FEATURED ARTICLES

Associations & Accreditations
Preparing for the Unannounced Accreditation Visit (view PDF)
It is proposed for the new regulation to require all accrediting agencies to once again perform the unannounced where at least 10 percent of the institutions accredited by the agency have a cohort default rate for the most recent year of 20 percent or more. Best practices and procedures are still emerging at many of the accrediting agencies and the institutions that they accredit as to how to prepare and conduct unannounced accreditation visits. (Published May 2012)

Leadership Profile
Transformer-in-Chief (view PDF)
Taking the problem-solving skills learned from being a top research physicist to Stratford University, Richard Shurtz has focused on transforming the institutions with a total emphasis on student-learning outcomes. Now his pioneering partnership in India has taken that model international with the goal of transforming India’s postsecondary educational structure. (Published March 2012)

Advertising & Marketing
Career College Broadcast Media Commentary and Analysis (view PDF)
In the fourth quarter of 2011 smart career colleges changed their focus from imaging and branding to 100 percent lead generation. With many schools in the sector reducing their broadcast budgets and, hence, competitive pressure, this could be the best time to maximize broadcast lead production. (Published February 2012)

Compliance
101 Ways to Stay in Compliance (view PDF)
There is no substitute for reading the regulations carefully nor should this list be considered "all encompassing." Rather, this is a starting point, a guide to identify compliance areas and issues of importance to every institution. The list is ideal for staff training and as a checklist just to be sure your school has everything covered in these highly compliance-driven times. (Published January 2012)

Service Learning
Making the Case for Service Learning (view PDF)
Service learning experiences put students into real life settings while they’re still in school so they can apply the skills that they’re learning. The huge connection for the student is to understand how they connect what they’re learning in school to what they can do for their community—not what they can do for work, not what they can do for a job, but what they can actually do for their community. They get a chance to work with all kinds of disadvantaged people. As a result of that students learn empathy for their fellow man and their particular situations. In the end, we are not really teaching empathy through service learning; we’re exposing them to situations and environments where empathy is a natural by-product. Service learning increases the students’ personal growth, it enhances their social maturity and it expands their intellectual development. (Published December 2011)

Curriculum Development
Technology is the Future of Higher Education (view PDF)
Microsoft's presence and investment in education are unrivaled, and, now, with the introduction of even more technology in the classroom, the company envisions greater efficiencies. Technology will improve access to education, but needs to be accompanied by process change for the full impact to be felt. (Published November 2011)

Admissions Sales
The Future of Admissions: Connecting with a New Generation (view PDF)
It's a new admissions market and the first step in adapting is to realize what has worked for the industry in terms of admissions practices, and approaches that don’t work as well anymore. Adapting to the digital generation is critical, and offering the college information they seek in a quick and easily accessible manner is essential. (Published October 2011)

Compliance
Regionally Accredited Institutions' Code of Ethics and Conduct Seeks to Set Standards for Other Schools (view PDF)
The colleges endorsing The Accord have committed to practices that will provide students with clear and accessible financial data and metrics of student success. The Accord serves as an example of the commitment institutions in the career college sector are making to meet or exceed the new federal regulations, to provide more information to the general public, and to operate with integrity in providing a high quality academic experience for students. (Published September 2011)

Compliance
Dealing with New Advertising Guidelines (view PDF)
Institutions are responsible for any statement made directly or indirectly about their institution in any form of advertising by themselves or third party vendors they have contracted with to provide advertising, marketing, recruiting or admissions services. Showing your accrediting body, state licensing organization or the DOE the steps you have taken to manage, monitor and address compliance seems to be the best way to protect your school, based on what consensus seems to indicate. (Published August 2011)

Admissions Sales
Putting the Students' Best Interest First
Admissions and Marketing at Keiser University (view PDF)
Keiser's philosophy is based on a belief that students learn more in an environment where they feel safe, connected and valued. The best admissions people are those special folks who motivate and inspire people. The outcomes and numbers will be there with the correct intentions and attitude. The results are happy counselors and students. (Published July 2011)

