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In recent years, the media has brought to light a variety of allegations of sexual and leadership misconduct in higher education. Although the increase in visibility is a positive indicator of the long-overdue reckoning that is necessary at some schools, it is also a stark reminder of the pervasiveness of this type of misconduct across our society. CECU has zero tolerance for this type of behavior and condemns sexual harassment in all its forms.
Recently, a leadership change at ASA College has brought these issues to the forefront at that institution. Legitimate and credible concerns have been raised about past misconduct allegations and the process that enabled ASA’s recent leadership transition. After extensive and thorough due diligence, CECU believes the institution to be in violation of the association’s misconduct policy and has revoked the institution’s membership, consistent with the CECU bylaws. We do not take this action lightly but believe it is the appropriate decision given the information available. Student Equity in Pell Grant Expansion is Essential as Build Back Better Moves to the Senate11/19/2021
Arlington, VA – Earlier today, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act by a vote of 220 to 213. Among other things, the bill increases the maximum Pell Grant award by $550, except for students attending proprietary institutions, a blatantly discriminatory exclusion that Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) opposes. In response to this anti-student exclusion, 17 Democratic Representatives sent a letter in support of students at proprietary institutions, urging House Democratic leadership to modify the bill. However, House Democratic leadership refused to make substantive changes to the education provisions in the modified bill and did not change the Pell Grant provision before final passage in the House. “We would like to thank the 17 Democratic Representatives for supporting student equity in the Build Back Better Act,” said CECU’s President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire. “We look forward to continuing the discussion in the Senate to ensure that all students in all sectors are eligible for the increased Pell Grant. We hope that the Senate will reject this short-sighted provision that would punish hundreds of thousands of low-income students and runs counter to the education goals of the Build Back Better agenda." ### About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association serving the proprietary higher education sector. Please direct media inquiries to Devin Miller, Director of Communications at Devin.Miller@career.org. Arlington, VA -- Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) congratulates President Biden on the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill will make major investments in improving America’s roads, bridges, and rails, expanding electric vehicle charging stations and broadband, and removing lead pipes. “We congratulate Congress and President Biden on the historic passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is the largest investment in our nation’s infrastructure in decades,” said CECU’s President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire. “As infrastructure projects from this legislation move forward, it is critical that Congress and the White House recognize that graduates from proprietary postsecondary schools will be essential to their success.” “Proprietary schools produce significant numbers of graduates in crucial infrastructure fields, such as windmill and solar panel construction, clean energy technicians, HVAC workers, truck drivers, crane and heavy equipment operators, aviation and auto technicians, underwater construction divers, and more. Now is not the time to allow a partisan anti-proprietary school agenda to limit the development of these workforce needs by denying students access to the very institutions that provide the skilled workers America needs to build a stronger and sustainable infrastructure for future generations.” ### About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association serving the proprietary higher education sector. Please direct media inquiries to Devin Miller, Director of Communications at Devin.Miller@career.org. Arlington, VA -- Earlier today, 13 Democratic Representatives sent a letter to Democratic Congressional leadership expressing opposition to the proposal in the Build Back Better Act that excludes low-income students attending proprietary postsecondary institutions from accessing the $550 increase in Pell Grants, which will be available to students attending all other institutions. “We are incredibly grateful to the Democratic Representatives who have stood up against the discriminatory Pell Grant proposal,” said CECU’s President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire. “The letter sends a strong message of support for fair treatment of students attending proprietary institutions. We are hopeful that Congress will revise the bill to allow our students’ voices to be heard during the amendment process and remove this anti-student provision from the Build Back Better Act.” Below is a list of the 13 signatories:
You can read the full letter here. ### About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association serving the proprietary higher education sector. Please direct media inquiries to Devin Miller, Director of Communications at Devin.Miller@career.org. Arlington, VA -- The Manager’s Amendment to the Build Back Better Act that was released earlier today maintains a discriminatory provision that was in the earlier version of the bill that would punish low-income and minority students attending proprietary postsecondary institutions by excluding them from accessing the $550 increase in Pell Grants that will be available to students attending all other institutions. "This blatantly discriminatory policy will only harm low-income students who are trying to better their lives and improve their career opportunities," said CECU’s President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire. "By excluding low-income students attending proprietary postsecondary institutions from the Pell Grant increase, Congress is aggressively punishing students purely based on the type of institution they attend. Congress still has a chance to fix this anti-student provision in the Build Back Better Act to ensure that all low-income students will be eligible for the expanded Pell Grant." ### About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association serving the proprietary higher education sector. Please direct media inquiries to Devin Miller, Director of Communications at Devin.Miller@career.org Build Back Better Bill Would Punish Low-Income Students Attending Proprietary Postsecondary Schools10/28/2021
Arlington, VA -- The Build Back Better bill text that was released earlier today includes a harmful provision that will punish low-income and minority students attending proprietary postsecondary institutions. Specifically, the bill will prohibit such students from accessing the $550 increase in Pell Grants that will be available to students attending all other institutions. This is an unprecedented proposal, as Congress has never proposed punishing low-income students because of the institution they choose to attend. "Excluding students attending proprietary postsecondary institutions from increased Pell Grant awards will punish hundreds of thousands of low-income students and runs counter to the goals of the Build Back Better agenda," said CECU’s President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire. "Congress should reject this short-sighted proposal, which will have a disparate impact on nontraditional and minority students. We look forward to working with Democratic leadership to reform the Build Back Better plan so that all students in all sectors will be eligible for the expanded Pell Grant." ### About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association serving the proprietary higher education sector. Please direct media inquiries to Devin Miller, Director of Communications at Devin.Miller@career.org. Arlington, VA -- CECU President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire, issues the following statement regarding the closure of Vista College: “CECU’s top priority right now is helping Vista College students complete their education. We are coordinating with several schools in the regions where Vista schools were located to facilitate student transfers, when appropriate, and provide a viable path forward for impacted students to achieve their academic and career goals. We also hope the U.S. Department of Education, state agencies, and accreditors will work together to support these students. We stand ready to assist their efforts in any way possible." About Career Education Colleges and Universities Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association serving the proprietary higher education sector. ### Please direct media inquiries to Devin Miller, Director of Communications at Devin.Miller@career.org
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