Kaplan University (KU) is the "doing business as" (DBA) name of the Iowa College Acquisition Corporation, a company that owns and operates non-competitive for-profit colleges. It is owned by Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company.
Kaplan University is predominantly a distance learning institution of higher education that is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Kaplan University was named in honor of Stanley H. Kaplan, who founded Kaplan Test Prep.
The university elected to participate in U.S. News & World Report rankings for Best Online Bachelor programs in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Submissions were evaluated, ranked and published in January of the following year. Kaplan University's online bachelor's program ranked #56 in 2014, #76 in 2015, and #137 in 2016.
Kaplan University also elected to participate in 2013 in the best online nursing program. Kaplan's School of Nursing elected not to participate in subsequent years.
Kaplan University has faced several federal whistle-blower lawsuits whose accusations dovetail with the findings of an undercover federal investigation which revealed high-pressure recruiting and unrealistic salary promises. Kaplan's enrollment has declined from 119,000 to 65,000 amid these controversies.
According to the New York Times, 23% of Kaplan's programs fail the proposed gainful employment regulations, and an additional 10% are close to failing. This means that a significant number of Kaplan graduates are unable to pay back their student loans.
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History
The American Institute of Commerce was established in 1937 before changing its name to Quest College. In November 2000, Quest College's name was changed to Kaplan College after Kaplan, Inc. acquired it with the purchase of Quest Education Corporation.
In September 2004, Kaplan College officially changed its name to Kaplan University after it was granted permission to offer graduate-level degree programs.
The university's school of nursing was awarded a national professional accreditation for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in April 2006 from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The School of Nursing was granted additional programmatic accreditations from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in June 2016, including for its doctoral and master's programs. In addition, other schools have earned programmatic accreditation. For example, Kaplan University's School of Business was granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) in 2013.
In October 2007, all seven Iowa and Nebraska-based Hamilton College (Iowa) campuses merged with Kaplan University and are now operating under the Kaplan University brand.
Concord Law School merged with Kaplan University in October 2007, changing its name to Concord Law School of Kaplan University. Concord Law School was established in 1998 and was the first fully online law school in the United States. Concord is not recognized by the American Bar Association, which does not accredit online institutions, although students with non-ABA-accredited law degrees are allowed to take California's bar examination and practice law once admitted to the bar.
Kaplan faced significant downsizing in 2015 when it sold 38 Kaplan College campuses to Education Corporation of America.
Offerings and enrollment
The University, which has its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, and its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Kaplan University serves approximately 37,000 online and campus-based students. The University has 14 campuses in Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Maine, Missouri and Wisconsin, and a Kaplan University Learning Center in Maryland.
Academics
Kaplan University is academically organized into eight schools.
- Business and Information Technology
- Concord Law School
- Education
- Health Sciences
- Nursing
- Open College
- Professional and Continuing Education
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
In January, 2016, Kaplan University issued its sixth annual academic report. The 50-page annual report, which covers the academic year beginning July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2015, includes an overview of Kaplan University and key metrics around the educational experience, student learning and employment outcomes, and graduate satisfaction ratings. It also provides profiles of individual schools within the university system.
Admissions and financial aid
Kaplan University has an open admissions policy. Applicants are eligible for both Pell grants and federal student loans. The university offers members of the military discounted tuition rates as well as granting service members college credit for some of the military education they may have received while in the service.
Criticisms
Alleged improper recruiting
Kaplan University was one of 15 for-profit colleges cited by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for deceptive or questionable statements that were made to undercover investigators posing as applicants. The Pembroke Pines, Florida and Riverside, California campuses were both cited in the GAO report. Andrew S. Rosen, President of Kaplan, Inc., described the tactics as "sickening" and promised to eliminate such conduct from Kaplan. Following through on that promise, Kaplan introduced the Kaplan Commitment in 2010 that provides incoming students with an opportunity to enroll in classes without first making a significant financial commitment so they may determine if the coursework meets their educational needs. Since the programs introduction in 2010, more than 200,000 students have enrolled under the Kaplan Commitment. On November 30, 2010, the GAO issued a revised report with several significant edits, altering key passages and softening several of the initial allegations. However it stood by its finding that the college had encouraged fraud and misled potential applicants.
