Durbin Applauds Department Of Education's Move To Approve Borrower Defense Claims For Former Ashford University Students

Press Release

"This year, some students are breathing easier. They were the victims of a for-profit university, Ashford University. I've come to the floor so many times to state the obvious. These for-profit universities are generally a terrific waste of taxpayers' dollars and students' time. There comes a point when these students, burdened with debt, petition the government and say they were defrauded and deceived… Ashford is a prime example of the pervasive rot and abuse that exists in the for-profit college industry."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

"In investigating it, the Department of Education found that Ashford just lied to students about the cost of attendance by promising students they wouldn't have any out-of-pocket costs. Not only was this a lie, but many students reached their lifetime loan limits attending Ashford, and some students were forced to drop out, leaving them with debt and no degree."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

"But even with its shiny, new name, this global campus [UAGC] is still the same, predatory, low-life Ashford that focused on student recruitment and enrollment over student success and outcomes. In fact, Ashford brought over the same key staffers who perpetrated their deceit on these students for so many years."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

"I urge the Department to do its job, discharge these student loans, and recoup the funds from Ashford [now UAGC]. For-profit colleges have taken advantage of vulnerable students forfar too long. It's time that these fraudulent institutions, not the taxpayers, be financially on the on the hook."

Source