Complaint Review: Horizon Healthcare Institute

The letter below this introduction was written by and mailed via Certified Mail to the Florida Government Officials listed by a Group of Students that attended Horizon Healthcare Institue's Practical (LPN) Nursing Program. Only one of 14 students in our class received a diploma although at least 12 students passed the entire PN Program including the Final Exam. The vast majority of students in another class (that we know of) dropped out and the remaining did not receive their diplomas. We all paid almost $9,000 for this Program plus interest and many undisclosed fee's such as $160 for turning in homework late. We know there are dozens if not 100's of students whom have been ripped off by Horizon Healthcare Institute and we need to come together to stop this institution. We wrote our complaints to the Florida Commission for Independant Education (A private commission funded by private for-profit schools to regulate the schools that fund them.) and all of our complaints were closed without the CIE even contacting us to question our complaints.  We urge anyone who is also a victim of Horizon Healthcare Institute and Courtney Robinson or any other staff member of HHI to write a complaint to File a Report on Ripoff Report as well as write your local Congressman/Congresswoman, file a report with your local sheriff, and get together with former classmates and complaint to the Florida Attorney General. WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO STOP HORIZON HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE AND COURTNEY ROBINSON FROM INJURING MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HOLDS COURTNEY ROBINSON AND HIS STAFF ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES.

 The Letter:

Class complaint against Horizon Healthcare Institute, Port Charlotte campus & Courtney Robinson, Director/CEO

 January 19, 2015

 Complaint is against:

Horizon Healthcare Institute

1032 Tamiami Trail,

Port Charlotte, FL 33953

 Dates of Attendance:

06/24/2013-07/23/2014

 To:

Office of the Attorney General, Pam Bondi

Charlotte County State Attorney, Stephen B. Russell

Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Richard L. Swearingen

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Bill Prummell

Please accept this letter as a formal group complaint against Horizon Healthcare Institute’s Port Charlotte campus and Courtney D. Robinson, CEO and Director of Nursing Education. Our complaints include but are not limited to Courtney D. Robinson’s actions including breach of contract, consumer fraud, misrepresentation, extortion and abuse of authority.  As well as intentional change of curricula to the Florida Department of Education program number H170605 curriculum framework. Intentional deviation of course length and elimination of critical program structure and practice. Non-compliance of the Practical Nurse Program approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and Florida Commission for Independent Education.  And blatant disregard of Florida Administrative Code 6-E Rulings regulated (supposedly) by the Florida Commission for Independent Education and provisioned by laws set forth by the Legislature of the State of Florida and documented in Chapter 1005, Florida Statutes of 2013 and 2014.

We are students of Horizon Healthcare Institute located at the Port Charlotte, FL campus.  We have paid all required fees and completed all required components of the 2013-2014 part-time evening Practical Nursing Program that began on June 6, 2013 and ended by passing the final exam on July 23, 2014 yet have not received our diplomas.

We have filed formal complaints with the Florida Commission for Independent Education as well as the Florida Department of Health and our complaints have been dismissed or ignored without explanation or mediation.

The 2013-2014 Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education’s Annual Report states:

 THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSION FOR INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

● To serve as a consumer protection agency by protecting the individual student by promoting accountability at the independent postsecondary level

● To protect the integrity of these institutions by assuring that certain standards are met

● To encourage independent institutions to offer programs that meet the needs of Florida citizens

 In our case, the CIE has not performed it’s duties to protecting students or enforced even minimum regulation for Horizon Healthcare Institute. 

We attended what was advertised to be a 15 month Part-Time Evening, 2013-2014 Practical Nursing Program at Horizon Healthcare Institute’s Port Charlotte Campus and our complaints are concerning Courtney Robinson, CEO/Executive Director.

