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

​A new survey commissioned by Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) found that an overwhelming majority of respondents agreed that HEERF funds, distributed as part of the bipartisan CARES Act, have had a positive impact on students’ ability to adapt and succeed in the face of challenges associated with COVID-19. According to more than 75 percent of respondents, access to HEERF funds had a positive or extremely positive impact on:

• Student ability to attend class;
• Student ability to complete assignments and engage with course materials;
• Instructor ability to teach effectively;
• Student ability to balance work, education, and family responsibilities; and
• Access to campus resources.

 
The survey also found that the majority of represented institutions had spent more than the mandated 50 percent of HEERF funds on emergency financial aid grants for students, and that receiving HEERF funds enabled institutions to increase support for their students in the face of unprecedented obstacles, including resources for emotional and psychological health. 
 
“The shift to distance education has taken a significant toll on proprietary institutions and has been a source of stress for many of the sector’s nearly 2 million students,” said CECU President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire, “Although bold action such as the CARES Act has been pivotal to alleviating the burden posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, CECU urges lawmakers to remain invested in the success of students across the nation by providing additional funding to students enrolled at proprietary institutions. These are real people with real needs. As our survey shows, it is money well spent.”
 
The findings are clear: Initiatives like the CARES Act enable proprietary institutions to empower their students to continue their education without sacrificing their responsibilities at work and at home. Safer on-campus environments, emergency aid to those who need it most, and access to quality distance learning resources have resulted in an increase in retention and student success. While CECU supports bold action like the CARES Act, we will continue to advocate for additional funding on behalf of private proprietary institutions and their students. 

Full survey results and methodology available here. 

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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) President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire had this to say in response to the release of a Government Accountability Office report on For-Profit conversions:
 
“CECU supports the long overdue review of this important issue, as it highlights the need to improve processes at the IRS and Department of Education. Like the congressional leaders who requested this report, we are committed to putting students and educational outcomes first when ownership conversions occur."
 
Altmire continued, "The higher education landscape is shifting, as market disruptors continue to develop innovative practices to better serve students. With these disruptions, we will continue to see ownership conversions and innovative partnerships that require approval by regulators. We must have confidence that the Department and IRS are reviewing these deals carefully and that they continue to monitor for compliance after the transactions have closed. We look forward to working with congressional and regulatory leaders to implement these reforms in a way that protects students and guarantees accountability across all schools in all sectors.”
 
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BACKGROUND:
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) supports the work of our members in providing access, opportunity and quality education to students seeking new or enhanced career skills. The association engages in advocacy, communications, professional development and research that advance the work of this sector.
 
Please direct media inquiries to Rachel Tripp, Director of Communications, at Rachel.Tripp@career.org