In January 2010, Australia-based Navitas sealed its first U.S. deal, a 10-year contract with Western Kentucky University.  Since then,  the company has signed three more  agreements – with the Universities of [...]]]> Inside Higher Ed reports that U.S. colleges are increasingly turning to for-profit pathway programs for international students in a bid to boost revenues.

In January 2010, Australia-based Navitas sealed its first U.S. deal, a 10-year contract with Western Kentucky University.  Since then,  the company has signed three more  agreements – with the Universities of Massachusetts at Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell.

Students entering the Navitas program at Western Kentucky will need deep pockets.  According to the fee schedule, the costs are over $22,000 for three semesters, plus a mandatory $1,000 medical insurance charge. The pre-master’s program is nearly $10,000 and runs just one semester.

With the U.S. recession clobbering college finances, other for-profit pathway providers are swooping down upon campuses across the country with promises of bountiful new revenue streams from full fee-paying international students. Study Group International, recently purchased by a U.S. private equity firm, is setting up programs at Dean and Fisher Colleges, and Madison University. Meanwhile, Kaplan International which already runs a “Global Pathways Program” at Northeastern University opened its second program earlier this year at the University of Utah.  And UK-based INTO has signed long-term contracts with Oregon State University and the University of South Florida.

INTO’s joint ventures with Oregon State and South Florida generated headlines earlier this year when the Commission on English Language Accreditation initially revoked the accreditation of the two universities’ English language institutes after they were taken over by INTO.

Ironically, the rising number of private pathways programs comes at a time when the U.S. Congress is looking at new rules to reign in the more questionable practices of many for-profit colleges. Surely it’s time to shine a similar light on Navitas, Study Group, Kaplan and INTO?

The vote is a blow to SGI’s ambition to establish a greater presence in Canada, but a victory for faculty [...]]]> After a nearly 4 hour debate on a proposed joint venture with Study Group International, the University of Windsor Senate voted against the plan to create a private, for-profit pathways program for international students.

The vote is a blow to SGI’s ambition to establish a greater presence in Canada, but a victory for faculty and students who campaigned against what they called the “outsourcing” of education.

However, despite the rejection by Senate, the SGI proposal isn’t dead yet. The vote this week was on establishing a joint venture with the school of business. Voting on three other motions involving SGI deals with the faculties of computer science, science, and arts and social science were postponed until March.

According to reports, if the deal is approved by the university’s senate in February, ISG’s international study centre would open its doors as early as [...]]]> Canada’s University of Windsor is considering a joint venture proposal with Study Group International (SGI) that would see the company establish a for-profit college on campus for international students.

According to reports, if the deal is approved by the university’s senate in February, ISG’s international study centre would open its doors as early as this September.

A handful of Canadian universities have similar joint venture arrangements with Navitas, but the Windsor deal is the first in the country for SGI, and it’s raised concerns amongst teaching staff.

In an op-ed published in the Windsor Star, professor James Winter says the deal will compromise the quality and reputation of the university. He cautions that the desire of the university to tap into potential new revenue streams “must not lead us to abandon academic integrity.”

The University of Windsor faculty union is also speaking out and campaigning against the joint venture. Any information or experiences colleagues have had with SGI that might be helpful for the union’s campaign would be greatly welcomed.