Career Education Corporation

Career Education Corporation
Public
Traded as NASDAQ: CECO
Industry Higher education and training services
Headquarters Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
Number of locations
 United States; Less than 10 campus locations, including online
Key people
 Todd Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Number of employees
 7,400
Website www.careered.com

Career Education Corporation (CECO), is a for-profit postsecondary higher education provider with campus-based and online programs, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois.[1] The company's schools offer a variety of associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in career-focused disciplines.

In 2016, Career Education Corporation had about 43,000 students. However, approximately 9,400 students came from schools that are shutting down. According to a 2014 US Senate Health, Education, Education, and Pensions report, 48% of Career Education's programs would have failed or been at risk of failing the US Department of Education's new "gainful employment" standards [2]

The organization will close most of its 50 campuses in the United States as the corporation downsizes to two brands: American International University and Colorado Technical University.[3]

History

Career Education was founded in 1994 by John M. Larson[4] who served as the company’s president, CEO and was a member of the board of directors until 2006. Under his leadership, Career Education grew to include over 24 U.S. campuses. In 2009, Career Education purchased the right to operate Le Cordon Bleu schools in the United States and Canada [5] and on July 1, 2003, Career Education Corporation merged with competitor Whitman Education Group, Inc., gaining control over the latter's Sanford-Brown Colleges, Ultrasound Diagnostic Schools (now known as the Sanford-Brown Institute), and Colorado Technical University. And also the former Western School of Health and Business.[6] In the same year, CEC was sued for inflating financial results and issuing misleading statements, thus violating the Securities Exchange Act.[7]

In March 2007, Gary McCullough joined the company[8] and served as CEO until November 2011, when Steven H. Lesnik assumed the role of president and CEO on an interim basis. Lesnik is the former chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education.[9] In April 2013, Scott Steffey—a veteran of Strayer Education Inc. and former vice chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) system—was named as Lesnik's permanent replacement.[10]

Until 2015, California Regent Richard Blum (Senator Dianne Feinstein's husband) was a significant shareholder of Career Education stock despite allegations of conflict of interest [11]

Todd S. Nelson was named CEO of Career Education Corporation in 2015. [12] Mr. Nelson was previously the CEO of Apollo Group (parent company of University of Phoenix), and Education Management Corporation, the parent company of the Art Institutes, Argosy University, Brown Mackie College, and South University.[13]

CECO schools

Controversies and federal scrutiny

Career Education was investigated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission[14] for various issues of non-compliance in 2005. On February 15, 2005, the company announced an adjustment related to an increase in the estimate for its allowance for doubtful accounts and a restatement for a change in revenue recognition method for its Culinary and Healthcare externships.[15] In January 2008, CEC reported that the SEC has closed its investigation and will take no action against the company.[16][17][18] A Department of Justice investigation began in 1994[19] and was terminated in April 2007, with the DOJ declining prosecution.

In June 2005, the U.S. Department of Education prohibited CECO from expanding until it had resolved issues with financial statements and program reviews connected with Collins College and Brooks College two CECO schools.[20] In January 2007, the U.S. Department of Education lifted its restrictions on the company opening new schools or acquiring existing ones.[21]

Career Education's American InterContinental University was placed on probation in December 2005 with its accrediting agency, SACS.[22] The probation status was reviewed after one year, in December 2006, and extended an additional 12 months.[23] On December 11, 2007, CEC announced that SACS has removed AIU's probation and that the university's accreditation remains in good standing.[24]

Brooks College, a Career Education owned school, was the subject of an unfavorable examination of for-profit trade schools in the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes which focused on alleged misrepresentations by admission representatives to prospective students. A CBS producer with a hidden camera visited several Career Education schools in the New York area, including the Katharine Gibbs School.[25] In June 2007, Career Education announced its plan to close both campuses of Brooks College.[26]

In January 2007, the New York State Education Department reported deficiencies at the Katharine Gibbs School's New York campus. The problems related to faculty qualifications and remedial course offerings. Career Education has since closed Katharine Gibbs School's New York campus.[27]

California Culinary Academy, which was purchased by Career Education in 1999, was the subject of an unfavorable article in the San Francisco Weekly focusing on alleged misrepresentations and omissions made to prospective students to enroll them in the school.[28] According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, a lawsuit was filed over the matter.[29]

