Everest College

Everest College was a system of colleges in the United States, and with Wyotech, made up Zenith Education. It was until 2015 a system of for-profit colleges in the United States and the Canadian province of Ontario, owned and operated by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. In 2021, former Everest students were made eligible for automatic student loan debt relief through the US Department of Education.[1]

Everest College
TypeNon-profit career school
Established2007 (2007)
FounderCorinthian Colleges
Parent institution
Zenith Education Group (Educational Credit Management Corporation)
Location
United States
Websitewww.everest.edu

History

In 2010, Corinthian Colleges consolidated a number of schools under the Everest brand name. Former schools that became Everest Colleges include: Bryman College, Ashmead College, Florida Metropolitan University, Olympia College, Kee Business College, Parks College, Western Business College, Blair College and Springfield College. In December 2009, Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (CCi) re-branded their campuses as Everest College and sold the remaining campuses. Eminata Group.[2]

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a Corinthian Everest campus was financed with $11 million in city bonds, 25% of students found jobs and over half dropped out; the campus closed in 2012, two years after it opened.[3][4]

The diplomas issued by Everest College were described as worthless as many graduated students found no job placement, the reputation tainted.[5]

The Ontario government stepped in and shut down 14 Everest College of Business, Health Care and Technology campus locations owned by Corinthian Colleges on February 19, 2015. The next day, Everest College declared bankruptcy.[6]

In February 2015, Educational Credit Management Corporation's subsidiary Zenith Education Group acquired 56 Everest College and WyoTech campuses from Corinthian.[7] Zenith planned to transition the schools from for-profit to nonprofit status. It also planned to eliminate some programs with poor completion and job placement rates.[8] Campuses with little to no revenue along with the 15 Everest campuses in California, which were not acquired by ECMC, closed their doors for good when Corinthian Colleges shuttered all of their remaining campuses on April 27, 2015.[9]

In March 2016, the US Department of Education fired Everest College's monitor, Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose Ltd., implicating several conflicts of interest.[10] The State of California was also awarded $1.1 billion from Corinthian Colleges for false advertising and predatory business practices.[11] The judge ordered restitution of $820 million for students.[12]

A 2016 Associated Press investigation alleged that Everest still recruits through telemarketing, has yet to make significant changes to its shoddy curriculum. Recent graduates also reported being unable to find work that would allow them to pay their student loans.[13]

Funding

Approximately 96% of Everest's funds come from the US government.[14] In 2016, ECMC, Everest's parent company, provided an infusion of capital to keep the schools running.[15]

Accreditation

Accreditation for Everest College varies by country, state and region. Everest College campuses that are regionally accredited are Everest College Phoenix, Everest College Mesa and online courses taught through Everest College Phoenix. All other Everest College campuses are nationally accredited.[16]

Generally, credits from nationally accredited institutions are not transferable to other colleges and universities.[17]

In 2009 Everest College Phoenix was placed on academic probation by its accrediting body over concerns that it did not have enough autonomy and control over on-campus academics and operations from the parent company, Corinthian Colleges, Inc. In September 2010, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools rejected a recommendation from its evaluation panel that the school's accreditation be revoked outright. In November 2010 the Higher Learning Commission voted to place the campus on a "Show-Cause" status which will require the College to demonstrate to the commission why its accreditation should not be revoked. Everest College Phoenix had until March 2011 to respond to the request and the matter was not expected to be resolved until November 2011. The College remained an accredited institution during this period.[18]

Locations

The National Center for Education Statistics lists the following Everest Colleges and their 2015–2016 enrollments[19] and accreditation status:[20]

