Degrees of Deception: America's For-Profit Higher Education Fraud

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Degrees of Deception explains the development and widespread abuses of the for-profit higher education sector in America. To illustrate the scope and degree of wrongdoing in for-profit higher education, readers are exposed to the industry in the same sequential order that students experience it in reality. A few examples include predatory recruitment, targeting military service members, questionable quality of programs, predatory lending, high withdrawal and default rates, manipulation of job placement data, and strategic lobbying efforts to block comprehensive reform. Following this analysis, Degrees of Deception offers bold and unprecedented solutions to tackle the crisis in a way that protects millions of student victims and taxpayers indefinitely.

Reviews

Provocative, bold, and innovative. Kevin Connell proposes serious reforms to what he believes to be one of the largest problems in higher education today: for-profit colleges and their public financing. In this book, Kevin Connell explains to readers that redirecting federal funds from wasteful for-profit colleges to affordable public higher education alternatives better serves the interests of students and taxpayers. -- Anthony Y. Gu, Professor of Finance at the State University of New York at Geneseo. Fulbright Scholar 2005-2006
My story is not just one chapter in this book, but a collection of many. More than anything, I was affected by predatory lending at ITT after my admissions advisor signed my name to Navient student loans without my knowledge or permission. I am still fighting to have the loan taken off my credit, but neither ITT nor Navient will listen to me. Degrees of Deception gives me a voice to finally be heard. Read this book and avoid making the same mistake I did. -- Vicki Plunkett, former student, ITT Technical Institute
This is a MUST read. Meticulous and powerful research gives voice to the many student victims who are trapped by charlatans selling the American dream for profit. Degrees of Deception brings much needed light into this politically dark corner of private enterprise. It offers hope for justice and accountability to victims who suffered dreams broken by greed. An important rock thrown by a brave David at a Goliath of a deceptive industry. -- Patricia OGrady, Ph.D., former Dean, Argosy University
Kevin Connells book, Degrees of Deception, is a chivalrous book-a zeitgeist. It maps my own victimization with eerie precision. I feel vindicated now that these colleges are finally getting their 'over' due. My recruiter shamelessly HOOK, LINE, and SINKERed me at a critically vulnerable time when I was a full time caregiver for my dying husband who had been sick for 16 years with a devastating illness. This college struck and blind-sided me, taking with them all our residual savings and secured two loans to insure a future parasitic drain that can never be recouped. -- Rose E. Grier, former student at Argosy University

Author Bio

Kevin Connell is an associate attorney at Ferrara Fiorenza PC where he specializes in Education Law and Labor & Employment Law. Representing roughly 200 public school districts throughout New York State, Kevin works on a myriad of practice areas. These include student and faculty discipline, free speech, religion in schools, special education, board governance, labor relations, and unlawful discrimination. Kevin also assists with the investigation and resolution of complaints made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and New York State Division of Human Rights.



Kevin is a cum laude graduate of the University of Rochester, where he graduated in 2015. Following his undergraduate studies, Kevin attended William & Mary Law School. During law school, Kevin was the President of the American Constitution Society, Spong Tournament Justice for the William & Mary Moot Court Team, and a member of the William & Mary Environmental Law & Policy Review. Kevin received several honors for his service, including induction into The Order of the Barristers and Next Generation Leaders. After graduating from William & Mary Law School in 2018, Kevin was admitted to the New York State Bar. In addition to his work as a practicing attorney, Kevin continues to promote college affordability and productivity with students, school districts, legislators, and activists throughout the United States.