Everest College
Everest College is a system of for-profit colleges in the United States and the Canadian province of Ontario. The schools are owned and operated by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. which also owns Everest University, Everest Institute, Heald College, and WyoTech. They offer education programs in fields such as accounting, business administration, computer information science, criminal justice, health care, paralegal studies, and massage therapy. Depending on the location and program, the school has day, evening, or weekend classes.
In 2007, Corinthian Colleges completed the process of unifying all its schools under the Everest brand name. Former schools that became Everest Colleges include: Bryman College, Ashmead College, Mountain West College, Olympia College, Kee Business College, Parks College, Western Business College, Blair College and Springfield College. In December 2007, the 18 CDI College campuses in Ontario, Canada became part of the Everest College system as well. In Milwaukee, where a Corinthian Everest campus was financed with $11 million in city bonds, just 25% of students found jobs and over half dropped out; the campus closed two years after it opened.[1]
Corinthian Colleges is under investigation by several states attorneys general for deceptive advertising and other fraudulent acts. "According to (California Attorney General) Harris’ complaint, CCI’s predatory marketing efforts specifically target vulnerable, low-income job seekers and single parents who have annual incomes near the federal poverty line. In internal company documents obtained by the Department of Justice, CCI describes its target demographic as “isolated,” “impatient,” individuals with “low self-esteem,” who have “few people in their lives who care about them” and who are “stuck” and “unable to see and plan well for future.” It is alleged the schools targeted people meeting these targets through aggressive and persistent internet and telemarketing campaigns and through television ads on daytime shows like Jerry Springer and Maury Povich."[2][3]
In November 2013, Corinthian Colleges reported that they were under investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.[4]
Accreditation Information
Accreditation for Everest College varies by country, state and region. Everest College campuses that are regionally accredited are Everest College Phoenix, Everest College Mesa and online courses taught through Everest College Phoenix. All other Everest College campuses are nationally accredited.[5]
Generally, credits from nationally accredited institutions are not transferable to other colleges and universities.[6]
In 2009 Everest College Phoenix was placed on academic probation by its accrediting body over concerns that it did not have enough autonomy and control over on-campus academics and operations from the parent company, Corinthian Colleges, Inc. In September 2010, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools rejected a recommendation from its evaluation panel that the school's accreditation be revoked outright. In November 2010 the Higher Learning Commission voted to place the campus on a "Show-Cause" status which will require the College to demonstrate to the commission why its accreditation should not be revoked. Everest College Phoenix has until March, 2011 to respond to the request and the matter is not expected to be resolved until November 2011. The College remains an accredited institution during this period. [7]
Controversy
In July 2007, the California Attorney General threatened to file suit against Corinthian Colleges, corporate parent of Everest College, unless it settled allegations that it had misrepresented its placement statistics.[8] According to a case filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Corinthian Colleges allegedly "engaged in a persistent pattern of unlawful conduct" by overstating the percentage of those who obtained employment from its courses, inflated information on starting salaries and made misleading or false statements about which programs it was authorized to offer and which were approved by the California Department of Education.[9] The suit stated that Corinthian's "own records show that a substantial percentage of students do not complete the programs and, of those who complete the program, a large majority do not successfully obtain employment within six months after completing the course."[9] In late July, Corinthian Colleges agreed to pay $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the chain engaged in unlawful business practices by exaggerating its record of placing students in well-paying jobs; the amount included $5.8 million in restitution to students as well as $500,000 in civil damages and $200,000 in court costs.[9]
Everest was one of 15 for-profit colleges cited by the Government Accountability Office for deceptive or questionable statements that were made to undercover investigators posing as applicants. Two unnamed campuses were cited in this report.[10] Department of Education statistics indicated that Everest College graduates had the highest default rate of any school in California for students entering repayment in 2010[11] and the fifth highest rate in Arizona.[12]
In September 2010, a group of Everest College graduates sued the school for fraud, alleging deceptive recruitment practices concerning costs of attendance, the value of the degree, and whether credits earned there would transfer to other schools.[13]
In October 2013, the California Attorney General filed suit against Corinthian Colleges, alleging "false and predatory advertising, intentional misrepresentations to students, securities fraud and unlawful use of military seals in advertisements."[14] According to the Sacramento Bee, fourteen Everest College campuses registered three-year default rates on student loans of more than 20 percent; eight were more than 30 percent.[15]
Everest campus locations in the United States
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Everest campus locations in Ontario, Canada
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References
- ^ http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/07/12175/cashing-kids-139-alec-bills-2013-promote-private-profit-education-model
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/who-owns-the-awful-corint_b_4101323.html
- ^ http://getoutofdebt.org/61728/california-sues-number-colleges-bad-stuff
- ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-22/for-profit-colleges-face-consumer-bureau-probe-on-lending-roles.html
- ^ Everest College Website: Accreditation Information
- ^ Tussling Over Transfer of Credit, Inside Higher Ed, February 26, 2007 by Doug Lederman
- ^ "Credentials of Everest College in jeopardy," The Arizona Republic, November 17, 2010.
- ^ "Vocational School Faces State Lawsuit, Corinthian Colleges is pressed to settle claims that it has exaggerated job placement rates," Los Angeles Times, Henry Weinstein, July 3, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Vocational school chain settles suit," Los Angeles Times, August 1, 2007.
- ^ Vise, Daniel de (2010-08-05). "GAO: 15 for-profit colleges used deceptive recruiting tactics". The Washington Post. ISSN 0740-5421. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Perez, Erica (27 September 2010). "For-profit Everest College has highest student loan default rate in state". California Watch. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
- ^ Pallack, Becky (14 September 2010). "Ariz. is worst for student loan defaults". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
- ^ Maffly, Brian (28 September 2010). "Everest College grads sue, alleging fraud". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/who-owns-the-awful-corint_b_4101323.html
- ^ http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/27/5855028/heald-college-students-echo-california.html#storylink=cpy