Peter P wrote:
> 2. Private education industry sells image more than anything else. When 
> left
> unchecked it produces a mass flow of 'engineers' in sanitation, funeral
> services, roofing, and certain operating systems that shall remain 
> unnamed.

That's not true, the market responds very quicly to any change in demand. 
Faced with the prospect of having to borrow $40,000 for school, people tend 
to do more research than usual. And there's nothing preventing the students 
from dropping out in the middle of their studies when it becomes obvious 
that their employment prospects upon graduation are grim.

Back in 2000 (the height of the .com boom), classrooms at a local DeVry 
campus were filled to capacity (40:1 student to professor ratio for 
freshmen).

By 2003, the flow of students dwindled (despite the ramped up marketing 
campaign), they closed the South parking lot (about 30% of total parking 
capacity). In some classes, the student to professor ratio was down to 3:1.

In 2006, I witnessed the graduation of a class consisting of a single 
student (from one of the less-popular programs). It was pretty funny, 
actually -- how they had to change "I bestow on these students..., etc" to 
"this student".  :)

Recently it was announced that they are considering either selling the 
building, and renting only the top floor, or leasing the bottom floor to 
retail shops.

Vitaliy




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