  • Colorado Springs (CO) – 209 (ACICS)
  • Thornton (CO) – 232 (ACICS)
  • Orange Park (FL) – 368 (ACICS)
  • Tampa (FL) – 375 (ACICS)
  • Atlanta-West (GA) – 467 (ACCSC)
  • Norcross (GA) – 279 (ACCSC)
  • Southfield (MI) – 555 (ACCSC)
  • South Plainfield (NJ) – 374 (ACCSC)
  • Columbus (OH) – 228 (ACCSC)
  • Henderson (NV) – 417 (ACICS)
  • Arlington (TX) – 390 (ACICS)
  • Fort Worth (TX) – 437 (ACICS)
  • Houston-Bissonnet (TX) – 590 (ACCSC)
  • Houston-Hobby (TX) – 464 (ACCSC)
  • Austin (TX) – 371 (ACCSC)
  • San Antonio (TX) – 273 (ACCSC)
  • Chesapeake (VA) – 321 (ACICS)
  • Woodbridge (VA) – 342 (ACICS)
  • Everett (WA) – 278 (ACICS)
  • Tacoma (WA) – 278 (ACICS)
  • Milwaukee (WI) - 414 (ACCSC)

Political influence

From 2014 to 2016, Podesta Group received at least $580,000 as the major lobbying firm for ECMC Group, Everest College's parent company.[21][22][23]

Main article: Corinthian Colleges § Legal proceedings

In the United States

Everest was one of 15 for-profit colleges cited by the Government Accountability Office for deceptive or questionable statements that were made to undercover investigators posing as applicants. Two unnamed campuses were cited in this report.[24] Department of Education statistics indicated that Everest College graduates had the highest default rate of any school in California for students entering repayment in 2010[25] and the fifth highest rate in Arizona.[26]

In September 2010, a group of Everest College graduates sued the school for fraud, alleging deceptive recruitment practices concerning costs of attendance, the value of the degree, and whether credits earned there would transfer to other schools.[27]

In 2012, Everest College in Hayward, California was issued a "Notice to Comply" by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for multiple violations, including engaging in "prohibited business practices".[28]

In Canada

In 2014, Everest announced the sale of all 14 locations in Canada after a probe by the parent company over concerns of falsified job placement and grades.[29] In February 2015, Canada's National Association of Career Colleges announced that Everest College's Ontario locations had their operating license suspended by Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (Ontario).[30]

On February 19, 2015, Ontario's superintendent of private career colleges, the independent regulator that governs schools like Everest and others in the province, said it has suspended the chain's licence to operate in Ontario as a private college, effective immediately. [31] Former students and teachers claim the college was corrupt and a scam.[32] On February 20, 2015, Everest College Canada filed for Bankruptcy protection.[33]

Former campuses

United States campuses were formerly found in the states of Arizona (2 campuses), California (15), Colorado (2), Georgia (4), Indiana (1), Illinois (5), Missouri (2), Michigan, Nevada (1), Oregon (1), Texas (3), Utah (1), Virginia (3), Washington (5) and Wisconsin (1).

Everest College of Business, Health Care and Technology formerly operated 16 campus locations in Ontario.[34]

Two more campuses (Pittsburgh, PA and Aurora, CO) were closed in 2016.[35]

Corinthian debt cancellation

On June 8, 2015, the Department of Education announced that it was developing a process that would allow former students of Everest (along with other Corinthian schools) to apply for debt relief, if they believed they were victims of fraud.[36] While the Department has still not created a formal process, they have provided the outlines of what borrowers should submit if they wish to pursue debt cancellation on the Federal Student Aid website.[37]

In addition, the advocacy group the Debt Collective[38] has created its own, unofficial "Defense to Repayment App" that allows former students of Corinthian and other schools accused of fraud to pursue debt cancellation.[39] The applications generated through the Debt Collective's online form was cited by the Department of Education in a Federal Register notice, which said that "a need for a clearer process for potential claimants" arose due to the submission of over 1000 defense to repayment claims by "a building debt activism movement".[40]

