Kaplan University today announced the launch of Kaplan MyPath(TM), a new program that utilizes career planning and student success diagnostics to help students craft a course of study that maximizes their career potential. Kaplan is among the first online universities to utilize these assessment tools among all freshmen to address study skills and career focus before they begin their academic program.

“Kaplan MyPath will help us identify students’ learning strengths and weaknesses so that we can provide the tools they need to be successful while at the same time giving them the ability to pinpoint careers that best suit their talents,” said Wade Britt, Executive Director of Academic Operations at Kaplan University. “Many college students change their majors three times before settling on a career path. By utilizing these assessments before students begin their academic program, we can help them personalize their education, zero in on their career goals and have a stellar academic experience.”

Most Kaplan University students pursue their degrees online because the web platform offers convenience and flexibility for those who are juggling work and family responsibilities while pursuing their education. Kaplan offers its students a wide variety of support tools, such as academic advising, online tutoring, career counseling and success coaching, to make pursuing their post secondary education less daunting. The new Kaplan MyPath program takes the University’s student support services one step further. Read full story.

Imagine trying to chat up a hottie at a bar by saying, “I’ve got a degree from the University of Phoenix.”

Listen up, all you aspiring Don Juans: A degree from a for-profit university has no cachet. The sector survives by scooping up as many Federal student loan dollars as it possibly can. Uncle Sam won a multi-million dollar settlement from the University of Phoenix (APOL) for overly aggressive recruiting.

So, naturally, the for-profit education sector is booming and now enrolls about a million students nationwide.

The money-making enterprises don’t offer ivy-covered walls, football teams or endless bull sessions at the student union. They do, however, fill a need. Read full story.

Heading into the political conventions, we review the two parties’ emergent platforms with respect to higher education. As might be expected, both parties are strongly in favor of it.

On balance, we characterize both parties’ platforms as equally favorable for the publicly traded providers. The Democratic platform favors new spending – but focuses primarily on traditional students. The Republican platform appears to represent a more fluid continuation of current policies, which are more critical of the status quo among traditional not-for-profit schools.

The following highlights include content culled from a draft copy of the Democrat’s platform document by the Chronicle of Higher Education, and information from the two candidates’ Web sites.

The political focus of the Barack Obama plan is on improving affordability with a strong emphasis on traditional students. It includes more new funding than the John McCain proposals though these benefits may not be relevant to the majority of non-traditional students enrolled at Career Schools. Read full story.

“In the past few years there has been a literal explosion of online programs,” said Chelsea Koehnen, vice president of strategic planning for EDU Interactive and EduDegreeDirectory. “The increased range of school choices can make it hard for degree seekers to decide on the right program.”

With today’s variety of online programs, there is a strong need for a tool like this.
EduDegreeDirectory helps users better identify programs that fit their educational needs by providing information on literally hundreds of different programs from the associate level all the way through to doctoral. It also helps match their interests with what is currently available to them.

“EduDegreeDirectory is designed to make the decision process easier, by providing useful information and helping degree seekers sort through their options and find the right program,” Koehnen said.

Located online at www.edudegreedirectory.com/degree-finder/, the new tool also offers students information on what is involved in different programs and it helps them see what careers might be available to them when certain degrees are sought.

With major colleges and universities offering everything from associates degree programs online to master degree programs online and beyond, it can be overwhelming for students to pinpoint a program to pursue. Koehnen states, “EduDegreeDirectory gives users the ability to not only find programs that are available, but also to learn more about how a particular degree will translate into a career down the road.”

As sophisticated as EduDegreeDirectory is behind the scenes, the Web site is very easy for students to use. It walks students through an initial process that enables them to define their unique areas of interest, the level of their past education and their preferred method of learning; online or on campus. Once this is complete, the tool presents students with a listing of schools that meet their preferences.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer EduDegreeDirectory to students who are seeking reliable information on how best to meet their educational needs in the online arena,” said Koehnen. “With today’s variety of online programs, there is a strong need for a tool like this.”

