California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#1

Post by emeraldd » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 1:30 AM UTC

California bans ITT tech from accepting new students
latimes.com

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#2

Post by serg_chernata » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:05 AM UTC

Does anyone know which other national institutions something like this may affect?

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#3

Post by gdwatson » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:05 AM UTC

Does anyone have references to more specific accusations against ITT? There are lots of vague claims in the article, but the only semi-specific ones -- misleading students about program quality and pushing them into irresponsible loans -- could just as easily be laid at the feet of public and private nonprofit colleges.

I have no particular reason to trust or distrust ITT. But it strikes me as a trade school that presents itself as a college, and that seems like one viable approach to our credentialism issues, so I want to know if it's being attacked for legitimate or political reasons.

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#4

Post by jorts » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:06 AM UTC

At my last company we had a slew of ITT graduates apply for a role one time. I talked to probably 10 or so of them. They seemed to have received little to no educational value from their time at ITT. I assume they were all promised great jobs, but all of them were not remotely qualified to get even a basic entry level technical role. I felt terrible for them paying money for the "education" that they received.

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#5

Post by finid » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:12 AM UTC

gdwatson wrote: post #3

Does anyone have references to more specific accusations against ITT? There are lots of vague claims in the article, but the only semi-specific ones -- misleading students about program quality and pushing them into irresponsible loans -- could just as easily be laid at the feet of public and private nonprofit colleges. I have no particular reason to trust or distrust ITT. But it strikes me as a trade school that pre…

> so I want to know if it's being attacked for legitimate or political reasons.

Why would California attack ITT for political reasons?

The problem with ITT is the same problem with all such schools - profit above all else. Whether their students learn anything is secondary.

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#6

Post by AtomicFirepig » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:14 AM UTC

serg_chernata wrote: post #2

Does anyone know which other national institutions something like this may affect?

DeVry is in the same boat, I would assume. Similar model, for-profit, crappy education, etc.

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#7

Post by duncan_bayne » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:14 AM UTC

finid wrote: post #5

gdwatson wrote: post #3

Does anyone have references to more specific accusations against ITT? There are lots of vague claims in the article, but the only semi-specific ones -- misleading students about program quality and pushing them into irresponsible loans -- could just as easily be laid at the feet of public and private nonprofit colleges. I have no particular reason to trust or distrust ITT. But it strikes me as a trade school that pre…

> so I want to know if it's being attacked for legitimate or political reasons. Why would California attack ITT for political reasons? The problem with ITT is the same problem with all such schools - profit above all else. Whether their students learn anything is secondary.

Proponents of taxpayer funded education, and unions, frequently attack high performing private schools, at least here in Australasia.

That said, it doesn't sound like this is one of the high performing schools.

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#8

Post by increment_i » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:16 AM UTC

jorts wrote: post #4

At my last company we had a slew of ITT graduates apply for a role one time. I talked to probably 10 or so of them. They seemed to have received little to no educational value from their time at ITT. I assume they were all promised great jobs, but all of them were not remotely qualified to get even a basic entry level technical role. I felt terrible for them paying money for the "education" that they received.

I'd be interested to hear what you would expect as bare minimums for a "basic entry level technical role." I've heard of recruiters being dumbfounded at CS grads not being able to code FizzBuzz and to be honest I can't believe it.

Re: California bans ITT tech from accepting new students

#9

Post by comex » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 2:17 AM UTC

gdwatson wrote: post #3

Does anyone have references to more specific accusations against ITT? There are lots of vague claims in the article, but the only semi-specific ones -- misleading students about program quality and pushing them into irresponsible loans -- could just as easily be laid at the feet of public and private nonprofit colleges. I have no particular reason to trust or distrust ITT. But it strikes me as a trade school that pre…

It seems there have been multiple lawsuits filed semi-recently against ITT. Here's a story about one from last year which was started by a former employee and later joined by the DoJ; you can skim it for some allegations about ITT deceiving students:

https://consumerist.com/2016/01/21/whistleblower-lawsuit-acc...

direct link to complaint: https://consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/lipscom...

A separate suit was filed by the SEC around the same time alleging that ITT deceived investors and auditors regarding the financials of its student loan program:

https://www.sec.gov/news/pressrelease/2015-86.html

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/2015/comp-pr2015-86...

There are others.