We are attaching a copy of Horizon Healthcare Institute’s Student Catalog that is on file with the Commission for Independent Education dated 01/2012.  As of October 31, 2014 it is the latest catalog from Horizon Healthcare Institute in the Commissions possession as stated by Susan Hood and the only catalog that was available to students in our program.  One student who filed a complaint received a copy of the new school catalog dated 01/2014 from the Commission of Independent Education that Mr. Robinson recently supplied to them.  This catalog has fees and requirements for graduation for students enrolling in 2014 that Horizon Healthcare Institute and Courtney Robinson is enforcing on students whom enrolled in 2013 although these fees and requirements constitutes a breach of contract.  We are including a copy of this catalog as well.  There is not a catalog for 2013 that was approved by the CIE as required by 6E-2.008(1)(5) F.A.C. nor available to students or on file with the CIE.  We are also attaching a copy of our signed Policies and Procedures Handbook, our signed Student Enrollment Agreement’s as well as one copy of the LPN Handbook 2013-2014 and one copy of the Payment Plan Agreement.

Courtney Robinson is in violation of breach of contract with us in the 06/24/2013-07/23/2014, Part-Time Evening, 2013-2014 Practical Nursing Program we attended.  Mr. Robinson has ignored, disregarded and violated our rights and has refused to attempt a resolution regarding our complaints to him. Mr. Robinson verbally announced, approximately two weeks before the end of the program, additional substantial fees and additional requirements for graduation not disclosed in our Student Enrollment Agreement or school catalog.  He is enforcing his verbal addendum by refusing to release our, or 13 of the 14 students, diploma until his demands are fulfilled.  In our signed contract we are to receive 1350 clock hours of Practical Nurse education of which, by Florida Department of Education Curriculum Framework approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and Commission for Independent Education, requires at least 50% being clinical clock hours.  During the vast majority of our program only 25% of these clinical hours could be simulated (as of July 1, 2014 Florida law changed to 50% simulated).  The first breach of contract from Mr. Robinson is his elimination of over 300 crucial clinical training clock hours from the curriculum without the consent from any of the students.  This also violates 6E-2.008 F.A.C.

In the 3^rd quarter of the program Mr. Robinson announced to our class that we would be assigned homework to complete 200 Saunders nursing education questions every other week to replace the clinical training hours he eliminated from our program.  Mr. Robinson announced to the class that students who were late turning in their homework would have to pay a mandatory fee of $160.00.  Mr. Robinson enforced this undisclosed, unethical and possibly illegal fee by threatening the students to either pay the fee or be dismissed from program. This certainly appears to be extortion as defined in 836.05 F.S. as Kristi Bright, one of the students forced to pay this fee and signing this complaint, felt threatened that she would lose months of hard work, be disgraced and humiliated by being kicked out of the program as well as having her future career as a practical nurse disappear if she did not write a check to Horizon Healthcare Institute for $160.  We know of at least one other student, Chloe Sewell, who has paid this fee as well.

Mr. Robinson is also in breach of contract by verbally enforcing unethical and financially costly rules that are holding 13 out of 14 students diplomas and graduation. There is no information in the 01/2012 student catalog or the signed Student Enrollment Agreement (The Binding Document and Catalog) or signed Policies and Procedures Handbook disclosing to students of an “Exit Exam” or “ATI Comprehensive Predictor” yet Mr. Robinson verbally made it mandatory for all students to pay for, take and pass this predictor that is provided by a private for-profit corporation.  Applied Technologies Institute also provides, at an expense to the institution, an extensive full training program to institutes and colleges to utilize proper training to pass this predictor test. Horizon healthcare Institute did not provide this training yet forced students to pay for and pass the undisclosed ATI Comprehensive Predictor in order to graduate and receive our diplomas.   We did not sign any type of document at any time informing us that we would be required to pay once or repeatedly pay $75 each time to take practice predictors and pay for and pass the ATI Comprehensive Predictor as a requirement for graduation.

 Below is an exact copy of the Commission for Independent Education Index, Chapter 6E, Florida Administrative Code.  Please take special note of the bold italicized wording.

 “6E-2.008 Approval of Modifications.

(1) No licensed institution shall add new degrees, programs or majors to its offerings or alter any licensed program by more than 20 percent since its last review, change the title of a program or the credential awarded, or discontinue a program, while under a Provisional License. Modifications contemplated by institutions holding an Annual License shall receive approval from the Commission before implementation. Such approval is contingent upon:

(a) A finding by the Commission that the licensee meets the standards contained in Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., and if applicable, Rule 6E-2.0041 or 6E-2.0042, F.A.C., for each proposed new degree, program, or major;

(b) Documentation that the modifications are congruent with the guidelines of state or national professional licensing boards;

(c) The licensee’s filing the required documentation; and

(d) The licensee’s paying the fee required by rule.

