CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - September 29, 2010) -  The Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee will meet on Thursday, September 30 at 10:00 a.m. ET, to discuss "The Federal Investment in For-Profit Education: Are Students Succeeding?" This hearing continues the dialogue that began in August with a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that focused on unethical and fraudulent activity in student recruitment practices at select for-profit colleges. Fortunately, a prominent voice in the industry has been working for years to bring awareness and new training to outdated techniques that could lead to unethical practices. 

Dr. Jean Norris, a renowned writer and speaker about ethics in college recruitment and admissions, has spent nearly 25 years in the higher education industry, at both for-profit and not-for-profit schools, colleges and universities. In 2004, she began advocating for a fundamental shift in recruitment tactics, based upon the dramatic changes in student needs and preferences. Her greatest fear was industry resistance leading to ineffective and pushy sales techniques. With the GAO investigation findings, her greatest fear has been realized.

"The higher education industry as a whole must let go of antiquated approaches being used to recruit students," says Dr. Norris. "While many colleges practice ethical behavior, there are others that don't. We need to rid ourselves of the bad actors and adopt a corporate culture that places honesty and ethical behavior way above the bottom line. In tandem, we need to provide admission reps with training that supports that goal."

Dr. Norris is the founder of the 7/8 ^ths System^™, a series of training workshops and programs that provide admission representatives with new skills to connect with students in more meaningful and ethical ways. It is the first and only ethical sales model in the for-profit education sector that helps students make their own best decisions. Admission reps can move from the role of "sales person" to a true partner in the decision-making process.

Dr. Norris is a sought-after speaker on this topic, having presented at various conferences to state, national and international audiences.

Her original research, "The Moral Judgment of Admission Counselors at For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Baccalaureate-Degree Granting Colleges and Universities" attempted to show whether there was any difference in moral judgment between admission representatives at for-profit and not-for-profit institutions. Her study found no difference in moral judgment between the two groups. This research has received national attention and has been reprinted numerous times in industry journals. She has been published in The Journal of College Admission, The Link, Career College Central, Career Education Review, and HealthCareer Connect.

Interviews Available
Dr. Norris is available to discuss the history of selling in the higher education sector, as well as ethical practices in student recruitment and admissions.

To arrange an interview, please contact Chris Hester at (708) 268-9222 / chris@nortonnorris.com or Dr. Norris at (708) 478-1144 / drjean@nortonnorris.com.

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Contact Information:

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chris Hester
Norton | Norris, Inc.
C: (708) 268-9222
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