SALEM (WSLS 10) - ITT Technical Institute announced on Tuesday that it will close all of its campuses including one in Salem, Virginia.
ITT Tech officials said the decision was made after new requirements from the United States Department of Education. In an August 25 letter, the Department of Education imposed a combination of requirements on ITT Educational Services, which included a freeze on PELL grants and student loans, as well as prohibiting the school from enrolling any new students who needed federal aid. The company has been under investigation for allegations of fraud and deceptive marketing tactics.
Tuesday's announcement that the school is closing came days before the Fall 2016 quarter was scheduled to begin. Now students are scrabbling to figure out what to do with their education. Samantha Smith was shocked to hear ITT Technical Institute is closing. She was set to graduate from the nursing program next summer.
"You put all you have into it for a whole year and it's taken away like that," said Smith. "There are no other words to use other than frustrated."
Her frustrations were shared by students who gathered at the Salem campus searching for answers, only to find the doors closed.
"It's a huge sacrifice to make, to have it swept from under you with 6 months left. It is hurtful" , said Keosha Smith, an ITT nursing student.
On Tuesday, students nationwide received a group email from the national office outlining reasons behind the schools closure.
"It affects our families financially. I've got bills mounting. It's a lot of time and sleepless nights put into this," said Amber Janney, an ITT nursing student.
School leaders said they proposed alternatives to the Department of Education's requirements, which included selling the schools to another company; however federal leaders rejected the plan. Students said they've heard rumors about ITT Tech's financial problems, but were told their education would be okay.
"This whole time we've been told it's fine," said Ashley Olivit. "Now people have called and reached out to the Dean. The graduating class doesn't know if they get to sit for their boards now."
American National University is one school stepping in to help by offering a discounted rate for former ITT students. While it may provide some relief, concerns about paying off loans and transferring credits remain.
"Essentially anywhere we go, we will basically have to start over again," said Deena Truslow, ITT nursing student.
Some students said they are considering taking legal action against the school. Samatha Smith said she hopes to enroll in another nursing program and won't let this setback with ITT Tech prevent her from getting a degree.
"It's going to be harder than what we thought nursing school was because of this," she said. But our dream is still there we still want to be nurses and give it all we got.
Click here for more information from the Department of Education regarding ITT Technical Institute:
Click here to learn more how students receiving federal aid can continue their education.
Read the Secretary of Education's message to ITT students