As an outsider to Corinthian looking in ... not really sure how one would call Laurie McConnell a whistle blower. It appears that she communicated concerns about one student. She provided the school leadership 4 days to respond, did not go outside of the school to superiors and then quit. Once she quit she went to the press and the AG. From what has been reported this is her only allegation or issue. I would not call this systemic at this campus and without a doubt not across the company. I would call this an isolated incident. You might disagree with me. However, based on what is out there and available to research this is an isolated incident. I was also curious about the reading level reported 3 or 4 grade and the concerns about discrimination. Do the schools have admissions standards or testing requirements? If not, I could see where you are treading on water with this one and the ADA. That does not excuse the school from enrolling someone in a program that the could not function in. Lastly, if this student really has a reading level of 3 or 4 grade, why is not anyone questioning how the hell this guy graduated from high school. Would that not be the bigger issue at hand or at least equivalent?
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I taught Strategies for Success online for many years. It is typically the first class that students at Everest University Online take. At least 1/3 of the hundreds of students I taught could not read or write at the 4th grade level. Laurie McConnell's case was not unique.
653, what you're saying is the public school system let these students down. If a college student can't read how did that student graduate high school? If you enroll in a college in the United States and can't speak English, who's fault is that? English is our national language, isn't it? If you go to college in France should the school make it mandatory all the professors speak English because you can't speak French? If you bought a motorcycle and you had no legs, you are bound to crash. If you bought golf clubs and had no arms, you're bound to have a hard time playing. Oh and by the way, admission reps are not paid a commission. That pay system was abolished by Obama many years ago, they are salary. It's funny how most of the problems at for-profit schools got worse and worse as Obama kept piling on regulation after regulation against for-profit schools. Hmmm, anyone else think he wanted the industry to fail?
WyoTech in Long Beach enrolled students who couldn't read at all, couldn't speak english or even worse, were in wheel chairs. I'm not saying being handicapped is a bad thing but when you enroll in a trade that requires you to climb ladders to install lights and wiring for the electrical program, you are bound to fail. If instructors assigned reading certain chapters for homework and you can't read, you're bound to fail. If your instructor only speaks english and you don't, youj're bound to fail. Admissions reps should know better but it was all about getting their commission. Lets not all sit here and act like this type of thing doesn't happen at most campuses. This woman showed actual concern and you all are acting like she's ruining your careers and lives. She did what was right and none of you have because like everyone still on this board, we want money and couldn't care less about the students.
When you read about this women and what she did, you would almost think she saved the country from a natural disaster or something. She is referred to as a hero in some articles. She identified one student that was an issue. A student that I agree should not be in criminal justice. However, it was one student. It is not like she blew the lid off of a system wide opportunity that enrolled 100s of students like this guy. I think that if someone dug into her story a bit you would find out that she was a poor employee and disengaged.
CCi's schools did not have an entrance exam, as most career schools do not. However, they did require a high school diploma or a GED to be enrolled. They did at one time enroll the government backed ATB student but dropped it once realizing it was a disaster. I agree with the OP on how did some of these students receive high school diplomas. I don't blame these students for their poor reading skills or their inability to preform basic math equations. The public education system let them down. It's this countries new ideas that everyone makes the team, no one fails, you get a trophy for trying, if you can't meet minimum standards we will lower the standards for you and although you didn't pass we will move you along anyways. The problems starts with parent pressure on the teachers, no discipline in the schools, teachers unions, government pressure on the education system, not holding our children responsible for their actions, always blaming others and the list goes on. We've left our youth get lazy and unaccountable. They lack common communication skills because we invented texting. It doesn't matter if it's Community College, State College, Non-profit, For-profit College or Private College there are less students graduating, less students paying back their loans and less graduates securing jobs. So again, let's not hold any of them accountable for their actions, let's blame the colleges.
The student with the "4th Grade" reading level not only passed the standardized placement exam, but had also completed several semesters worth of classes at the local college. McConnell was looking to cash in on the whistleblower law, but she chose the wrong subject to pull the trigger on.
Who's Laurie McConnell
AMEN!