Campus Progress Statement on HELP Committee’s Investigation of Abuses by For-Profit Higher Ed.

Contact: Katie Andriulli

(202) 481-8238 or kandriulli@americanprogress.org

WASHINGTON, DC-- Statement of Angela Peoples, Advocacy Manager at Campus Progress (the youth division of the Center for American Progress), on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’investigation of abuses by the for-profit higher education industry:

“In light of rising default and dangerous levels of student loan debt in the for-profit education sector, as well as mounting evidence of widespread abuses, including aggressive and deceptive marketing practices, and falsifying or helping students to cheat on ability-to-benefit tests and the FAFSA, we applaud Chairman Harkin and the HELP committee’s investigation of the sector, and hope that it leads to smart and tough action to bring order to the Wild West of American higher education.

While the Department of Education’s new proposed regulations to protect students and taxpayers are a huge step in the right direction, much more needs to be done. The proposed regulations would allow career education programs to remain eligible to receive federal student aid even if more than half of their students who borrow cannot pay down their loans. We believe that students deserve better.”  

For more information, or to speak to Angela Peoples, please contact Katie Andriulli at 202-481-8238 / kandriulli@americanprogress.org.

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Campus Progress is the youth division of the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan, nonprofit progressive organization. Through programs in activism, journalism, and events, Campus Progress helps young people make their voices heard now on issues that matter, and works with young leaders and organizations nationwide to build a strong, united progressive movement that can bring long-term positive change. Campus Progress runs a daily web magazine, CampusProgress.org; supports student publications on 50 campuses; supports local and national youth issue campaigns; and has held over 700 events and film screenings. For more information, please visit Campusprogress.org.