futures
After six years of engagement on the issue of America’s predatory for-profit colleges, I feel I’ve seen it all — every kind of account of students deceived and abused by cynical college operators who have [...]
The Spokesman Review: Editorial: For-profit colleges a bad bargain
Federal and state governments are intensifying efforts to ensure that taxpayer dollars spent at for-profit colleges are benefiting students as much as the businesses. Students at these colleges have a poor track record for achieving [...]
PBS NewsHour: Are for-profit universities taking advantage of veterans?
Since 2009, the G.I. Bill has paid up to $21,000 a year of college tuition for those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Much of that money, though, goes to for-profit schools, which award degrees [...]
U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions: Is the New GI Bill Working? For-Profit Colleges Increasing Veteran Enrollment and Federal Funds (2014)
Almost three years ago the HELP Committee determined that eight of the top 10 recipients of veterans’ educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits were large, publicly traded companies that operate for-profit colleges. A [...]
Inside Higher Ed: Backed Into A Corner
As the Obama administration weighs public comment on its second proposal to more tightly regulate for-profit colleges, the industry is once again fighting in earnest to fend off the regulations.
U.S. News & World Report: Veterans Benefit From the ‘Power of the Pen’
CRITICS DERIDED AS “small stuff” President Obama’s announcement in his State of the Union address that he would focus less time on Congress (given its current ineffectiveness) and more time on his executive power, wielding the [...]
U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions: For Profit Higher Education: The Failure to Safeguard the Federal Investment and Ensure Student Success
Between June 2010 and July 2012, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin conducted an in-depth oversight investigation focusing exclusively on the for-profit sector of higher education. Theinvestigation was undertaken to better understand the enormous growth [...]
New York Times: Education is the Last Thing on Their Minds
The for-profit education industry complained of excessive regulation last fall when the Obama administration issued new rules intended to curb abuses at profit-making colleges and trade schools. But lawsuits brought by whistle-blowers with firsthand knowledge [...]
New York Times: Rules for Gainful Education
The Obama administration has already adopted several new rules that will give the Department of Education more authority to rein in corrupt practices by for-profit universities. But the most crucial rule, the “gainful employment” provision, [...]
New York Times: Who Profits? Who Learns?
Enrollment at for-profit colleges and trade schools has tripled in the last decade to about 1.8 million, or nearly 10 percent of the nation’s higher education students. These schools, partly because they serve poorer students [...]