Lewis: An education in 'boiler-room' tactics universities tapping taxpayers
POSTED: 08/07/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Joshua Pruyn had one of those jobs where you get on the phone with sales prospects and lie to them all day long.
From November 2007 to May 2008, he was an admissions counselor at Westwood College, a for-profit school with an online division and 17 campuses nationwide.
Westwood is owned by privately held Alta Colleges Inc. in Denver and its admissions process is conducted on what Pruyn called "a boiler-room sales floor."
"Enrolling a student was a psychological game," Pruyn said. "Lying was encouraged. The most appalling example was when the assistant director of admissions on my team was presented with a 'Best Liar' award at a team celebration."
Pruyn made these accusations Wednesday before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor,