In what appears to be a move in related to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges’s July decision to reject Bridgepoint Education Inc.’s accreditation bid for its Ashford University, Bridgepoint will eliminate 450 admissions positions at Ashford
Bridgepoint Education owns several for-profit colleges, including Ashford. Another 400 people in admissions will be reassigned to student services and a new department of “student inquiry,” whatever that is. According to a press release by the company:
In an effort to address our nation’s focus on student outcomes and success, and consistent with its culture of continuous improvement, Bridgepoint Education’s Ashford University has reorganized staff at its locations in San Diego and Denver.
Ashford University will implement a group of initiatives which will collectively provide a standard framework for student selection and engagement. These initiatives include personalized support and academic components that will be delivered throughout the student lifecycle, from selection to graduation. Ashford University’s initiatives will provide a positive impact on student success, and support the overarching goals of today’s higher education landscape.
Ah yes, “our nation’s focus on student outcomes and success.” Part of the reason the Western Association of Schools and Colleges rejected the company’s accreditation application had to do with the institution’s staffing priorities. Despite the fact that Ashford had over 90,000 students, it employed only 56 full-time faculty members. It did, however, employ some 2,300 people in admissions. That means it had 40 times more employees working to get people to sign up to for Ashford than it had educating them once they were enrolled.
Granted, this new plan doesn’t address the central problem by actually hiring faculty, but it does move some of the institution’s (probably rather determined) admissions team over into helping students in their classes.
The new department of student inquiry will “work with prospective students to ensure they are sufficiently prepared for the demands of a university education.” One might think students insufficiently prepared for the demands of a university education should be dissuaded from enrolling at a university, but let’s see how this plan works. [Image via]
