CECU Expresses Deep Disappointment in House Democrat Proposal

Steve Gunderson, President & CEO of Career Education Colleges & Universities, issued the following statement:

On behalf of the nation’s 2,700 postsecondary career colleges and universities we are deeply disappointed that the Democrat proposal continues the ideological war against our sector using old issues, and old data as the basis for their proposal.  Today’s sector is not defined by Corinthian and ITT, and public policy should not be defined by the past.

Recognizing the call for outcomes and accountability, today’s postsecondary career education sector has better completion rates, and far better placement rates than those sectors of higher education awarded in the Democrat proposal.  Our two-year and less schools, which comprise over three quarters of the institutions in this sector, have graduation rates more than two times better than the 2-year public sector schools.  When one combines instruction and student service expenditures, we make a larger financial commitment to the total success of our students than any other sector.

During the earlier discussions on Gainful Employment and Borrower Defense, most Democrats told us they support one set of rules for all schools but the current statutes did not allow them to create a rule that did so.  Yet, the Democrat proposal goes further than current law to create one set of provisions for traditional schools and another set of provisions for our sector. 

Finally, Democrats need to stop making veterans political pawns in the debate over public policy.  Veterans listen to veterans. And veterans enroll in our schools because they seek accelerated, focused academic programming leading to a career.  Veterans have earned their GI Benefits, and they should be allowed to use them at any institution of their choice. 

​This nation faces an important challenge today.  A healthy economy needs skilled workers.  We are committed to working with everyone engaged in preparing a new generation of skilled workers.  All we ask for is fairness.  Over 2,000 campuses have been closed since 2010 – most were part of the many large publicly-traded systems that no longer exist. Today’s career education schools reflect the multi-generation family-owned schools that have always served their communities well.