Ad campaign targets for-profits

Ad Campaign in Favor of Tougher Oversight of For-Profits (Inside Higher Ed)

     Many in nonprofit higher education have looked on with envy or frustration as advocates for for-profit higher education have made major ad buys to oppose the Obama administration's "gainful employment" regulations. Campus Progress, a left-leaning student group, on Tuesday announced an ad buy in the Washington area in favor of the regulations. [See above.]

Community colleges chief opposes Brown funding changes (California Watch)

     California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott says Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to change the way community colleges are funded is "not a good idea," and that he will try to convince the Legislature to amend it.
     Scott told California Watch that Brown's proposal would unfairly punish colleges with high enrollments of "vulnerable students," and reward colleges serving students in high-income suburban areas who are more likely to succeed.
     California's 112 community colleges receive funding based on the number of students who are in class on "Census Day," typically the first day of the fourth week of classes. The college continues receive funds, regardless of how many students drop out or fail to complete the class by the end of the semester.
     In his budget message, Brown said:

This policy provides an incentive for colleges to take advantage of the system to maximize funding which also distorts the overall (full-time student) workload completed by the colleges. In effect, colleges are being funded for a higher level of students than actually attend courses.

. . .
     Scott said that the Brown proposal to change the community college funding formula "could have unfortunate consequences that no one has thought through carefully." ….