Ald. Milele Coggs
Press Release

New legislation targets predatory schools, protects students

Statement of Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs June 11, 2013

By - Jun 11th, 2013 03:30 pm

I am very pleased to see legislation that I authored which targets predatory, for-profit “institutions of higher learning” pass with the unanimous support of my colleagues on the Common Council today. The measure was co-sponsored by Aldermen Tony Zielinski, Willie C. Wade, José G. Pérez, Robert Bauman, Nik Kovac and Jim Bohl.

For too long, these colleges and universities have overpromised on results and underperformed on education, saddling students with a heap of debt that they have no way to pay off. These institutions target first-generation and low-income students who might not be familiar with the educational options that are available to them, and then take advantage of them.

This legislation ensures that no institution that fails to meet federal guidelines will receive any sort of financial assistance or support from the City of Milwaukee. It is my hope that this measure will prevent the sort of fiasco that my district experienced when Everest College opened up shop several years ago, only to achieve pitiful results and then shut its doors.

No student should ever have his or her desire to live the American Dream taken advantage of by unscrupulous for-profit colleges and universities.

This legislation sends the message loud and clear that this sort of practice is not welcome in Milwaukee.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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