New Vitelli law will increase accountability of for-profit colleges

Legislation introduced by Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, to ensure for-profit colleges operating in Maine meet basic education standards was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday.

“Students should be able to know that the institution they’re attending, whether nonprofit, for-profit, public or private, is worth their time and money,” said Sen. Vitelli. “Students for whom for-profit is the right fit deserve the same levels of transparency and accountability that their counterparts at other types of institutions do, and under this new law, they will get that.”

The law — LD 103 “An Act To Ensure the Integrity of For-profit Colleges and Universities” — requires an annual review of for-profit colleges by the Commissioner of Education to ensure that they are meeting adequate educational standards. If the Commissioner finds that a for-profit college is not meeting the standards, the degree-granting authority of that college may be terminated. For-profit colleges, like their public and non-profit counterparts, will have to report to the Commissioner on a variety of metrics including how much money is spent on instruction, graduation rates, loan status of graduates, employment status of graduates, and the design and implementation of student support services.

The data made public by these reporting requirements will help students be better informed as they assess which institute of higher education is worth their investment.

LD 103 — as with all public laws in Maine passed without an “emergency clause” — will take effect 90 days following the end of the legislative session. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on June 19.