Is online learning the wave of the future? How are proprietary institutions different than traditional universities? What is all the recent press regarding for-profit institutions? The answers to these questions, the addressing of misconceptions and much more are discussed in this month's conversation with Gary E. McCullough, the President and CEO of Career Education Corporation. The colleges, schools and universities that are part of the Career Education Corporation offer education to over 116,000 students across the world in a variety of career-oriented disciplines. We examine the aspects of online education and for-profit education and how it affects students, faculty and administrators in today's market.
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Andrew Hibel, HigherEdJobs: Mr. McCullough, you are currently the President and CEO of Career Education Corporation. Prior to joining the company, you served in leadership roles in traditional Fortune 500 companies. What prompted you to make the switch to the world of higher education?1
Gary E. McCullough, Career Education Corporation: When I was first approached about the CEO position at Career Education Corporation, I was skeptical about proprietary education. So I did some homework, which included my own "mystery shopping" of schools. I posed as a parent of a prospective student and had a very positive experience. That convinced me to leave the security of what I was doing and join Career Education. I appreciate the challenge of helping our company evolve as a true leader in postsecondary education. Most importantly, it's tremendously rewarding to see how we're changing lives through education.
Hibel: As mentioned in Career Education Corporation's background statement on your website, over 40% of your students attend web-based virtual campuses.2 Why do you think it is so important to offer this option to students?
McCullough: It's a challenging economy and most adults recognize the need to stay current, whether their field is accounting, information technology, health care, business or education. Today, for many people it is simply not an option to take a leave of absence or quit a job to complete a degree. People have commitments, whether at work or at home caring for children or other family members.
Online education provides busy people the convenience and flexibility of a 24/7 platform for learning. The majority of our students are working adults over 30 who have returned to school to get a degree to help advance or change their careers. They appreciate the opportunity to receive an education while balancing family and work. It is our responsibility to meet their needs by delivering high-quality education.
Read more here...http://bit.ly/dB5XJx
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
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