Thread regarding 2U Inc. layoffs

As someone who worked as support educational staff, I always felt students were over-paying but I really had no control over this and just tried to give the best support I could. I had nothing to do with recruitment but if I did perhaps I would feel more guilt. The quality of instruction and service varied a lot between different cohorts/staff. Some instructors were under qualified or did not care at all, and I had some really amazing students who worked very hard and I really do wish that they had better resources for the money they paid. I also worked with some amazing staff who really put their soul into their work with students. And I also had some students who were lazy and expected us to do their work for them, and some who were extremely rude. I will never forget one girl who was an absolute spoiled brat and gave everyone an incredibly hard time. People on the Learning Assistant team would straight up refuse to deal with her after a certain point. I have never encountered a person who needed a spanking that badly. It was like dealing with princess from the powerpuff girls. "Karen" does even begin to describe it... But yeah the quality of service and instruction was extremely inconsistent and all over the place. Some students managed to get something out of it, some got screwed out of money, and some students shot themselves in the foot by abusing underpaid staff. Sometimes I check up on former students on linkedin and some of them have made their way into tech and I feel very relieved and happy for them. Others aren't on linkedin and have no github activity for a long time and I feel very bad for them. But I try to keep in mind that we were not the ones screwing students out of money, we were educators, many of us trying our hardest, and all of us being exploited by the same people screwing over the students.

@1azf+1oQefzu8

You have Jennifer Henry to thank for pushing the CEN with no plan in place for a real rollout and implementation as she trimmed and restructured teams that were power players. lot of us warned her but she sold Chip on it with no plan and a crazy stupid deadline and told us to figure it out as she abused us and called people stupid, useless etc. She ruined Career Services and Shate was just her lackey clone. Good riddance. 2U is a wasteland of bad calls and bad directors.

I feel guilty selling the schpeel of career services. In the beginning it was real but in the last year the department has gone to sh-t. The same bs is being regurgitated. Best practices have not been updated since forever so all material feedback is outdated. The coaches now have this slew of frameworks to follow to get people to be accountable for their progress do if career services doesn't work it'd not the departments fault its the person's part, which I get but seems like a cop-out. Feedback templates are a joke. Bare minimum. Students don't even get the feedback that used to be given in detail. Now it's so high-level it's a joke. It's a selling point to universities and students but if they only knew it is not what it used to be. Who are these new directors and svp. They're like children. I wish they would bring in people with real experience running departments not these girls. It's all an illusion. I'm getting out soon as possible. I have interviews lined up bc I see the writing on the wall.

@ncf+1oQefzu8 Perfect demonstration of the disconnect (and ignorance) between leadership and the reality of the situation. Just another koolaid drinker. Sip up, buttercup. Many others like you were part of the layoffs this time. Their loyalty to the company got them no where and they’re coming for you next.

@ncf+1oQefzu8 Obviously, your perception is from a leadership position.

The thing is that, while what you said sounds logical, it is not the reality of these students, in so many cases, or the perception of those who actually work on the frontlines. Most students are NOT financially educated or informed because it is something they have to seek out and they don't know how to navigate that system. This is by design and, unlike you, we on the frontlines see this unfortunate truth everyday in the work that we do.

Why admissions has such a tough time with the 2u approach us because education is an incredible opportunity. However, it's the progressively turning monster of 2u that has turned a more pure opportunity into a more trashy outcome. Greed does that!
So while educational opportunities (lets liken to a Michelin meal) is desired, nobody wants their meal served on a filthy garbage lid (enter 2u).

@dqj+1oQefzu8, I figured there were still people there with a conscience. But where do you go from here? Higher ed has become a racket and 2U is not alone. It is sad to see 2U go through the same as Corinthian Colleges, ITT Tech, and EDMC (Jack Larson, who has been on the Board for years, worked for them BTW). So many people hurt.

The larger economy has also become more of a racket to whether it's medicine, banking/finance, real estate...

I have a tough time understanding this specific pervasive logic and narrative. These are educated adult consumers who are making a conscious choice/decision to purchase a product. No one is forcing them into taking on this debt. Considering these offerings are primarily post-secondary degrees and certificates, this means the target consumer is largely comprised of well educated adults who already have a college education/degree. One can assume these individuals are well educated enough to make informed decisions on their own, based upon this understanding, too. Personally, I find this subject rather belittling to the educated populous; it directly undermines the individuals' ability to logically and rationally make a critical consumer decision without manipulation. Unless, we are all just sheep at this point, blindly following the whatever story is being fed to us? Employees supporting programs, in the aforementioned capacities for this company, are there to provide information to the educated consumer so that they can come to a personal investment conclusion on their own. Don't forget, we all have a ton of purchasing options in a capitalist environment, too. There are much cheaper pathways out there to choose from, however, a lot of people are tantalized by big names and brands, regardless of price tag. At the end of the day, it is up to the individual to really do their own homework and come to a consensus that is truly best for them financially - rather than avoiding personal accountability for ones own financial decision and scapegoating it on outside entities. That is my opinion, though, and I can understand why others might not agree.

I used to work in Admissions and this is the exact reason that I moved over to Student Success. At least by the time I speak with them they've already made their decision and I haven't sold them into further debt. Still not a great feeling though. So yes, I feel very guilty in this role and my previous role.