On November 1, 2011 Career Education's Chief Executive Officer resigned as corporate profits significantly fell and allegations were made involving inflated student placement statistics at its career-oriented schools in New York.[30][31] Over the year the stock value dropped about 48%.[32] Steve Lesnik was appointed by the Board of Directors to serve as the new CEO. Lesnik was also a visiting lecturer at Northwestern University and a Director of the Illinois Math & Science Academy Foundation.[33] Several lawsuits were filed by investors who claimed they were defrauded. CEO Gary McCullough was paid nearly $9.8 million in 2011.[34]

In 2013, Career Education Corporation paid $10.25 million to settle the state of New York’s claim that the company systematically deceived students by advertising bogus job placement rates. [35]

In 2014, Career Education Corporation was under investigation by more than a dozen states Attorneys General, although no charges of any kind have been filed by them. The company said it was cooperating fully with the request for information.[36]

In 2014, the NY Times reported that if the Obama Administration's "gainful employment" proposals were to go into effect, 39% of Career Education's programs would fail student loan debt to earnings measurements, making them ineligible for federal funds.[37]

In 2015, the US Department of Education reported that Career Education Corporation schools were under heightened cash monitoring because of concerns about their finances or compliance with federal requirements.[38]

Downsizing

In June 2007 Career Education announced that it would close the Brooks College campuses in Sunnyvale and Long Beach, California, and the Pittsburgh branch of the International Academy of Design and Technology. No new enrollments would be accepted, and the final graduation dates would be September 2008 at the Sunnyvale campus, December 2008 in Pittsburgh, and March 2009 in Long Beach.[39]

On February 2008 Career Education Corporation announced that it would also phase out operations of nine money-losing colleges, including several Gibbs College campuses, Lehigh Valley College, and McIntosh College in New Hampshire and to seek permission to convert two Gibbs college locations to Sanford-Brown College campuses.[26]

On February 18, 2008 CECO's American InterContinental University announced plans to gradually close down its Los Angeles campus. Current students would have the opportunity to complete their programs, but no new students would be enrolled. Dr. George Miller, CEO of American InterContinental University, said “the impact of a two-year probation, coupled with the current market for AIU’s programs in Los Angeles, is such that the student population at the campus has decreased significantly, and likely will not reach the sustainable level necessary to support the addition of new programs and necessary resources.”[40]

In January 2011, the company announced it would be laying off 600 people.[41] Due to continued declining enrollment, additional plans to lay off as much as 7% of CEC's workforce (900 jobs) and close 23 schools were announced on November 8, 2012.[42] The corporation made the announcement as it reported a $33.1 million net loss for the third quarter of 2012, as well a 23 percent decline in enrollment from a year ago. The Chicago Sun Times explained that "a U.S. Senate committee report last summer criticized for-profit schools for focusing on their own profits above their students’ job-readiness and for burdening students with loan debt at taxpayers’ expense. The scrutiny has hurt for-profit college enrollment."[43] 25% of the current faculty at the California Culinary Academy were notified of their termination in mid November, effective December 31, 2012.

Year over year, student enrollment dropped 16% from 2012 to 2013.[44]

In 2015, Harrington College of Design in Chicago announced a planned closure. Purchased by Career Education Corporation in 1999, the school has experienced declining enrollment and will close permanently by August 2018.[45]

On May 7, 2015 CECO announced the closure of its 14 remaining Sanford-Brown Colleges. Teach-outs of the remaining students were expected to take at least 18 months, depending on their programs.[46]

On December 16, 2015 CECO announced that it would close all 16 Le Cordon Bleu campuses in the United States.[47] CECO had previously placed the brand up for sale.[48]

