cnbc.com
Biden Administratrion Forgives $4.5 Billion in Student Loans for Ashford University Students
The Biden administration announced $4.5 billion in student loan forgiveness for 261,000 borrowers who attended Ashford University due to the university's deceptive recruitment practices, which were revealed in a California lawsuit that resulted in a $20 million penalty against Ashford's parent company.
- What long-term changes in higher education regulations might result from this case?
- This loan forgiveness sets a precedent for holding for-profit colleges accountable for deceptive practices. Future implications include increased scrutiny of for-profit institutions and potentially stricter regulations to protect students from predatory practices. The case underscores the need for greater transparency in higher education costs and career outcomes.
- How did Ashford University's deceptive practices contribute to the large-scale student debt crisis?
- Ashford University's deceptive recruitment tactics, including false promises of career outcomes and tuition costs, led to significant financial harm for students. The loan forgiveness addresses the systemic issue of predatory for-profit colleges. The 90% student dropout rate and low income levels among graduates highlight the severity of the institution's misconduct.
- What is the immediate impact of the $4.5 billion student loan forgiveness for Ashford University students?
- The Biden administration announced $4.5 billion in student loan forgiveness for 261,000 borrowers who attended Ashford University due to deceptive practices by the university. This follows a California lawsuit revealing Ashford misled students about program costs and career prospects, resulting in unusable degrees and significant debt. The California Department of Justice secured a $20 million penalty against Ashford's parent company.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and introduction immediately establish a negative tone, focusing on the loan forgiveness as a consequence of deceptive practices. This framing emphasizes the wrongdoing of Ashford and preempts a balanced presentation of the issue. The repeated emphasis on deception and the negative consequences for students reinforces this negative framing throughout the article.
Language Bias
The article uses strong, negative language such as "misled," "deceptive," "lied to," and "wasted years." While accurately reflecting the accusations, this language lacks neutrality and could influence reader perception against Ashford University. More neutral alternatives could be used, such as "misinformation," "inaccurate information," or "unfulfilled promises.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the negative aspects of Ashford University and the harm done to students, but omits any potential positive aspects or counterarguments from Ashford University, Zovio Inc., or the University of Arizona. It does not mention any efforts made by these entities to rectify the situation or any successes students might have had despite the misleading information. This omission creates a one-sided narrative.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by portraying the situation as solely a case of deceptive practices by Ashford University versus the wronged students. It doesn't explore the complexities of for-profit education, the students' own choices in selecting the university, or the potential role of government oversight in regulating such institutions.
Gender Bias
The article doesn't contain overt gender bias. However, it lacks data on the gender breakdown of affected students, preventing an assessment of potential gender disparities in the impact of the deceptive practices.
Sustainable Development Goals
The loan forgiveness directly addresses the negative impact of misleading educational practices on students. By rectifying the harm caused by Ashford University's deceptive recruitment tactics and false promises, this action contributes to ensuring quality education and prevents similar exploitation in the future. The deceptive practices prevented students from achieving their educational goals and caused significant financial harm, hindering their ability to access quality education. The loan forgiveness alleviates this harm and promotes access to quality education.