AACC Releases New Ethical Recruitment & Student Aid Transparency Guidance

AACC Releases New Guidance on Ethical Recruitment — Why It Matters and How ANJ Education Consulting Has Always Aligned With These Standards

The Alberta Association of Career Colleges (AACC) recently released an important update addressing a growing issue in the education sector: misleading recruitment practices targeting prospective students, especially newcomers and vulnerable learners. These practices often involve false assurances about “guaranteed grants,” pressure tactics, or incomplete explanations about student loans and repayment responsibilities.

At ANJ Education Consulting, we welcome this new guidance because it reinforces the standards we have always upheld since day one — transparency, accuracy, ethical conduct, and student protection.

We Do More Than Just Recruit — We Educate and Advocate

Unlike agencies that simply “send” students to a college, our approach is different.

We understand that the student aid system can be overwhelming, especially for those new to Canada. This is why we take time to help students understand:

• The difference between loans and grants

• What portion is repayable

• How funding assessments work

• What expectations and responsibilities come with any financial support

• We never offer shortcuts, guarantees, or exaggerated promises about funding. Our goal is for every student to make informed decisions — not rushed or pressured ones.

We Stay Informed and Apply the Policies Properly

AACC’s renewed focus on ethical recruitment aligns with our day-to-day operations. We continuously keep ourselves updated with:

• Alberta Student Aid policies

• The Private Vocational Training Amendment Act

• Bill 3 and its direction

• Compliance expectations for private career colleges
  

We don’t just read these standards — we implement them. Our students know this because we take the time to understand the rules thoroughly and ensure the information we share is accurate, complete, and based on policy, not convenience.

Why We Don’t Just Hire Third-Party Marketers

Many of the issues addressed in the AACC update stem from third-party agents who lack proper training or who use pressure tactics to meet quotas or earn commissions.

This is exactly why ANJ Education Consulting does not normally work with external marketers or agents.

Every student deserves correct information, honest guidance, and a professional who understands the system — not someone who misleads them to secure an enrollment.

Staying independent allows us to protect the integrity of every application and maintain the trust we’ve built over the years.

Helping Students Verify and Understand Their Information

We always encourage students to check information directly through official sources such as:

ALIS – for researching programs and occupations

• NSLSC – for viewing and managing federal loans

• Alberta MyLoans – for provincial loan details

• Alberta Student Aid’s funding guide – the most accurate breakdown of loans and grants

• https://studentaid.alberta.ca/student-aid-funding-guide/loans-and-grants-funding-guide/
  

We guide students on how to access these resources, not just tell them to. Being informed empowers them to make decisions based on facts — not promises.

And yes… some truths may be hard to hear, but the experiences of many students speak for themselves. Sorry, but when misinformation causes harm, it needs to be addressed honestly and directly.

Our Commitment Moving Forward

This new AACC guidance only strengthens our commitment to:

Ethical recruitment

• Transparency

• Responsible advising

• Student-centered service

• Compliance with all provincial regulations
  

At ANJ Education Consulting, we take pride in doing what’s right — even when it’s not the easiest or fastest path. And we will continue to uphold these standards in every conversation and every application we assist with.

Thank you to our students and partners for trusting our integrity and the way we choose to operate.