References

  1. ↑ "Legal Terms and Conditions." (Archive) Career Education Corporation. Retrieved on May 8, 2012. "Career Education Corporation 2895 Greenspoint Parkway, Suite 600 Hoffman Estates, IL 60196"
  2. ↑ http://static1.squarespace.com/static/556718b2e4b02e470eb1b186/t/5600765de4b0b3ef2f01fa2b/1442870877865/CareedED+2.pdf
  3. ↑ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/career-education-corporation-reports-results-200500931.html
  4. ↑ "Some Things You Just Can't Teach" (PDF). The New York Times. 2005-05-15.
  5. ↑ "Career Education Corporation Announces Purchase of Le Cordon Bleu Brand Rights for Culinary Education Programs". Reuters.com. 2009-08-05.
  6. ↑ "Mr. John M. Larson, Executive Chairman". TriumphEducation.com. 2012-09-14.
  7. ↑ "GLRS Files Class Action Lawsuit against Career Education Corporation". December 22, 2003. Archived from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved Jul 27, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Career Education CEO Gary McCullough resigns". ChicagoBusiness.com. 2011-11-01.
  9. ↑ "Career Education chief resigns". ChicagoTribune.com. 2011-11-02.
  10. ↑ "Subscription Center". ChicagoBusiness.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  11. ↑ "Billion Dollar Baby: The University of California invests $53 million in two diploma mills owned by a regent.. Category: Page One from". The Berkeley Daily Planet. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  12. ↑ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150731005262/en/Career-Education-Names-Experienced-Education-Industry-Executive
  13. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/for-profit-colleges-romney_b_2058261.html
  14. ↑ "Subscription Center". ChicagoBusiness.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  15. ↑ "Career Education Corporation Reports Results for 2004 Fourth Quarter and Year-End". Businesswire.com. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Career Education says SEC ends investigation without action". Reuters. 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  17. ↑ "Securities and Exchange Commission Ends Probe of Career Education Corp. - Graduate Students - The Chronicle of Higher Education". Chronicle.com. 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  18. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080618182447/http://money.cnn.com:80/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/f50ccca8a19d03d81fc788cb754b4ff5.htm. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2008. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ "Company News - Justice Department Is Investigating Career Education - Nytimes.Com". New York Times. 2004-09-03. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  20. ↑ "Career Education Corp - ‘8-K’ for 5/23/06". SEC Info. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  21. ↑ "Career Education announces the U.S. Department of Education lifts growth restrictions". Reuters. 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  22. ↑ Archived December 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑ Archived August 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  24. ↑ "American InterContinental University Announces Positive Result in Accreditation Review". Businesswire.com. 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  25. ↑ Rebecca Leung (2005-01-31). "For-Profit College: Costly Lesson". CBS News. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  26. 1 2 "Career Education Corp. Will Close 3 Colleges It Has Tried to Sell - News - The Chronicle of Higher Education". Chronicle.com. 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  27. ↑ "Doors are closing at Katharine Gibbs". New York: Nydailynews.com. 2008-02-15.
  28. ↑ Archived September 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  29. ↑
  30. ↑ "Attorney General of the State of New York v Career Education Corporation" (PDF). Big.assets.huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  31. ↑ "Career Education Corp. Reaches $10 Million Settlement In Investigation Of Bogus Job Placements". Huffingtonpost.com. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  32. ↑ "CECO Historical Prices". Finance.yahoo.com. 2012-09-25.
  33. ↑ "Career Education Corporation Appoints Steven H. Lesnik to Board of Directors". Sec.gov. 2006-02-16.
  34. ↑ "Career Education: Ex-CEO took home $9.8 million in 2011 - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  35. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/career-education-corp-settlement_n_3782418.html
  36. ↑ "Senator Durbin Takes For-Profit Fight to Illinois Classrooms". Enewspf.com. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  37. ↑ Carey, Kevin (2014-07-02). "Corinthian Colleges Is Closing. Its Students May Be Better Off as a Result.". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  38. ↑ https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/03/31/education-department-names-most-colleges-facing-heightened-scrutiny-federal
  39. ↑ Archived April 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ "Career Ed to cut 600 jobs in latest cost reduction | Chicago Breaking Business". Archive.chicagobreakingbusiness.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  42. ↑ "Career Ed to cut 900 jobs, close 23 campuses - Chicago Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  43. ↑ "Chicago | Chicago : News : Politics : Things To Do : Sports". Suntimes.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  44. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20141023181821/http://seekingalpha.com/pr/9104823-career-education-corporation-reports-results-for-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2013?source=email_rt_mc_body&app=n. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. ↑ Sweeney, Brigid (1 April 2015). "Harrington College of Design to close". Crain’s Chicago Business. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  46. ↑ Career Education Corporation Announces Strategy to Focus Resources on Its University Group
  47. ↑ http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Le-Cordon-Bleu-to-End-Culinary-Classes-in-US-362705821.html/ |Retrieved December 17,2015
  48. ↑ "Career Education Announces Intent to Divest Le Cordon Bleu Colleges of Culinary Arts". Careered.com. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

Further reading

External links

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