Center for Excellence in Higher Education

The Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CEHE) is a Utah-based nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation that owned and managed Independence University, CollegeAmerica, Stevens-Henager College, and California College San Diego before their abrupt closings in August 2021.^[2] The company was a nonprofit organization.^[3] CEHE's colleges were accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).^[4] The colleges were placed on probation in September 2018 due to ACCSC's concerns that "the inputs, resources, and processes of CEHE schools are designed and implemented in a manner that is not designed for student success."^[5][6] CEHE was also the lender to National American University.^[7]

Center for Excellence
in Higher Education

Formation	2007
Founder	Carl Barney
Headquarters	3556 S 5600 W, Suite 1- 1126 Blvd, Suite 220
Location	Salt Lake City, UT
CEO	Eric Juhlin ^[1]

History

The Center for Excellence in Education (CEHE) was founded by a group of academics and businessmen in 2007.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} In 2020, CEHE was fined $3 million by the State of Colorado for violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. ^[12] In August 2021, this decision was reversed, in part, and the State of Colorado refunded the $3 million to CEHE in November 2021.^[13] By early August 2021 all CEHE campuses were closed. In 2022, CEHE filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, in which CEHE is pursuing three claims with damages in excess of $100 million.^[14][15]

Philosophy

The Center for Excellence in Higher Education supported free-market ideas in higher education.^[16] Its stated purpose was "to educate the public about the state of higher education in America and help donors promote excellence in higher education through philanthropy".^[17] CEHE had as an area of particular focus of ensuring that gifts to universities and colleges were used in accordance with the intent of the donors.^[18][19][20] It also supported efforts directed at the structural reform of higher education. It received its initial funding from the Marcus Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the John William Pope Foundation.^{[21][22][23][24][25][26]}

References

1. https://www.highereddive.com/news/cehe-sues-education-department-nonprofit-for-profit-chain-forced-closure/638155/
2. Vandenack, Tim. "UPDATE: Independence University/Stevens-Henager College in West Haven closes". www.standard.net. Standard-Examiner. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
3. "CEHE Home Page". www.cehe.org. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
4. "Independence University Has ACCSC & CCNE Accreditation". www.independence.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
5. "System-Wide Review Probation Order" (PDF). Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
6. Kreighbaum, Andrew (September 11, 2018). "Probation for For-Profit College Chain". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
7. Kreighbaum, Andrew (12 September 2019). "For-Profit College Phasing Out Enrollment at Physical Campuses". Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
11. http://www.cehe.org/pressroom/PR20070918.html
12. https://www.republicreport.org/2020/big-win-for-students-colorado-court-slaps-carl-barney-colleges-with-3-million-fraud-verdict/
13. https://casetext.com/case/state-ex-rel-weiser-v-ctr-for-excellence-in-higher-educ
14. https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23380201/20221206-cehe-press-release-on-usdoe-litigation-w-complaint.pdf
15. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65882446/1/center-for-excellence-in-higher-education-inc-v-united-states/
16. Cohen, Patricia (May 7, 2016). "An Ayn Rand Acolyte Selling Students a Self-Made Dream". The New York Times.
17. "Center for Excellence in Higher Education » Helping Donors Transform Higher Education Through Effective Philanthropy". Cehe.org.
18. "Inside Higher Ed's News". Insidehighered.com.
19. Hechinger, John (18 September 2007). "Big-Money Donors Move to Curb Colleges' Discretion to Spend Gifts". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
20. "Giving the Right Way". Jamesgmartin.center. 31 May 2016.
21. https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/maximizing_higher_education_reform. Retrieved 2018-12-26. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
22. "Inside Higher Ed's News". Insidehighered.com.
23. "Center for Excellence in Higher Education » Helping Donors Transform Higher Education Through Effective Philantropy". Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
24. "New Center Aims to Give Higher-Education Donors More Power". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
25. "Center of Excellence in Higher Education: Kudos from Candidia". Gift Hub.
26. Riley, Naomi Schaefer (13 October 2007). "Alms for the Alma Mater". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2018.

External links

• Official website
• The End of Barney’s Second Career