Dunlap-Stone Press Release: Not All For-Profit Universities are ''Bad Players''

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by thomas_jefferson, Oct 1, 2010.

Loading...
  1. Phoenix, AZ (PRBuzz) September, 2010 -- One respected for-profit university is speaking out about all "for-profits" being labeled in the press as unethical, bad or worse. With a reputation for academic excellence across America and in over 140 nations, Dunlap-Stone University (DSU), a premiere online private, for-profit university headquartered in Phoenix Arizona, issued a statement today in light of recent highly-publicized attempts by the Department of Education, Congressional leaders and non-profit schools to paint all for-profit universities as bad players in need of more stringent regulation and different accountability standards than their non-profit peers. "Like most institutions of higher education, for-profit and non-profit, we are not one of the bad players that have lost sight of their mission and purpose," noted Dr. Donald Burton, DSU's president and founder. "Corporate structure is not necessarily an indicator of academic quality, management or student-orientation. As could happen in any industry, a few organizations' management fell into the growth-money trap and strayed from their mission. It is very wrong to say the common denominator of institutional quality and integrity is corporate structure--profit or non-profit and then to generalize to all for-profits as 'bad players'." DSU's administration prepared the following statement:

    University Statement

    "In every institution of higher education, the mission is, first and foremost, to educate students and impart knowledge. All schools--for-profit and non-profit alike--need to be profitable within their structure's limits and solvent in order to meet their mission, but a few bad apples have forgotten their most important stakeholders--their students. They appear to view their students as interchangeable 'widgets' rather than as valuable, trusting individuals seeking to become educated assets to industry, society and themselves. Educated students are the most important output of any school's value chain.

    To label all for-profits as equally egregious in not offering quality educational outcomes valued in the marketplace does a great disservice to the tradition of institutional diversity within the American higher education system. Scholars have noted over the last decade the danger in drawing conclusions about an entire subset of an industry based on just a handful of schools. The diversity of mission, organizational structure and curriculum present in the system allows a wide range of schools to serve an even broader range of students and provides critical access to education. Yet, there are questionable practices and problematic quality at a number of institutions within the American higher education landscape and they do not fall neatly into simple for-profit or non-profit categories.

    At Dunlap-Stone University the quality of our educational offerings is who we are and what we do. Our student-orientation coupled with this commitment to academic quality is why we have grown nearly every year since we opened our doors in 1995. A DSU student is not pressured to enroll, and they meet the stated educational outcomes for each course. In fact, most of our students come to us through word-of-mouth referrals from other students or from employers who value our practical, industry-relevant offerings and programs and pay for their employees to attend.

    Much of the concern about for-profit institutions stems from questions about the number of students who use federal financial aid to finance their education. Although DSU is approved for Title IV Guaranteed Student Loans it does not participate in the program at this time. Instead, over 90% of student tuition is paid directly or reimbursed by their employer. Almost all of the top aerospace and defense companies see the value of working with Dunlap-Stone University to meet the demanding education needs of their employees and their businesses. Their willingness to pay for their employees to attend DSU speaks volumes about the perception of our value in the marketplace. Some schools presently turn away students, not because of lack of room, but because of the 90-10 rule regarding Federal financial aid that limit schools to only allowing 90% of their students access to aid.

    According to a national independent study, DSU is among the least expensive universities in America, ranked in the first quartile. That translates into costing less than most state's public university in-state student tuition. When more than 60% of student tuition at many state schools is subsidized by taxpayers, and students only pay the remaining 40% that means that many for-profits schools, including DSU, are a bargain.

    Our students appreciate the quality of the education we provide. At the end of the day, our continued focus on providing education second to none will be what matters. In the end, that is what separates the bad-player schools from the good schools. And that is why "good players" of any corporate structure will be around long after the "bad players"--be they for-profit or non-profit--are no more. DSU is confident that as an organization it can meet any new regulatory changes or quality measures that may result from Washington's higher level of scrutiny because of the value that it brings not just to shareholders, but to its students. Policy makers should not judge bad or good players based upon corporate structure, but instead by how well they meet student and industry needs."

    DSU is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council. DSU programs meet the same rigorous U.S. Department of Education requirements as do other highly-regarded institutions across America. Within the international trade industry, DSU's worldwide reputation speaks for itself. Employees from many U.S. Fortune 500 companies enroll at DSU. All of the top 100 U.S. aerospace and defense companies routinely enroll employees in DSU's courses that prepare them for one of IIEI Certification's nine international trade certifications or its specialized degree programs.

    Contact:
    Ms. Caulyne Barron
    V.P. President Online Programs
    Dunlap-Stone University
    11225 N. 28th Drive, suite B-201
    Phoenix, AZ 85029 USA
    (602) 648-5750
     
  2. I'm beginning to think that for-profits are scrambling. What's the end game here with the growing DOE scrutiny and a recession-weary population who sees their tax dollars going to "evil" for profit schools?
     
  3. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    And what would the public do if it was revealed that a far higher percentage of their tax dollars go into public community colleges and state unviersities than go into for-profit schools?
     

Share This Page