Comments on: Preventing a financial aid disaster

By: Rachael Hampton

Rachael Hampton — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:02:56 +0000

Wow if all business can give advice like you !
Merci

By: Webconomist

Webconomist — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:43:35 +0000

Kudos; and this may just net you more business! It kind of makes a case still for the need for human interaction, the issues completely missed by databases and processors.

I had a similar case a few years ago with a potential franchisee. We needed the $$ badly, but it would have meant short term gain and very long term pain to us and the franchisee. I sent his cheque back FedEx – 1 year later he quietly invested in our new start-up and he ended up with a 12% return inside a year. Good acts beget good things.

By: Michelle / chepixie

Michelle / chepixie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:54:56 +0000

This is what makes you genuine and a good friend as well as a watchtower for your company to do right by consumers. I like the stance that the Student Loan Network takes on helping people and not padding their bottom line.

Thanks for watching out for people.

By: David Tames

David Tames — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:20:25 +0000

Bravo Chris, good advice. I bet that certificate program is being offered by a private for-profit institution which is motivated by the bottom-line, not the best interest of the students. If credentials is what you want, better to get more valuable ones like a BFA or BA from a state supported institution and really take the time to learn the art, history, aesthetics, and practice of photography and have a well rounded education. And if one already has a degree, or does not want one, through workshops and/or continuing education and/or extension courses one can learn a lot. There is no need to spend more than the cost of a two-year associates or four year bachelor education from a state-supported institution on a certificate program. The numbers do not make sense. There’s a reason why the Maine Workshops are so popular, beginner as well as pro photographers go there to hone specific skills, and over time it’s more valuable that a concentrated certificate program. Caveat Emptor! The invisible hand of the market is ruthless, knowledge and information has to be searched out to balance marketing and hype from those trying to sell you education.

By: C.C. Chapman

C.C. Chapman — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:20:19 +0000

Good job Chris and more importantly good for sharing this with as many details as possible because hopefully others will learn from the story and think twice.

By: Loukas Koufodontes

Loukas Koufodontes — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:15:17 +0000

Good for you Christopher,

That’s very similar to what happened to the banking industry when it was handing out mortgages to individuals not qualified to get them.

By: financialaidpodcast

financialaidpodcast — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:06:06 +0000

@Dave: I wish more of those stories WOULD get told though, you know? It would probably be a lot more comforting to parents and families to know that for the most part, people working in higher ed do have a genuine concern for the well-being of their students. Not everyone, to be sure, but the vast majority.

By: Dave Van de Walle

Dave Van de Walle — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:01:40 +0000

Nicely done, Chris!

There are more stories like this that we’ll never hear: about people in higher ed who put the student well-being above all else. Thank you for sharing.

By: Steve Webb

Steve Webb — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:56:56 +0000

Bravo, Chris. It makes it much easier to sleep at night with this kind of business ethic. There have been many times in my own business where I turned down the fast, easy money. It left me financially poorer than I might have been, but I don’t have to look over my shoulder, either. If you ask me, that’s a fair trade-off.

Putting other’s welfare high on the list of priorities is always a good policy.

By: Daniel Johnson, Jr.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:54:24 +0000

Good on you, Chris. I’m reminded of one of the sad stories you shared in your EASFAA presentation about the people who had resorted to radical means of paying for college.

It reflects well on the Student Loan Network that you have a student’s overall well-being in mind. For this I applaud you.