Arlington, Va. -- Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire today delivered the association's comments to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the upcoming negotiated rulemaking.
The testimony emphasized CECU's support for accountability for schools and protection of students, and encouraged the Department to consider alternative accountability measures that will apply to all sectors of higher education and protect all students equally.

Dr. Altmire had this to say about the proceedings:

"During this week’s hearings, we heard too many students recount emotional stories of unmanageable loan debt, overly bureaucratic processes, and broken promises. We must recognize these systemic challenges faced by all sectors of higher education and collectively work to implement common-sense reforms that apply to all institutions equally. CECU looks forward to partnering with the Department and other stakeholders to ensure that all higher education institutions, regardless of tax status, provide the outcomes that students and taxpayers expect and deserve."

Dr. Altmire's testimony also articulated the association's stance on gainful employment, borrower defense, and the importance of working together to ensure that student needs are met across sectors.

A copy of the full written testimony can be viewed here.
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BACKGROUND:

On May 24, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced its intent to establish multiple negotiated rulemaking committees to prepare proposed regulations for the Title IV, HEA programs. The announcement included the suggested topics for regulation, a public hearing schedule, and instructions for how institutions and other stakeholders can participate in the rulemaking process.
CECU strongly encouraged members and all other proprietary institutions and stakeholders to participate in the Title IV rulemaking.

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​Please direct media inquiries to Rachel Tripp, Director of Communications, at Rachel.Tripp@career.org

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Arlington, Va. -- Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) today announced its official membership in The Section 127 Coalition to Preserve Employer Provided Education Assistance.

The Section 127 Coalition is a broad coalition of business, labor, and education organizations dedicated to expanding and strengthening Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows employers to offer education assistance to employees as a benefit on a tax-free basis.

CECU President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire had this to say about the partnership:

“Section 127 funding provides employers the opportunity to invest in their workforce, while also allowing employees to advance their education and skills. CECU looks forward to working with our fellow Section 127 Coalition members to preserve and expand these employer-provided education benefits and to advocate for students.”

Learn more about The Section 127 Coalition here.
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Arlington, Va. -- Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the QASPIR (Quality Assurance Strategic Planning Institutional Research) to offer professional development opportunities to its members.
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The MoU aims to enhance collaboration between the two organizations and to leverage QASPIR’s professional development platform Qedex.  The partnership will broaden the scope of professional development offerings to CECU members and provide a diverse range of hybrid and online training programs geared towards career education institutions. The MoU also calls for strengthening cooperation through mutually promoting each party’s offerings, webinars and other networking events.
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Mr. Stuart Blacklock, CEO of QASPIR, shared, "Our partnership with CECU comes very naturally as both our organizations provide complementing services.  It comes when professional development is becoming more accepted as a way to improve how students learn and improve institutional performance.  With our focus on leadership, faculty and staff professional development through our platform Qedex, combined with CECUs commitment to supporting their member's institutions, we can offer a unique and compelling opportunity.  We both believe an institution is only as good as its people, and with both CECU and QASPIRs strong reputation, we will continue to assist institutions in their pursuit of improved student learning, retention and graduation." 
 
Kelley Blanchard, Senior Vice President of Professional Development & Engagement of CECU stated, “We are thrilled to partner with QASPIR to expand our professional development offerings to members. This collaboration comes at a time when our institutions are navigating transitions back to the classroom while continuing to develop and enhance hybrid learning. Our institution leaders and instructors are charged with the training and development of our students and CECU is proud to offer this new partnership to invest in their professional development.“   
 
Qedex is a unique platform whose vision is equitable , accessible, and affordable professional development in higher education. With this partnership, CECU members can enroll their instructors and staff at a specially agreed rate that provides unlimited access to courses over a one-year period.  Qedex will be adding hundreds of courses over the next three years focusing on leadership as well as faculty and staff development.  With institutions joining from all around the world, it is clear that affordability of professional development is a global challenge that creates several barriers to career development.  Qedex is rethinking professional development and is rapidly becoming the champion of equal opportunities for all in faculty and staff. 

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​Please direct media inquiries to Rachel Tripp, Director of Communications, at Rachel.Tripp@career.org

Arlington, Va. -- Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) today sent a letter to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) recommending that MHEC interpret Maryland state 90/10 laws to be consonant with the new federal 90/10 law, as amended by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Such an interpretation would ensure that proprietary institutions in Maryland are not required to comply with two different 90/10 rules, as the Maryland definition of “federal funds” is potentially divergent from the federal definition.

The letter, which was co-signed by several schools that would be directly affected by the Maryland law, outlines why efforts to further regulate proprietary schools via stringent state 90/10 laws may be prohibited under federal law. CECU also demonstrates why the Maryland law would be preempted by federal law if MHEC takes an alternative interpretation.
Although this letter specifically pertains to the new Maryland law, the message of federal preemption applies to any state that may be considering legislative changes affecting proprietary schools.
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“State regulations that conflict with and are duplicative of federal law do not advance any legitimate purpose,” said CECU President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire, “States should not be regulating on matters that deal entirely with federal education programs, as Congress is better situated to make such policy decisions. We hope this action will dissuade other states that may be inclined to adopt harmful federal market revenue rules that have nothing to do with academic quality and lack a sufficient state nexus.”

The full letter is available here.

BACKGROUND
In May 2020, the Veterans’ Education Protection Act was enacted into law in the state of Maryland. The law purported to close the 90/10 “loophole” by including “federal funds” in the numerator of the 90/10 equation. Under the new law, if an institution does not comply with this requirement, the institution would be prohibited from enrolling new Maryland residents beginning in 2023.


The Veterans’ Education Protection Act required the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to promulgate implementing regulations by December 1, 2020. MHEC did not meet that statutory deadline.

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​Please direct media inquiries to Rachel Tripp, Director of Communications, at Rachel.Tripp@career.org

Arlington, Va. -- Throughout his nearly 30-year career in Congress, Congressman Alcee Hastings was a renowned source of strong and influential leadership. A staunch advocate for his constituents, he was willing to listen to both sides and reach across the aisle on issues most critical to the communities he represented. He will be remembered as a rare champion for those whose voice is most often forgotten - those in need and those who are most vulnerable. He will be sorely missed in South Florida, in Washington, and across the nation.

Congressman Hastings was a longtime champion of schools in the proprietary sector, recognizing them as a venue for life-changing opportunities for those who might otherwise have no options to pursue higher education. His support of career and technical education was unparalleled in Congress. His leadership made a tremendous difference for students, communities, and the workforce. All of us at CECU mourn his passing and extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Patricia, his children, and his extended family. May they be comforted by the knowledge that Alcee’s was a life well lived, positively impacting countless others and leaving a lasting legacy of achievement rare for anyone in public life.

“I am deeply saddened to learn about Alcee’s passing,” said CECU President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire, a former colleague of Hastings’ in the U.S. House of Representatives, “He approached his final battle the way he approached everything in his life – with tenacity, strength, and grace. His legacy will carry forward forever. May he rest in peace.”

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