Harrison Career Institute allows unqualified teachers and staff like Director Thelma Castelow who just got her GED in December 2004, teach classes and direct a school all while ripping students off with and being investegated bt the FEDS because of shady money dealings Vineland, Voorhees New Jersey
Harrison Career Institute told it's students every thing was "wonderful" after hearing rumors of a federal investigation. Even though Director Thelma Castelow at Vineland Campus told them that she had to come to school while they were break to "fix the program and change the hours" Oddly enough August 25, 2005, students saw an article related to a federal investigation and the mishandling of funds.
Even though the school had been shut down Wednesday, Director Thelma Castelo and Dana Backhaus (Regional), were in the building after graduation Thursday August 26. Students are still uncertain of their future. As you will see in the article, President Jim Mannion sites 1800 students at Harrison, while Federal Investigator report almost 4,000. So where is all this loan money going? Students in various classes have teachers that are admittedly unqualified to teach courses such as a multi skilled technician with no cardiac experience teaching a Cardiovascular Technology class for $10,000. Thelma Catelow the Director, just got her GED in Decmber 2004, used to be a teaher for 3 years at Harrison Career Institutefor medical assiting class but never finished her extern or got her GED until 2004. She was allowed to teach students day and evening for three years without being certified in phlebotomy (drawing blood) or medical assiting or without a GED, but she became director. You have to have a GED or diploma to get certified. But what does HCI care, as long as you sign on the dotted line.
Read articles on HCI posted below on its Federal investigation
U.S.: School mishandled loans
RELATED STORIES
More oversight needed for vocational schools
Harrison to reopen Aug. 31
GET HELP
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will take calls from HCI students at (609) 984-5262.
The state also plans to set up a Web site for student comments. Watch for the feedback section coming to www.njtrainingsystems.org
The U.S. Department of Education is planning to use part of its Web site for information for HCI students. The department's home page is www.ed.gov.
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Thursday, August 25, 2005
By JEANNE RIDGWAY
Courier-Post Staff
VOORHEES
Thousands of students in New Jersey and neighboring states have been coerced and cheated, according to federal allegations that a vocational school based in Voorhees mishandled student loan money and failed to deliver on contracted courses.
The president of Harrison Career Institute, also known as HCI, vigorously denies the accusations detailed in a Department of Education "emergency action letter" and says the school will appeal by the Sept. 8 deadline.
The U.S. Department of Education plans to fine HCI $3.64 million on findings of fraud and improprieties involving the school's participation in federal student loan programs.
Harrison Commisso, owner and CEO of Voorhees-based HCI, was notified about the department's intentions in an Aug. 18 letter from the department. The 15-campus institute has schools in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Allentown, Pa., Wilmington, Del., Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
The Courier-Post obtained a copy late Wednesday.
HCI has filed an appeal of the department's actions, including the termination of HCI's eligibility for student loan programs, according to Jim Mannion, HCI president. He called the department's findings "distorted and out of context."
"We believe the government is 100 percent absolutely wrong," said Mannion. "I absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, think we will prevail. It's unfortunate I can't give you more information."
Mannion insisted that the school would not close, despite student rumors to the contrary.
HCI's actions have hit students hard, according to Mary E. Gust, author of the Aug. 18 letter.
Gust listed the department's case against the post-secondary vocational school, including findings that the school coerced students to sign up for loans that they did not need, sold them computers for double their actual value, and failed to deliver on courses as contracted. The letter alleges the school mishandled student loan money dating back to 2001.
"Harrison's conduct is extremely egregious considering the underprivileged nature of much of the student population attending the institution," wrote Gust, director of the federal student aid section at the Education Department.
The document also alleges the school:
Falsified the school's Title IV loan eligibility records and student eligibility documents.
Illegally retained federal tuition money that students did not earn.
Did not release "in a timely manner" credit balances that students were permitted to use for critical needs, such as child care and transportation.
The department also claims HCI enticed students to obtain loans from Access Financial Group, another company owned by HCI's Commisso. The loans were written to replace federal loans that students had already received, the letter alleges.
"In some cases, the students were not told that their accounts were already paid in full," Gust wrote.
In business since 1979, HCI opened with one school in Cinnaminson. Today, the company has grown to 15 schools.
In South Jersey, HCI operates campuses in Deptford, Delran and Vineland. HCI opened a new corporate office on Evesham Road in Voorhees within the past year.
Students train for a variety of business and health careers such as small-business management, paralegal, medical and dental assistant and practical nursing.
About 1,800 students are enrolled, said Mannion. Federal records show nearly 4,000 students enrolled in the past academic year.
On the Vineland campus, student rumor has it that HCI will close for good, said Millville student Christine Lugo, 21. The school is on summer recess until Sept. 12, said Mannion.
"The worst thing that could happen for me is them not reopening," said Lugo, who has taken $10,000 in student loans and is studying dialysis. "I put eight months into my education here, and it's like eight months down the drain."
Another student said she is worried about finding a job and paying back the money she owes for her education.
"If they do shut down, then I'm stuck with $5,000 worth of loans," said Keyanna Jones, 26, of Gouldtown, Cumberland County.
The U.S. Department of Education is still developing a Web site that will provide students with information about the situation and what they may do.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will conduct its own assessment of HCI and its training, said department spokesman Kevin Smith.
"We will work with local work force investment boards and other training providers to make sure our clients have other places where they can complete the training they have started at HCI," said Smith.