Compliance
Getting Ready for Gainful Employment Reporting and Disclosure (view PDF)
On July 1, new reporting and disclosure rules of the Department of Education go into effect. These rules were first promulgated in conjunction with the Department’s gainful employment metrics scheme. While the metrics part has been pulled, these requirements remain and need to be addressed immediately by career colleges. (Published June 2011)

Education Politics & Policy
Speaking Up (view PDF)
CollegeAmerica Services chairman Carl Barney shares his memo to his executives encouraging them to "speak up to defend ourselves, to correct the many falsehoods, and to promote our good works" - a message that all sector executives should take to heart. (Published May 2011)

Leadership Profile
Mission, Vision & Values (view PDF)
"Getting everyone 'on board' is alignment - alignment with mission, vision, and values. There is NOTHING more important." – John "Jack" A. Yena, Johnson & Wales chairman of the board (Published April 2011)

Education Politics & Policy
Higher Education and Accreditation: The View from the Obama Administration (view PDF)
"In addition to enhancing global competitiveness, a more highly educated American workforce will enhance upward mobility for historically disadvantaged groups." – Eduardo M. Ochoa, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education (Published March 2011)

Instruction & Faculty Management
Creating the Faculty Team (view PDF)
Teachers need to start helping their students develop a vision and belief in their career program that will help them have a vision of success. (Published February 2011)

Legal Considerations & Issues
Making the Case for Background Checks in Career Education Institutions (view PDF)
Pre-employment background checks are vital for colleges seeking to screen out dangerous, dishonest, untrustworthy or irresponsible individuals, as well as to reduce turnover and protect the school, students and employees. (Published January 2011)

Student Retention
Ten Ways to Build Successful Students (view PDF)
In order to achieve the optimum student retention and success, the college must build an immediate foundation of student motivation through first impression, relationship building, career vision and high performance learning. The 10 ways to accomplish that are featured in this article. (Published December 2010)

Education Politics & Policy
Tougher Days Ahead: Accreditors Acknowledge Message from Congress Heard, But Reactions Vary (view PDF)
National accreditors have responded to the recent congressional hearings and criticism in a variety of manners. What is clear is that the accreditation process is under intense scrutiny and many commissions are changing their standards and procedures in response. (Published November 2010)

School Operations
Do-It-Yourself Mystery Shopping (view PDF)
Continuous quality improvement is not possible without continuous quality monitoring. (Published October 2010)

Admissions Sales
Facing the Realities of Admissions (view PDF)
Not only have students changed in how they buy, but also this generation of admissions folks coming in has different experiences and different skills. We need to examine this along with how we’re on-boarding them, how we’re training them, and how we support them. (Published September 2010)

Special Issue
Convention 2010: Career College Association Annual Convention and Exposition (view PDF)
Once again, we have put together our special convention issue. Starting with national accrediting agency reports, we also covered CCA updates and state association news.

Keynote speakers included a former congressman/current TV news program host and a former U.S. president. Breakout sessions and other presentations covered topics such as online learning and degree completion, student retention, and how to graduate high-risk students. As always, there were awards, dancing, shopping (in the exhibit hall), partying, and catching up with friends and colleagues. (Published August 2010)

Legal Considerations & Issues
Internships: What Qualifies, What Doesn’t and How Do You Protect Yourself? (view PDF)
With new rules regarding internships and externships, schools are advised to clearly lay out what it is that the student is going to be doing for the employer. (Published June 2010)

Financial Aid
90/10 Final Regulations Overview (view PDF)
The changes to the 90/10 rule, which will become effective on July 1, 2010, include calculating revenue from programs and activities, revenue generated from institutional aid and the application of Title IV and non-Title IV funds. (Published May 2010)

School Operations
The Real Reason Schools Are Going Paperless (view PDF)
Going paperless in today’s world can yield considerable cost savings in paper and supplies, storage cost, and labor. But the real reason schools are going paperless is that electronic document management can significantly aid in the reduction of risk and increase the efficiency of institutions. (Published April 2010)

Mergers & Acquisitions
Becoming An Owner in Tough Times (view PDF)
Finding suitable partners and investment capital in today’s market for the smaller operator can be a very challenging experience. Charlie Gross details his experience in seeking and finally acquiring a career college. (Published April 2010)