Texas College Doesn’t Need No Education

Just money, some students claim

By HOLLY LAFON

Updated 2:45 PM CDT, Fri, Aug 28, 2009

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Thirteen students have brought a suit against for-profit education providers Corinthian, Rhodes and Everest Colleges, saying they didn’t deliver on their promises and only care about money.

"Corinthian Colleges Inc. is one of the largest for-profit, post-secondary education companies in North America, with more than 69,000 students at over 100 campuses within the United States and Canada. Our campuses offer short-term diploma and/or degree programs in a variety of popular career fields," their Web site claims.

When the students complained about the quality of education they were receiving at the campuses in Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington, they were told they would have to take the class over, at their own expense - even after one Arlington instructor simply stopped attending class, they claim.

They are also alleging false advertising, believing that Everests’ claim of having between a 90 and 99.9 percent job placement rate is false, and saying that their credits could not transfer out of Corinthian though they were told otherwise.

"Not only were many instructors unqualified, disinterested, or inexplicable absent from class, but the curriculum often lacked rigor and failed to challenge plaintiffs. Much classroom instruction involved reading from overhead slide, and meaningful homework assignments were rare,” their complaint reads.

Corinthian has been subject to numerous other similar lawsuits in recent years. One might wonder how a company with so many lawsuits could stay in business, but educational companies such as Corinthian have been fairing well overall in the recession. Corinthian’s revenue was up 29 percent this year over last year.

"While the recession helps drive enrollment growth, it also creates challenges in terms of career placement and student loan repayment," Peter Waller, the company’s chief executive officer added. "In fiscal 2010 we will continue to make substantial investments in both of these areas, to help graduates achieve their career goals and meet their financial obligations in a difficult economy."

Holly LaFon has written and worked for various local publications including D Magazine and Examiner.