Lindenwold resident Naomi Silver, 30, who graduated from HCI in 2002, said she thinks the school deserves to be fined. Silver couldn't find a job because, she said, HCI failed to come through with a promised externship.
Silver said she is still paying back $6,000 in student loans.
"They cheated a lot of us out of a lot of money. I think it's justified. They didn't follow through on their end of the contract," said Silver. Gannett New Jersey contributed to this report. Reach Jeanne Ridgway at (856) 486-2479 or jridgwayat courierpostonline.com
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050825/NEWS01/508250373/1006
Carla
Franklinville, New Jersey
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Carla
Franklinville,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Harrison Career Institute Federal Probe into Vocational Schools in Unites States - School's to include Harrison Career Institute, have been charged (and fined 3.64 million dollars), Sanford Brown and Career Education Corp. in a Department of Education F
#2Author of original report
Sun, September 04, 2005
If you live in DC, DE, PA, NJ, Most of these state departments of ED, have set up phone numbers and websites regarding student complaints
U.S. agency pledges to help HCI students
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
By JEANNE RIDGWAY
Courier-Post Staff
The U.S. Department of Education promises it will work with students of Harrison Career Institute, a four-state vocational school that has been fined $3.64 million and stripped of its eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs.
HCI is appealing the fine and "emergency action," imposed by the education department on Aug. 18.
"The department understands the concerns of students and parents, and we are working with state and accrediting officials on possible options," said Stephanie Babyak, spokeswoman for the department of education.
Last week, the department said it would make a Web site available to HCI students in the near future. In an e-mail sent to the Courier-Post on Monday, Babyak did not say if the Web site is closer to development.
In the meantime, HCI students may call state licensing agencies with questions or concerns, Babyak wrote in the e-mail.
The embattled HCI has vowed to remain in business, but students now fear its current troubles will force it to close. If that happens, students may apply their remaining federal student loans to another eligible school, according to the education department.
Most of the 1,800 students enrolled at HCI receive federal financial aid, including Pell grants and Direct loans.
The students are pursuing careers in health care and business at locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. In the region, the school operates campuses in Delran, Deptford, Vineland and Philadelphia.
In its allegations against HCI, the department of education said the school falsified records, mismanaged money and improperly obtained loans.
HCI also enticed students to obtain loans from Access Financial Group, a company owned by HCI's owner, Harrison Commisso of Marlton, the government said.
Last week, HCI President Jim Mannion, who has called accusations against the school "distorted and out of context," said he expects the school to win its appeal.
Reach Jeanne Ridgway at (856) 486-2479 or jridgway@courierpost online.com
MORE INFORMATION
See www.ed.gov for general information about the Department of Education and federal student loan programs, how to repay loans, and applying for a loan discharge under specific circumstances. See http://studentaid.ed.gov for information in English and Spanish about federal student aid. Call (800) 433-3243 for general student aid questions.
TO LEARN MORE
According to the U.S. Department of Education, students with questions about Harrison Career Institute may call: Delaware Department of Education: (302) 739-4686
Maryland Higher Education Commission: (410) 260-4500
New Jersey Department of Education: (609) 984-5262
Pennsylvania Department of Education: (717) 787-4645
Accrediting Commission Of Career Schools & Colleges of Technology: (703) 247-4212
More oversight needed for vocational schools
RELATED STORIES
Harrison to reopen Aug. 31
U.S.: School mishandled loans
Monday, August 29, 2005
Federal and state regulators rely too much on self-reporting by schools, but some can't be trusted to tell the truth.
Private vocational schools thrive off taxpayer-backed student loans. More than half of their students depend on the loan programs to pay for their education, which can sometimes cost more than a four-year program at a public university.
These schools serve a useful purpose, as not all students go to college. But some private vocational schools seem to put more effort into getting loan payments than educating students.
Usually, federal and state regulators are the last to learn when schools aren't delivering promised job training or opportunities. Regulators rely too heavily on the honor system as schools tell regulators whether they are complying with federal loan and state education requirements. There is too much opportunity for lax compliance or outright cheating.
Voorhees-based Harrison Career Institute, a private vocational school, is facing allegations that it mishandled student loans and didn't offer contracted courses.
The owner, Harrison Commisso, vigorously denies the allegations and is fighting a proposed $3.6 million fine the U.S. Department of Education plans to impose.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California and other states are reviewing business practices at vocational schools owned by Career Education Corp., including the Sanford Brown Institute in Iselin, Middlesex County.
Story continues below
In April, a CBS 60 Minutes report claimed Career Education schools routinely pressured unqualified students to enroll and grossly overstated its graduation and job placement rates.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development said it is closely reviewing Sanford Brown's application for renewal.
Still, it is rare for the state to go beyond looking over the paperwork when schools renew operating licenses each year as required, a spokesman said.
Usually, it takes complaints from several students or school staff to initiate an investigation of business practices.
Oversight must be tightened.
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., has tried for 15 years to get Congress to impose more stringent regulation. Waters told 60 Minutes some congressional members protect the schools.
As a group, private vocational schools have contributed more than $1 million in campaign contributions to federal officials during the past two years, 60 Minutes found.
Half of that money was given to House Education Committee Chairman John Boehner, R-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Howard P. McKeon, R-Calif.
Taxpayers and vocational students need leaders who will protect them.
Our elected federal and state officials must hold these schools more accountable for educating students and complying with federal loan regulations.
That will happen if voters start holding elected officials accountable for how well vocational schools operate.
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050829/OPINION/508290301/1006