DeVry • Feds Probe DeVry Sales Tactics • Multi-State Agreements Reached in Student Loan Investigation • Class Action Against DeVry --- • Consumer complaints

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2000 -- A consumer class action lawsuit accuses the DeVry Institute of Technology of widespread deception and unlawful business practices, and charges that contrary to advertising claims, DeVry studnets are not being prepared for high-tech jobs.

The suit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court by the law firm of Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates. Plaintiffs seek an order certifying a nationwide class of former DeVry students who were harmed by DeVry's failure to provide the facilities, faculty and educational experience it promised.

"DeVry represents that its educational experience will prepare its students for the modern technological marketplace. Unfortunately, as alleged in the complaint, DeVry's representations were misleading and tuition-paying students were subjected to sub-par facilities, insufficient course offerings and an ill-prepared faculty," attorney Michelle Weinberg said.

Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, DeVry offers post-secondary education in computer technology, programming and information systems. DeVry operates schools in Illinois, Arizona, California, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Alberta and Ontario, Canada. DeVry has over 30,000 enrolled students.

DeVry has stated that it offers an "advanced education that equips you with the technical and business skills that companies need has become essential to getting ahead in a complex world," with "technology-based, career-oriented programs targeted to the modern workplace." DeVry pledges that graduates will be "prepared to use current computer languages and applications-development tools with instruction in database management, computer security and advanced business applications ... to execute the full spectrum of computer functions demanded by modern business."

Plaintiffs allege that, in fact, DeVry graduates are not prepared to meet "the modern workplace". Among the misconduct alleged is that DeVry:

• failed to provide adequate, and in many cases, any placement services for its students and graduates;
• failed to provided competent, experienced and/or qualified faculty for its program of instruction;
• failed to provide instruction in current technologies and computer languages such as Java script;
• failed to maintain an administration competent to operate the constituent schools, supervise faculty, or maintain such limited standards as defendants purported to maintain in manuals and other writings;
• failed to provide adequate laboratory and computer equipment such that students were unable to acquire relevant skills for gainful employment in the field for which they were training.