The Century Foundation takes your data security and privacy seriously. That's why we want you to know that, when you visit our website, we use technologies like cookies to collect anonymized data so that we can better understand and serve our audience. For more information, see our full Privacy Policy.
A Quick Guide to Online Program Managers (OPMs)
With rapid growth in online learning, colleges often partner with for-profit companies known as online program managers (OPMs) to develop and provide online programs. This guide provides an overview of what OPMs do; the risks they raise for students, faculty, schools, and taxpayers; and how the U.S. Department of Education can address these risks through regulation.
What are OPMs and what do they do?
Why should people be concerned about OPMs?
OPMs raise risks for students, faculty, schools, and taxpayers.
OPMs raise risks for students:
OPMs raise risks for faculty:
OPMs raise risks for schools:
OPMs raise risks for taxpayers:
How can the U.S. Department of Education address OPMs’ risks to students, faculty, schools, and taxpayers?
The Department can rescind the 2011 Bundled Services Guidance:
The Department can extend the third-party servicer (TPS) requirements to OPMs:
Notes
Tags: for profit college, opm, online college