Harkin Criticizes For-Profit Colleges For Deceptive Recruiting Practices

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, accused for-profit colleges of improperly focusing on the recruitment of emotionally vulnerable students.

“When students are enrolled through deception or fear, they are less prepared to meet the challenges of college,” Harkin said from the Senate floor late Monday. “Rather than offering students a better life, these types of strong-arm, emotionally abusive tactics are all too typical of schools that have little or no interest in providing students the academic help and support they need to succeed.”

Harkin charged that these practices are responsible for high drop-out rates.