Dr. Mitchem to Testify Before Congress

Washington, D.C., Sept. 29, 2010-Tomorrow at 10 AM EST, Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) President Arnold L. Mitchem, Ph.D., will testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee at a hearing titled, “The Federal Investment in For-Profit Education: Are Students Succeeding?” The third convening of a multi-part series on for-profit institutions is being led by HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) to examine the magnitude of the federal investment in for-profit schools and whether students are being left with debt but no diploma.

As president of the nation’s only higher education organization representing the interests of low-income and minority students, Mitchem’s testimony will focus on the manner in which some for-profit institutions target these students. Much of his comments center on ensuring disadvantaged students are protected from the false promises of many career institutions such as flexible hours and a job-friendly curriculum.

“Many disadvantaged students-who are the students we represent and have protected for nearly 30 years through the federal TRIO* program-start their higher education dreams at for-profit and career institutions with high aspirations and under false pretenses,” said Mitchem. “However, as we have seen time and time again, these students enter these schools without guidance on financial aid and are subject to unsavory and unfair recruiting tactics. Unfortunately, many of them are left with no viable career options and mountains of unmanageable debt.”

Other witnesses joining Mitchem include Lauren Asher, president, the Institute for College Access & Success; Danielle Johnson, student, Kaplan University (Cedar Rapids, Iowa); and Kathleen Bittel, career services advisor, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Online Division.

“The Federal Investment in For-Profit Education: Are Students Succeeding?” hearing is scheduled to be held at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Room 124. It will be Webcast live at http://help.senate.gov.

For more information about COE, visit the organization’s Web site at www.coenet.us. To view video footage from the hearing, including witness testimony, visit the HELP Committee’s Web site at http://help.senate.gov/hearings/.