APSCU Press Release: APSCU Statement on President Obama's Education Bus Tour

For Immediate Release
August 22, 2013

Contact: Noah Black, noah.black@apscu.org

Washington, DC - As President Obama begins his postsecondary education bus tour in New York, APSCU President and CEO Steve Gunderson released the following statement:

"We hope the Administration and the U.S. Department of Education work with Congress to improve simplicity, accountability and transparency in all of postsecondary education during Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

"Our institutions are the ones most able to address our nation's growing skills gap, and educate the new traditional student, so we stand ready to continue in our role as the leading innovators in skills-based, career-focused training in high-demand industries.

"We want to work with the Administration, the Department, Congress, students and all of postsecondary education to create a system puts the interests of students first through improved transparency and greater accountability."

APSCU also released a new white paper titled, "America's Private Sector Colleges and Universities: Generating Real Value for Students & Society."  The paper provides a detailed look at the return on investment for credentials from private sector colleges and universities. The paper includes a set of graphics that detail:

        Students served
        Credentials awarded
        Service to active duty military and veterans
        Benefits to local communities

APSCU Higher Education Act Reauthorization proposal background
For HEA Reauthorization, APSCU specifically recommended a better approach to eligibility and participation in federal student financial aid programs that focused on measurement of student progression through postsecondary education and eventual outcomes that allow students and taxpayers to conclude whether institutions and educational programs are indeed delivering an acceptable return on investment. Such quantitative indicators included:

        retention and progression rates
        completion and return on investment
        employment of graduates
        earnings and/or salary gains
        graduate satisfaction

About APSCU
The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) is a voluntary membership organization of accredited, private postsecondary schools, institutes, colleges and universities that provide career-specific educational programs. APSCU has 1,400 members that educate and support over 3 million students each year for employment in over 200 occupational fields. APSCU member institutions provide the full range of higher education programs, including master's and doctorate degrees, two- and four-year associate and baccalaureate degree programs, and short-term certificate and diploma programs.

###

Direct link to Press Release: http://www.apscu.org/news-and-media/press-releases/statement-on-president-obama-education-bus-tour.cfm?cs_forceReadMode=1

No comments:

Post a Comment