CECU Daily Update Email

​IKYMI: CECU News
Letter to the American Council on Education on the National Task Force on Transfer of Credit - Career Education Colleges and Universities
“Although we commend the formation of the task force, we are disappointed in the lack of institutional diversity amongst the task force’s membership,” said CECU President and CEO Steve Gunderson. CECU calls on ACE to add leaders from the proprietary sector whose institutions focus on postsecondary career education

---

​Member Spotlight
San Joaquin Valley College announces new Santa Maria campus, acquires Santa Barbara Business College – Santa Maria Times
San Joaquin Valley College announced a new Santa Maria campus located on Plaza Drive, in a space that will be shared for the time being with students from the recently-acquired Santa Barbara Business College.

Upcoming Webinar
The Overlooked Value of Certificates and Associate's Degrees: What Students Need to Know Before They Go to College
March 4th | 2PM EST
Presenter: Anthony P. Carnevale, Founder and Director, Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce
Register here
On January 28th, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce released a new report that examines the labor-market value of associate's degrees and certificate programs, finding that field of study especially influences future earnings for these programs since they are tightly linked with specific occupations. The Overlooked Value of Certificates and Associate's Degrees: What Students Need to Know Before They Go to College also reveals that the combined number of certificates and associate's degrees awarded by colleges is similar to the number of bachelor's degrees awarded—around 2 million per year—with certificates and associate's degrees each accounting for about 1 million. Certificate and associate's degree programs are linked strongly to careers—about 94% of certificates and 57% of associate's degrees are career-oriented. The enrollment trends by program type and the demographics of those enrolled show that more students are enrolled in certificate and associate's degree programs than in bachelor's degree programs, and that students in these programs are disproportionately racial and ethnic minorities. ​

​Career Education News
Grand Canyon Education’s stock price drops after critical report from investment firm – azcentral
The stock price of Phoenix-based Grand Canyon Education has lost more than 10% of its value since an investment firm published a critical report of the company late last month that alleges securities-law fraud. More Info »
 
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions students open pro bono clinic – Daily Herald
A new student-run, pro bono physical therapy clinic is working to help reduce pain in the community. “We are very excited to see patients,” said Calvin Lee, a student pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

​Education News
Upskilling Health-Care Workers – Inside Higher Ed
Certified nursing assistants are necessary as the population ages, but the work isn’t high paying. How do health-care programs create faster pathways toward good jobs?
 
7 college presidents share their biggest challenges for 2020 – Education Dive
College executives given the opportunity last year to opine on higher education leadership for our President Speaks series focused on how they seized new opportunities and overcame challenges on their campuses. You can read those columns here. 

​Education Politics and Policy
Representatives Trahan, Dean, and Hayes Introduce the Accreditation Reform Act
This bill has been endorsed by the Center for American Progress (CAP), New America Higher Education Program, The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS), Third Way, and Higher Learning Advocates.
 
‘Preach it, sister!’ Why the Trump base loves Betsy DeVos – Politico
Betsy DeVos may be one of the most hated members of Donald Trump’s Cabinet, constantly mocked by Democrats on the campaign trail. But away from the multitudes of critics and protesters, DeVos is being deployed like a rock star at Trump events as he makes a concerted push on education issues.
 
Democrats blast consumer bureau over student loan oversight agreement with DeVos – The Hill
The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took heat from Democrats on Thursday over an agreement made with the Education Department (ED) that critics say does little to safeguard those with student loans. 

​Financial Aid and Student Issues
Feds to give former Art Institute students a new opportunity for loan forgiveness – The Washington Post
Former students of a now-defunct chain of art schools who remain saddled with federal loans have a better chance of that debt being erased under an arrangement confirmed Thursday by the Education Department.