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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Arlington, Va. -- CECU President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire, had this to say following news of the House passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021:
 
“Although the bill passed along party lines, we are pleased Congress was able to work in a bipartisan way to resolve the issues of concern to our schools and students. Original versions of the stimulus proposal failed to include emergency financial aid grants for students attending proprietary schools, while the House-passed bill contained an onerous and punitive measure that would have limited educational opportunities for service members and veterans. Both issues were resolved through bipartisan negotiation and we are looking forward to similar cooperation on future issues. We appreciate the continued support of our students during this global pandemic and will continue to advocate for equity of higher education funding across sectors.”
 

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

Arlington, Va. -- CECU President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire, had this to say following the decision by the Senate parliamentarian to keep the House 90/10 language in the COVID-19 relief package:

“We continue to oppose this provision, which limits the education options of our brave men and women who have served our country and earned these benefits. It is unconscionable to exploit the COVID-19 relief bill as a vehicle to deny veterans and active-duty service members the right to use their earned benefits on the career school of their choice.”


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

CECU President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire had this to say in response to  Miguel Cardona’s confirmation as Secretary of Education: 

“CECU congratulates Dr. Cardona on his well-deserved bipartisan confirmation. We look forward to working with him to ensure all post-secondary students have access to the school of their choice and that all schools in all sectors are held accountable to the same standards.” 


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

CECU President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire, had this to say in response to news that President Biden has nominated James Kvaal to become Education Under Secretary: 

"James Kvaal’s long history in higher education policy makes him highly qualified to serve as Under Secretary. We join him in advocating for all students and holding all schools accountable for outcomes. We hope he agrees that any measures intended to address these issues should apply to all schools in all sectors. CECU congratulates Mr. Kvaal on his nomination, and stands ready to work with him to ensure students in all sectors are able to access high-quality educational and career opportunities."

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BACKGROUND: 
CECU learned today that President Biden has nominated James Kvaal to become Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education. Kvaal, who most recently acted as President of The Institute for College Access and Success, previously served as the Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor in the Obama White House, and in senior roles at the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and the U.S. Department of Education.

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