HILLIARD (WCMH) — ITT Technical Institute has closed its doors nationwide. Classes that were supposed to start next week have been cancelled.
The closure comes one week after ITT Tech was ordered to stop enrolling students.
The sanctions against the school prevent it from receiving any federal aid and require ITT Tech to increase its case reserve from $49 million to $247 million – money that was created to support students in case the company closed.
This news leaves tens of thousands of students in the dark.
“We found out about a problem the financial aid a week ago, but then this morning we got the email sent at 7:00 saying there were no longer classes,” said Angela Ernsberger, a current student enrolled at ITT Tech.
In that email the school days, “We proposed alternatives to the Department of Education, but they were rejected… We have made the very difficult decision to discontinue our operations effective immediately.”
“We have not gotten any phone calls from the school at all,” says Ernsberger.
Ernsberger has three quarters left to complete before graduating with her medical assistance degree. She now faces not graduating at all.
“I’m really angry because if this was going to happen and they knew about it last week why did they tell us instead of telling us everything was okay,” Ernsberger said.
She’s not alone.
“I want to go to nursing because I’m a hairstylist and that’s not greatest for retirement,” said Abbie Fitzwater, first time students enrolled at ITT Tech’s Hilliard Campus. “I thought nursing is a good program. I graduated with my business degree three months ago at Indiana Wesleyan and they have a program through ITT were you can bridge back get your BSN and work towards it.”
Fitzwater says she was supposed to start classes next Tuesday. She attended orientation on Aug. 18 and spoke with her adviser this past Friday. Never once was the school closing mentioned.
“I don’t know if I’m going to continue with nursing try and see your go back with Indiana Wesleyan but as of right now is, plan is up in the air,” Fitzwater says.
Accord to the U.S. Department of Education, there are some options for students.
- You can transfer your credits to a new school, if they accept them.
- If your credits do not transfer, you can be eligible to discharge your federal loans.
ITT Tech has provided a list of alternative schools for students.What others are clicking on:
