Coalition for Educational Success Statement on Final U.S. Department of Education Gainful Employment Regulation
WASHINGTON, DC -(June 2, 2011)- Following the issuance of the U.S. Department of Education's gainful employment regulation, Coalition for Educational Success Managing Director Penny Lee released the following statement:
"As we closely review the U.S. Department of Education's final gainful employment regulation, nothing changes the fact that Congressional leaders have made it clear that the definition of 'gainful employment' is the purview of Congress and not the Department. The Department's attempt to arbitrarily expand the definition of 'gainful employment' is clearly at odds with the intent of Congress.
"In February, nearly 300 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including 58 Democrats, voted to stop the regulation's implementation. More recently, a bipartisan group of 118 members of Congress appealed to President Obama, requesting that the regulation be withdrawn and the Department work with Congress to enact meaningful higher education reforms.
"There are also a number of legitimate questions about the process that governed the development of the regulation, which appears biased and nontransparent.
"Recently, it was reported that the U.S. Department of Education's Inspector General is investigating the role Wall Street short-sellers played in development of the gainful employment regulation. In addition, Members of Congress have requested that the Securities and Exchange Commission look into communications between the Department and short-sellers.
"Just last week, the Administration, as part of their review of burdensome and costly regulations, unveiled hundreds of rules and regulations they plan to change. The review was part of the President's Executive Order to improve regulation and regulatory review. While the Administration is reducing some regulatory burdens, here they have opted to release a burdensome and costly regulation that fails to satisfy every one of the tenets of President's Executive Order.
"As Congress reviews the Department's regulation and exercises its legislative rights, the Coalition remains committed to protecting students, and improving student access and choice in higher education."
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The Coalition for Educational Success includes many of the nation's leading career colleges, serving more than 350,000 students at 478 campuses in 41 states. Career colleges provide training for students in 17 of the 20 fastest growing fields. The Coalition advocates for policies that support wider access to higher education, particularly for non-traditional students including full-time workers, workforce returners, working parents, minorities and veterans.