False Claims Act lawsuits
On August 17, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a series of rulings in three related cases purportedly based on the federal False Claims Act. The federal government has repeatedly declined to pursue the claims. The cases included three separate complaints by three former Kaplan University employees, Messrs. Wilcox, Gillespie and Diaz. The court dismissed the claims brought by Mr. Wilcox in their entirety. (Diaz v. Kaplan Univ., No. 09-20756-civ, 2011 WL 3627285, (S.D.Fla. Aug. 17, 2011). Mr. Wilcox was later, and separately, criminally convicted by a federal jury for making threats against Kaplan employees. (U.S. v. Wilcox, 1:08-cr-00256, U.S. District Court, Northern Division of Illinois (Chicago). The District Court also dismissed in part Mr. Gillespie's complaint, severely limiting the scope and time frame of the allegations, and, on July 16, 2013, the Court entered summary judgment in favor of the Company on all remaining claims in the Gillespie complaint. (Diaz v. Kaplan Univ., No. 09-20756-civ, 2011 WL 3627285, (S.D.Fla. July 16, 2013). Gillespie appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and, on March 11, 2015, the Appellate Court issued a decision affirming the lower court's dismissal of all of Gillespie's claims. (Urquilla-Diaz v. Kaplan University, No. 13-13672 (11th Cir. 2015).
On Mr. Diaz's compliant, the Court dismissed the entire False Claims Act claim and on October 31, 2012, the court entered summary judgment in favor of Kaplan as to the sole remaining employment claim in the Diaz complaint. Kaplan also received a judgment for costs against Diaz based on his frivolous employment claims. (Urquilla-Diaz v. Kaplan University (1:11-cv-23394). However, Diaz appealed and, on March 11, 2015, the Appellate Court affirmed the dismissal of three of the four Diaz claims, but reversed and remanded on the claim that incentive compensation for admissions representatives was improperly based on enrollment counts. (Urquilla-Diaz v. Kaplan University, No. 13-13672 (11th Cir. 2015). Kaplan filed an answer to Diaz's amended complaint and a summary judgment briefing schedule has been set.
On July 7, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada dismissed another False Claims Act case brought by another former employee of a Kaplan nationally accredited campus, Mr. Jajdelski, in its entirety and entered a final judgment in favor of Kaplan. (Jajdelski v. Kaplan, Inc., 834 F. Supp. 2d 1182 (D. Nev. 2011). Like the other cases, the federal government has repeatedly declined to intervene. On February 13, 2013, the U.S. Circuit Court for the Ninth Judicial Circuit affirmed the dismissal in part and reversed the dismissal on one allegation under the False Claims Act relating to eligibility for Title IV funding based on claims of false attendance. (CHARLES JAJDELSKI V. KAPLAN. INC., No. 11-16651 (9th Cir. 2013). The surviving claim was remanded to the District Court, where Kaplan was again granted summary judgment on March 9, 2015. (U.S. EX REL. JAJDELSKI v. KAPLAN, INC.) Plaintiff has appealed this judgment.
On March 22, 2017, a Ninth Circuit panel tossed out the False Claims Act case finding Jajdelski had failed to present evidence the company received student aid funds for "phantom students" upholding a lower court's ruling in favor of Kaplan.
Degree credibility and debt load
In 2010 Kaplan and other for-profit education companies came under scrutiny from the U.S. Congress due to concerns that the industry leaves too many students with heavy debts, and with credentials that are of little help in finding jobs.
Political influence
Anita Dunn, a former White House spokesperson, was hired by Kaplan to undermine President Barack Obama's effort to hold predatory schools accountable.
Exposes
In 2015, The Miami Herald revealed "a trove" of information about Kaplan's questionable business practices
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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