Between reading the reports on the news, the internal conversations and this board, I don't know what to think.
To be honest, I'm scared out of my wits. I have been stressed out all weekend. What will become of my students? I have such a strong connection to many who look to me as a resource. I have students who visit me daily and share their small stories of triumph. This is incredibly hard.
Well, we got the hub message, but that's kind of vague. Any promises being made from management anywhere? What are they expecting to happen (or at least what are they saying they expect to happen)?
I'm an old timer from Tampa College. I've been through several different owners (remember Phillips anyone?) and CCi has been the worse. They didn't start off badly. If you go back 10 years or so they were a good company with some really good ideas. They were committed to hiring educated, articulate staff, even in Admissions. Their management training was excellent. The culture today doesn't even slightly resemble what it was. For some reason they started hiring individuals from outside the company with no ed experience (even in financial aid - I work at the dreaded Socle). They seem to intentionally promote the individuals with the least work ethic and experience. It was like they were taken over by mentally challenged teenagers having a never-ending party. Sad.
I go to the Orlando South school, through the on-line option, and they were also an "old" college bought up by CCI. Maybe this is where the Dept of Ed needs to step in and not allow a company to swoop in and buy up smaller schools to be part of a large conglomeration. This is when the schools started their downward spiral, through association with CCI.
It is a disgrace that a school with 150+ years of history in CA is at risk of closing down because of affiliation with CCI. 3 years ago when Heald was purchased by CCI, anybody who knew anything about the school "business" knew that it would not be great for Heald. I never thought it would drag Heald down with the Titanic. We all hold out hope for our students, our co-workers, and all families involved that Heald will be sold and the 12 campuses can continue to build stronger communities in CA, OR, and HI.
IMO Argosy is higher quality. Regional Accreditation is the way to go, at least in my opinion. But EDMC has its problems too. If the school closes with 90 days of you completing the degree, you don't have to pay back the federal loans.
I agree, I am also afraid of what will happen to faculty and student support employees. I know coworkers that have worked at their schools before CCI bought them out. People who have dedicated more than a decade to serving students. Now it seems their efforts will be clouded because of bad business practices. How will these employees move on without being judged for working under Corinthian?
I also worry about all of the people that will lose their jobs. This is not a small company. This company employee a lot of people. Lives are depending on CCI to remain open; student, faulty and staff alike. This will have an adverse affect on so many. I am just not understanding why CCI did not give the Dept of Ed the information that was needed. I read the last complaint that stated that CCI was adding 100 more employees to gather the information that they are requesting. Isn't most of the information pretty basic and should be in a data base that can just be ran off and submitted? I really do not understand.
I know that I will not give up on my eduction. I called Argosy and they will look at my unofficial transcripts and see what credits they can transfer. The lady that I spoke to seemed confident that most of them would be accepted. The college is regionally accredited. I don't know if its the right choice but at this point I really don't know what to do. The other issue that I am concerned about is the fact that I finished with my Associates in April but still have not received my diploma. I am worried that if the school closes that I never will. I am really at a loss on what to do except hope and pray for a miracle.
I agree! It's the students who take the worst hit. We are education and will more then likely head back into our field, be it medical, business or dental.... But the students.. What will happen with them.
I am also scared. I am 43 years old and decided a little over a year ago to try and go for my dream of college. I do not have low self-esteem or some sad hard luck story like one newspaper article implied Everest students are. I had my chance at college when I was younger and chose not to go to my parents dismay. I have always regretted the decision but when I tried going to a conventional college I just couldn't do to work and my children. Everest gave me a chance to live my dream. I just graduated from the Associates program with a 3.76 GPA and have started my Bachelors. I am in my first term. I am so disheartened by this situation. I have looked at transferring to Argosy but I truly pray that Everest can pull through this hard time. All of my professors and the staff that I have needed to talk to have been so wonderful. It has been such a great experience and it has made me so proud of myself and gave me a desire to learn and make my life better while also giving me the opportunity to live my dream of a career that will help others.
No need to be scared, at this point. It Is game over, nothing can stop that now.
I think it depends on your college. A couple of the brands are profitable and will get cash infusions to meet ongoing short-term financial obligations. Otherwise, it looks like a very rapid wind down of operations for COCO, barring some amazing lobbying and favor calls on the part of COCO management.
Know that students will have to go somewhere; there will be a minor tidal wave at other for-profits and community colleges in a few weeks.