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Warning from schools featured on my site - in breach of Higher Education Act!

by markowe
8 replies
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Never had this one before - I have a site that basically has a directory of different higher education institutions, with articles containing information compiled from different sources, mostly their own sites. Works well enough, good quality content, compiles the information in a more digestible form for students.

Anyway, I get an email from the marketing manager of one of these schools claiming that my article is somehow in breach of the Higher Education Act, or some such!

Now, I know he is probably surprised to see an article about his own school that he didn't know about, but I am thinking the legalese is BS - though he hasn't told me yet what aspect is problematic, I have a feeling it might be the part about tuition fees, which they have to be very transparent about.

But just wondering if anyone else has had something like that - I know plenty of other people have sites along similar lines. Seems a little BS to me - I mean, it's publicly available information, right! And anyway, I don't live in the US, my abiding by US law is purely a matter of good will, but I guess I will take the content down and save the hassle. I just don't want them all to start doing it!
#act #breach #education #featured #higher #schools #site #warning
  • Profile picture of the author Steadyon
    I would ignore it.

    If he bugs you tell him you will look into it.

    Then ignore it.

    The bureaucrat obviously has nothing better to do....
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    • Profile picture of the author markowe
      Originally Posted by Steadyon View Post

      I would ignore it.

      If he bugs you tell him you will look into it.

      Then ignore it.

      The bureaucrat obviously has nothing better to do....
      Hmm, yeah... I have tried to point out that it is free advertising. I also didn't mention "free speech" anywhere, though I daresay I could have! I mean, if he had said, "You have got some facts wrong, you have misrepresented our school" or some such, I might take it seriously, I mean, mistakes are always possible. But this "Higher Education Act" business, odd...

      We'll see... I mean, I know it's a legal question, I am not looking for legal advice or anything, just wondering if anyone else has had this happen.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulgl
    Originally Posted by markowe View Post

    Never had this one before - I have a site that basically has a directory of different higher education institutions, with articles containing information compiled from different sources, mostly their own sites.
    Maybe he is worried about any misinformation that may or
    may not be construed from your site. I can't imagine that
    a real college or university would need a marketing manager.
    Probably more of the technical or career colleges would
    need one. And those are certainly not the same as
    a real college or university. Maybe your inclusion will
    make the reader think they are, and that may violate
    something, like trying to pass themselves off as something
    they are not.

    Trying to make the info more digestible may also make it
    misleading. Just a thought.

    A real college is defined by a number of things that a
    career college cannot offer. If you have them mingled,
    it may be a tad misleading. The Act mentioned may refer
    to that.

    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author markowe
      Originally Posted by paulgl View Post

      Maybe he is worried about any misinformation that may or
      may not be construed from your site. I can't imagine that
      a real college or university would need a marketing manager.
      Probably more of the technical or career colleges would
      need one. And those are certainly not the same as
      a real college or university. Maybe your inclusion will
      make the reader think they are, and that may violate
      something, like trying to pass themselves off as something
      they are not.

      Trying to make the info more digestible may also make it
      misleading. Just a thought.

      Paul
      Hmm, I guess it's a private college, so they definitely have marketing managers, and quite big marketing budgets too judging by some of the Adsense clicks I get.

      So yes, they could be a bit sensitive regarding how they are represented, though I hardly think the way a 3rd party represents them exposes them to any liability.

      There IS something about transparency in tuition fees - all schools are going to have to have some kind of fees calculator. So maybe they don't like sample fees being posted up there. But that's still not their liability, and not mine either as I am not a higher education institution

      Oh well, there you go - never a dull day with Adsense sites Though I wish they would go hassle the spammy crappy ones, not mine, that I take a good deal of care over and spend a lot of money on quality content for.
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  • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
    Schools are subject to the Higher Education Act, not individuals who are unaffiliated with a school.
    Ask him to cite what part of the act that you are in violation of.
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    • Profile picture of the author markowe
      Originally Posted by KirkMcD View Post

      Schools are subject to the Higher Education Act, not individuals who are unaffiliated with a school.
      Ask him to cite what part of the act that you are in violation of.
      That's kind of what I figured - I asked him the same thing. Silence was the stern reply, so far at least. I may call his bluff for now as I don't really see that I am doing anything wrong, at least not until I see strong evidence to the contrary...
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      • Profile picture of the author paulgl
        I think the "violation" would have to do with classifying
        yourself as an institution of higher learning. The
        private technical colleges are not considered as such.
        They need marketing managers because they have to
        keep filling seats. The feds have cracked down big time
        on these places, because a lot of them promise the
        moon and deliver garbage. They would be the ones
        to spend a boatload on adsense. They have to. They
        have to sucker people in. If you are listing these colleges
        as real places of higher learning, that could be a problem
        for you as well as them.

        Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    <joke>
    Ask them If they're familiar with Penal Code Sec. 42.10 page 883 Section 1.0 ?

    [CRUELTY TO LIVESTOCK ANIMALS]
    </joke>


    Seriously, If it's a legit complaint I would imagine any tuition cost numbers you have on your page has them stirred up, private school prices change all the time (usually higher, not lower).
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