Michael Vasquez is a senior investigative reporter for The Chronicle. Before joining The Chronicle, he led a team of reporters as education editor for Politico, where he spearheaded the team’s 2016 Campaign coverage of education issues. Mr. Vasquez began his reporting career at The Miami Herald, where he worked for 14 years, covering both politics and education. His work there included Higher-Ed Hustle, a year-long investigation of fraud and abuse in Florida’s for-profit-college industry. The series led to the closure of Miami’s most politically-powerful for-profit college, the arrest of the school’s owner, and a change to state law that created stronger protections for students.
Mr. Vasquez’s education coverage has been recognized with multiple state and national awards, including a National Headliner Award, an Education Writers Association Award, two Sunshine State Awards, and a Florida Society of News Editors Award.
A native of Queens, N.Y., Mr. Vasquez earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Florida International University.
Stories by this Author
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Putting the Brakes OnControversial Online-Program Manager Loses Another College Partner
Ohio’s Central State University is stepping away from the Student Resource Center’s “free college” program. -
Faculty Rights
Collin College Professor Gets 6-Figure Salary and Reinstatement After Free-Speech Lawsuit
Amid a string of legal challenges to faculty dismissals, the Texas community college agreed to reinstate Suzanne Jones and pay her $115,000 a year. -
Program Halted
A College’s Explosive Online Growth Drew Scrutiny. Now the Feds Are Stepping In.
Eastern Gateway Community College is accused of improperly tapping financial-aid dollars to extend a free education to students who did not qualify for the funds. -
Online Programs
‘They Didn’t Care’: Inside One University’s Sputtering Online Partnership With 2U
Arcadia University, in Pennsylvania, worked with the online program manager to start a hybrid physician-assistant program. It didn’t go well. -
Online Education
Lapse in GI Benefits Highlights a Rocky Start for U. of Arizona Global Campus
The University of Arizona Global Campus is hitting some regulatory and financial roadblocks. -
For-Profit Education
More College Owners Could Be ‘On the Hook’ for Repayment Under New Education Dept. Policy
Aiming at for-profit colleges, a new Biden-administration policy looks to protect taxpayers from the cost of loan forgiveness in the event of closure or fraud. -
Academic freedom
Days After Settling a Lawsuit, a Texas College Ousts Another Outspoken Professor
Michael Phillips says he’s losing his job for suggesting to students they should wear masks to class. -
Academic Freedom
Collin College Will Pay Ousted Professor $70,000 Plus Fees in Free-Speech Case
The professor, Lora Burnett, said the college had fired her for “mean tweets.” The college admitted no fault and said settling was an attempt to “resolve this litigation expeditiously.” -
Consumer protection
Online Program Management Firms Are Thriving. And These Democrats Want Answers.
Three Democratic senators sent a letter Friday asking eight OPM companies for details about their operations. -
Too Fast, Too Soon?
A College Found Explosive Growth Through Its Online Programs. Now Its Accreditor Has Put It on Probation.
Eastern Gateway, in Ohio, was faulted for unchecked growth, without a strong commitment to maintaining academic standards.