References
  1. Hardy, Adam. "Automatic Student Loan Forgiveness Coming for Nearly Half a Million". www.yakimaherald.com. Yakima Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. CCI sells campuses to Eminata Group Archived 2015-02-19 at the Wayback Machine News Release Dec. 14, 2010
  3. Herzog, Karen (18 October 2012). "University of Phoenix to close three state campuses". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  4. "Cashing in on Kids: 139 ALEC Bills in 2013 Promote a Private, For-Profit Education Model". PR Watch. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  5. Harris, Sophia. "Everest College grads want loan forgiveness for 'worthless' diploma". CBC News. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. "Everest College files for bankruptcy as other schools offer help". CBC News. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  7. "Guaranty agency buys half of Corinthian Colleges and forgives $480 million in student debt". Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  8. Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle (3 February 2015). "Here's how a debt collector plans to turn around failing for-profit colleges". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  9. Sevilla, Mario (April 29, 2015). "FAQS about Heald, Everest, And Wyotech Campuses". KRON-TV. Archived from the original on 2015-05-28. Retrieved 2015-06-09. Corinthian Colleges shut down all of its remaining 28 ground campuses on Monday, April 27, displacing 16,000 students. Hundreds of students were left with unfinished diplomas and loan debt. The shutdown comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Department of Education announcing it was fining the for-profit institution $30 million for misrepresentation.
  10. "US to fire monitor overseeing formerly for-profit colleges - San Francisco Chronicle". Archived from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  11. "Everest College Lawsuit: What should borrowers know about forgiveness options". studentloansresolved.com. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  12. "LA Times". touch.latimes.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  13. "Trouble remains following failed for-profit schools' revival". Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  14. "133 for-profit colleges get more than 90 percent of their revenue from taxpayers". s3.amazonaws.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  15. "Zenith Education gets a new leader, $250 million as it seeks to turn around former Corinthian programs". Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  16. "Everest: Accreditation Information". everest.edu. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  17. Tussling Over Transfer of Credit, Inside Higher Ed, February 26, 2007 by Doug Lederman
  18. "Credentials of Everest College in jeopardy," The Arizona Republic, November 17, 2010.
  19. "College Navigator – Search Results". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  20. "Transparency Center – Zenith Education Group". Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  21. "Lobbying Spending Database - ECMC Group, 2015 - OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  22. "Lobbying Spending Database - ECMC Group, 2014 - OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  23. "Lobbying Spending Database - ECMC Group, 2016 - OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  24. Vise, Daniel de; Paul Kane (2010-08-05). "GAO: 15 for-profit colleges used deceptive recruiting tactics". The Washington Post. ISSN 0740-5421. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  25. Perez, Erica (27 September 2010). "For-profit Everest College has highest student loan default rate in state". California Watch. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  26. Pallack, Becky (14 September 2010). "Ariz. is worst for student loan defaults". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  27. Maffly, Brian (28 September 2010). "Everest College grads sue, alleging fraud". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  28. Notice to Comply, California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 2012
  29. "All Everest College locations in Canada up for sale". cbc.ca. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  30. "NACC - NACC Statement: Everest College Canada". nacc.ca. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  31. "Everest College students in Ottawa share anger at sudden closure". cbc.ca. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  32. "Everest College closure no surprise to some who call it a scam". CBC News. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  33. "Everest Colleges Canada, Inc. Files for Canadian Bankruptcy Protection Following Ontario Ministry Closures". Everest College. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  34. "Canadian Government Shuts Down Everest College Campuses". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  35. "Institution/Campus Closings". ACICS. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  36. "Fact Sheet: Protecting Students from Abusive Career Colleges | U.S. Department of Education". www.ed.gov. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  37. "Information About Debt Relief for Corinthian Colleges Students | Federal Student Aid". studentaid.ed.gov. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  38. "The Debt Collective". Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  39. Collective, The Debt. "Defense to Repayment App - Debt Collective". debt-is.herokuapp.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  40. "Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Borrower Defenses against Loan Repayment" (PDF). Federal Register. 80 (111). June 10, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
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