For more information about EDU Interactive, EduDegreeDirectory, or online college degree programs, visit the site or contact Chelsea Koehnen at (619) 515-9799.

About EDU Interactive
EDU Interactive was founded in 2006 to assist colleges and universities in getting the word out about their programs. The company was launched on the combined talents of Bob Baker, the former executive vice president of University of Phoenix and the current president of the Barker EDUcational Services Team, and David Castle, president of Castle Advertising. The San Diego-based company assists colleges and universities with everything from branding and lead generation to student retention and market analysis.

“In many critical professions, there is a shortage of skilled workers in the U.S. which, if left unchecked, will constrain long-term economic growth,” said Robert L. Martin, President of IAF. “Without the training that career colleges provide, employers would struggle to find or train employees to fill their needs.”

The report, Filling America’s Skilled Worker Shortage: the Role of Career Colleges, provides a comprehensive review of the U.S. labor force skills shortage by industry, and the role of the nation’s nearly 2,900 career colleges in meeting the high demand for occupations in health professions, business management, computer and information systems, education, communications technologies, and legal profession and studies. The report asserts that graduates of career colleges could fill approximately 22 percent of the job openings in these occupations.

Notable findings in the study are the following:

IT & Engineering

• Career college graduates represent approximately 24 percent of the annual 35,000 job openings needed for network systems and data communications analysts;
• Career college graduates represent approximately 18 percent of the annual 31,000 job openings for computer and information systems managers; and
• Career colleges produce graduates that could fill approximately 47 percent of the 13,000 annual job openings needed for electrical engineering technicians.
  Allied Health
• Career colleges produce graduates that could fill about 18 percent of the 31,000 annual job openings needed for licensed practical nurses;
• Career college programs play an integral role in training future health management professionals, graduating students who are able to fill 51 percent of the 9,000 annual employer demand for medical and health service managers;
• Career college training programs are responsible for graduating more than 10,000 aspiring pharmacy aides and technicians each year, which accounts for 55 percent of the estimated 19,000 annual job openings; and
• Each year career colleges graduate enough students to satisfy 43 percent of the 7,000 annual job openings for radiologic technologists and technicians.

“Career colleges play a critical role in the supply of skilled workers by not only training students for entry-level positions, but by also providing ongoing education to support career advancement, management training, and retraining for new professions and occupations,” said Jane Smalec, Director of Consulting Services at Eduventures, Inc.

Filling America’s Skilled Worker Shortage: the Role of Career Colleges was compiled for the Imagine America Foundation by Eduventures, Inc. The study draws upon data from the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau.

For more information about Filling America’s Skilled Worker Shortage: the Role of Career Colleges or to view an executive summary of the report , please visit www.imagine-america.org.

About the Imagine America Foundation
The Imagine America Foundation (IAF), established in 1982, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarship, research and training support for the career college sector. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $37 million in scholarship and award support for graduating high school seniors, adult learners and U.S. military veterans attending career colleges nationwide through its award-winning Imagine America® programs. The Foundation also publishes vital research publications for the higher education sector, honors achievement in career education and offer faculty development training. For more information about the Imagine America Foundation’s scholarship and award programs and publications, please visit www.imagine-america.org.

MOST people struggling to pay off their student loans keep quiet about it. They do not want to acknowledge that, perhaps in a fit of naïve, youthful optimism, they borrowed more than they could handle.

Then there is Alan Collinge, who for years has described his struggle with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt to anyone who will listen. He has appeared on “60 Minutes” criticizing Sallie Mae, the nation’s largest student lender, and has been quoted in the pages of this and other newspapers attacking loan companies.

“I’m sort of the complaint box for the industry,” says Mr. Collinge, who runs a Web site called StudentLoanJustice.org out of his spartan apartment here. Read full story.

James Russell didn’t understand how letters form syllables, let alone how words link into whole statements, when he first walked into a Rio Salado College classroom eight months ago.

The 78-year-old couldn’t grasp enough written English to fill out a job application.

