Ethics in For-Profit College Admissions
Amanda Phelps
September 28, 2014
HUMN180

In this paper, I have attempted to illustrate what the public perception is of for-profit schools and of ethics in the for-profit college admissions department. The public opinion of low ethical standards, can impact the success of these schools in the future. This paper will illuminate the changes that they have made and will need to continue to make, in order to alter the perception, and allow this necessary, hands-on, private education to continue to fill the gaps of education that public colleges are simply unable to do.

Proposal

My chosen career field is College Admissions. I work for Westwood College and feel fortunate to do something that I am passionate about. I have the opportunity to work with prospective students, of varying backgrounds, that want to change the course of their lives. My job hinges on my ability to hear what they need and determine if they will achieve it by attending our school. I must think critically about who they are and determine how best to accommodate the needs of the student along with the needs of our school. My paper will outline the ethical and critical challenges that I face on a daily basis that, not only affect my career, but the lives of all of the students that I interact with.

My chosen career field is College Admissions. I work for Westwood College and feel fortunate to do something that I am passionate about. I have the opportunity to work with prospective students, of varying backgrounds, that want to change the course of their lives. My job hinges on my ability to hear what they need and determine if they will achieve it by attending our school. I must think critically about who they are and determine how best to accommodate the needs of the student along with the needs of our school. My paper will outline how the ethical and critical challenges that I face on a daily basis that, not only affect my career, but the lives of all of the students that I interact with. I will also note what the ethical expectations are of someone in my position, and what can happen if unethical behavior ensues.
To begin this paper, I think that is important to view this short video #6. This HBO, satirical clip on a late night “news” show, will give you an idea of what a knee jerk, System 1 heuristic thought, or snap-shot impression is of the for-profit colleges in our nation. Some of the video footage included in this clip is taken from a former Westwood employee. The employee separated from Westwood 7 years ago, but why muddy a good story with the truth? There are old facts mixed in with outdated statistics that I will clear up shortly, but I wanted to paint a very clear picture of what is at stake when personal gain, at the admissions level, is in play. Consistent, ethical behavior is now mandatory for admissions and within every department within our organization or the entire for-profit educational system could fall…..
There are recent for-profit schools that have been in the news, most recently is Corinthians College which is stated to be one of the largest for-profit education companies in the country. Corinthians is the parent company to schools like WyoTech, Everest Institute and Heald. Corinthian’s is facing restriction to Federal Funding due to their dropout rate, marketing and loan defaults, amongst their students. This in many ways can be traced back to deception or omission by the admissions representative that enrolled these students. If an admissions representative guarantees graduating income, specific job placement, inaccurate schedules or an unrealistic picture of what they will need to be successful in their chosen field of study, the student will not only be angry, but will be stuck paying for student loans that they cannot afford. When this student takes their story to the media, viewers make an instant judgment of what the “predatory’