Cupcat 9 | - Freelance Writer
Dec 14, 2018 | #1
For profit colleges are recent phenomena in which colleges and universities have gone from being public or private non-profit institutions to being for profit organizations that buy and sell stock on Wall Street and own massive amounts of property and other businesses. There are arguments for and against these phenomena. Some argue that for profit colleges are beneficial to students who either do not have the grades or access to the same financial aid as other students such as, undocumented aliens or students with General Equivalency Diplomas (GEDS) rather than regular high school diplomas.
PBS Frontline argues that these for profit colleges and universities are not beneficial to students. Many of them are unregulated by state and national educational boards. They offer online classes with poorly qualified professors at a high price for students. They often offer training in technical classes which need hands on rather than online experience such as, nursing or aeronautical mechanics and cater to those who do not qualify for traditional colleges for one reason or the other. They are supported by investors rather than by students and state and federal funding. He cites the example of Grand Canyon University, a for profit school supported by former General Electric Chairman, Jack Welch. (Frontline)
Frontline argues that public and private two and four year colleges are overcrowded and do not have either the funding or the staff and faculty to meet the demand student's are placing on colleges. Frontline further argues that a college diploma has become as much of a necessity as a high school diploma once was and that for-profit universities such as, the University of Phoenix have been proposed as a means of meeting the growing demands on colleges and universities. Frontline claims that while these schools do have some disadvantages (e.g. poorly qualified staff, or being unregulated) there are some advantages. For instance, many of these schools such as University of Phoenix cater to non-traditional students who are seeking degrees later on in life for reasons including, re-training after a job loss, not having attended college as a young adult, or obtaining a graduate degree. These schools offer programs for people with busy lives in the form of online classes over the computer or night and weekend classes in brick and mortar colleges. For profit schools also have the benefit of not having to wait for state and federal funds to build new classrooms, hire new professors, or improve things for the students.
In contrast Nocera argues that for profit colleges and universities are necessary for several reasons. First, these schools focus on a population that is rather neglected by public and private non-profit school e.g. working class or poor students of non-traditional college age. Nocera argues that many of these students do not have the academic qualifications to get into more traditional colleges and universities nor do they have access to colleges designed to meet the needs of non-traditional students who have not attended school in many years and who may be juggling the duel needs of family and employers. (NYT)
Nocera further claims that laws in place to regulate these schools are complicated and difficult to navigate both for the schools themselves and for the students attending them. This creates problems in that schools may or may not be in compliance with Department of Education laws surrounding colleges and universities. Nocera states that one for-profit founder has proposed simplifying laws by putting two simple laws in place. First, if a student defaults on their student loads schools should share in the financial loss along with the federal government. Second, college placement tests should be nationalized in order to ensure students have the literacy language and mathematical skills needed to attend college. Finally, Nocera argues that with record numbers of people attending colleges more traditional institutions simply are not designed to handle the load. They do not have the staff, the facilities or the money to handle the number of students wishing to attend school.
It can be concluded that both Frontline and Nocera support the idea of for-profit colleges though for very different reasons. Frontline argues that benefits of these schools from the perspective that many for-profit schools are designed to handle the needs of non-traditional students whereas; non-profit schools are not. In contrast Nocera argues from an economic standpoint and claims that for-profit colleges may be more cost-effective for non-traditional students who may not have the time or the means to attend more traditional colleges and universities who are unable to meet needs for evening, weekend or online courses.
Works Cited
Frontline:College Inc.
Nocera, Joe. Why we need for profit colleges.
PBS Frontline argues that these for profit colleges and universities are not beneficial to students. Many of them are unregulated by state and national educational boards. They offer online classes with poorly qualified professors at a high price for students. They often offer training in technical classes which need hands on rather than online experience such as, nursing or aeronautical mechanics and cater to those who do not qualify for traditional colleges for one reason or the other. They are supported by investors rather than by students and state and federal funding. He cites the example of Grand Canyon University, a for profit school supported by former General Electric Chairman, Jack Welch. (Frontline)Frontline argues that public and private two and four year colleges are overcrowded and do not have either the funding or the staff and faculty to meet the demand student's are placing on colleges. Frontline further argues that a college diploma has become as much of a necessity as a high school diploma once was and that for-profit universities such as, the University of Phoenix have been proposed as a means of meeting the growing demands on colleges and universities. Frontline claims that while these schools do have some disadvantages (e.g. poorly qualified staff, or being unregulated) there are some advantages. For instance, many of these schools such as University of Phoenix cater to non-traditional students who are seeking degrees later on in life for reasons including, re-training after a job loss, not having attended college as a young adult, or obtaining a graduate degree. These schools offer programs for people with busy lives in the form of online classes over the computer or night and weekend classes in brick and mortar colleges. For profit schools also have the benefit of not having to wait for state and federal funds to build new classrooms, hire new professors, or improve things for the students.
In contrast Nocera argues that for profit colleges and universities are necessary for several reasons. First, these schools focus on a population that is rather neglected by public and private non-profit school e.g. working class or poor students of non-traditional college age. Nocera argues that many of these students do not have the academic qualifications to get into more traditional colleges and universities nor do they have access to colleges designed to meet the needs of non-traditional students who have not attended school in many years and who may be juggling the duel needs of family and employers. (NYT)
Nocera further claims that laws in place to regulate these schools are complicated and difficult to navigate both for the schools themselves and for the students attending them. This creates problems in that schools may or may not be in compliance with Department of Education laws surrounding colleges and universities. Nocera states that one for-profit founder has proposed simplifying laws by putting two simple laws in place. First, if a student defaults on their student loads schools should share in the financial loss along with the federal government. Second, college placement tests should be nationalized in order to ensure students have the literacy language and mathematical skills needed to attend college. Finally, Nocera argues that with record numbers of people attending colleges more traditional institutions simply are not designed to handle the load. They do not have the staff, the facilities or the money to handle the number of students wishing to attend school.
It can be concluded that both Frontline and Nocera support the idea of for-profit colleges though for very different reasons. Frontline argues that benefits of these schools from the perspective that many for-profit schools are designed to handle the needs of non-traditional students whereas; non-profit schools are not. In contrast Nocera argues from an economic standpoint and claims that for-profit colleges may be more cost-effective for non-traditional students who may not have the time or the means to attend more traditional colleges and universities who are unable to meet needs for evening, weekend or online courses.
Works Cited
Frontline:College Inc.
Nocera, Joe. Why we need for profit colleges.