A heart attack ended Russell’s lawn service career last year. But retirement isn’t an option for a man without savings.

“I want to do something with my head instead of my back,” said Russell, who now reads at a fourth-grade-level thanks to community college classes.

Russell is a dramatic example of one of higher education’s greatest challenges: working adults.

Classes begin this week at the Valley’s universities and community colleges, where administrators are trying to expand programs for the population of older, busier students.

Despite those efforts, the number of older students at most of the state’s public institutions has stagnated. College officials blame budget constraints.

“There is always demand for adult education, and the demand is larger than what we can fill across the state,” said Kathy Price, coordinator of Rio Salado’s adult basic education program.

At Arizona State University, the number of students over the age of 35 actually shrunk slightly, enrollment data shows. That decline came in spite of the university’s overall growth and the creation of several programs to serve working adults.

But some institutions, particularly community colleges and private for-profit universities, are faring better.  Read full story.

For most students, college is a four-year rite of passage - a time to dabble in multiple subjects before settling on a major or a chance to spend a semester abroad - with frat parties sprinkled in between.

That’s a luxury some students say they can no longer afford.

Soaring tuition costs are prompting a small but growing number of students to compress their college careers into three years and, in the process, save their parents and themselves tens of thousands of dollars. Few schools have current statistics tracking three-year graduates, but several college officials and education specialists predict that more students at private schools will choose this option amid the troubled student loan market and the overall economic downturn.

“A lot of institutions, as well as students and families, are looking for ways to get through college without leaving [students] with additional debt,” said Barbara Brittingham, director of the higher education commission for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. “It’s not just another year they don’t have to pay; it’s also another year to earn.” Read full story.

eCollege provides a comprehensive course management system and associated services to power DeVry Inc.’s fully online courses and blended learning courses (using both on-campus and online tools). DeVry uses the eCollege solution for DeVry University, including its Keller Graduate School of Management, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Ross University and Becker Professional Review.

“DeVry is extending our 11-year partnership with eCollege because they continue to lead the market with outstanding products, services and performance,” said Steve P. Riehs, Vice President and General Manager, DeVry Online. “eCollege provides a reliable, high-quality online learning experience that is always available when our students are ready to learn.”

DeVry University offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, technology and management. In addition to 90+ locations, DeVry University students can earn their degrees completely online or through blended learning models of on-campus classes with online supplements. The university enjoys significant student success. Since 1975, DeVry University has graduated more than 230,000 undergraduate students. Of those in the active job market, 90.2% were employed in career-related positions within six months of graduation. DeVry University has been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association since 1981.

“DeVry University is a nationally recognized leader in online and distance education with a proven track record of meeting the growing and diverse needs of their students,” said Matt Leavy, Chief Executive Officer at eCollege. “eCollege and DeVry are continuing this most productive partnership, which in the end, will offer students greater access to education and lifetime achievement.”

About eCollege

eCollege, a Pearson company (LSE: PSON, NYSE: PSO), is a leading provider of a comprehensive course management system and associated services to postsecondary institutions and K-12 education. The company provides an on-demand eLearning solution that supports many of the most successful, fully online degree, certificate/diploma and professional development programs in the country, and increasingly, around the world. Pearson, the international media company, is the global leader in educational publishing, assessment, information and services, helping people of all ages to learn at their own pace, in their own way. In addition to Education, Pearson’s primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, visit www.ecollege.com or www.pearson.com.

About DeVry Inc.

DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV) is the parent organization of DeVry University, Advanced Academics, Ross University, Chamberlain College of Nursing and Becker Professional Review. DeVry University, which includes Keller Graduate School of Management, offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in technology, healthcare technology, business and management. Advanced Academics provides online secondary education to school districts throughout the U.S. Ross University offers doctoral degree programs through its schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Chamberlain College of Nursing offers associate and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing. Becker Professional Review, which includes Becker CPA Review and Stalla Review for the CFA Exams, provides professional education and exam review for accounting and finance professionals. For more information, visit http://www.devryinc.com.