(e) Submission of proposed catalog revisions.

(2) In the event that it is deemed necessary by the Commission, a representative of the Commission or a visiting committee shall Published March 5, 2014 Page 36 of 44 visit the institution prior to consideration of the modification and shall provide a written report to the Commission of its findings, to be used as one of the bases upon which the Commission will make a determination regarding modification.

(3) Any other significant change in the information provided in the initial application for, or last review of, licensure, or in subsequent modifications approved by the Commission, including but not limited to change in corporate charter, purpose, administrative structure, finance, or physical facilities, shall be filed with the Commission at least 30 days prior to implementation.

(4) Additional locations, including auxiliary classroom space, shall not be added while under a Provisional License. Institutions holding an Annual License shall receive prior approval of additional locations by the Commission before implementation. For colleges and universities, if the new additional location is more than 10 miles distant from the main Florida headquarters, the college or university shall submit information to the Commission showing that the requirements of Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., are met for the

additional location. For nondegree schools, each location except an auxiliary classroom space shall be licensed separately. Licensed institutions shall provide to the Commission prior notification of auxiliary classroom space, as defined in subsection 6E-1.003(8), F.A.C. Such notification shall include the address and description of the facilities. The description shall include information regarding student capacity, the purpose of the facility, the impact on existing students, and the scope of the operation.

(5) The Commission shall be notified in writing of minor modifications of programs, fees, or tuition. The Commission shall not be required to review or approve such modifications.”

 We are attaching copies of our signed Student Policies and Procedures PN Program Handbook.  It is not numbered or professionally bound yet just a few pages of photocopied papers. There is nothing in the Student Policies and Procedures PN Program Handbook informing students of a massive reduction of fundamental clinical training hours or a requirement to pay for, take and pass the ATI Comprehensive Predictor (or Exit exam) in order for students to receive a diploma.   The following requirements for graduation are not in writing yet have been verbally given to the students of my class and they are being enforced by Mr. Robinson.  There is nothing in any written format in this Handbookinforming students they must pay to take an exit exam and/or ATI Comprehensive Predictor and to pay $249.00 to take an ATI remedial course (although we never took an initial ATI course) upon receiving a score lower than 75% on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor.  Mr. Robinson has not at all been consistent in his actions with his students.  Some students in our class were given only one chance while other students were given two chances to pay for, take and pass the undisclosed ATI Comprehensive Predictor with a minimum score of 75%.  After failing the ATI Comprehensive Predictor the students are required to pay for and take a remedial course.  After paying for and taking a remedial course the students of my class have been verbally informed they will have two more chances to pay for, take and pass the ATI Comprehensive Predictor with a minimum score of 75%.  If the student fails the Predictor twice after the remedial course he/she will have the option of paying in full ($9,000) to take the entire program over again.  Or the student has the option of walking away with nothing except the debt incurred while attending Horizon Healthcare Institute.  Once again, there is nothing in writing in any binding documents that include the term “ATI Comprehensive Predictor” or the fees we paid for this.  There is no information of a time frame in which this verbally added mandatory program requirement is to take place.

One of our complainants, Maria C. Hayes, filed a formal complaint with the Commission for Independent Education and her complaint was dismissed, was only given ONE chance from Courtney Robinson to take the ATI Comprehensive Predictor before she was told she had to retake the entire program again at a cost of $9,000.  At what point is a licensed institute under the regulation of the Commission of Independent Education allowed to substantially harm a citizen and consumer of Florida before it opens an investigation?

Courtney Robinson, faculty members and staff did not verbally inform us or other students that we are aware of any information regarding the ATI Comprehensive Predictor until class ended after our final exam.  He informed the class approximately two weeks prior to our final exam that we would be required to pay $75 when we took “his” exit exam at the end of the PN program.   We thought this was the final classroom examination as we were told nothing of an additional predictor after our final exam and there is no disclosure or explanation of anything called the ATI Comprehensive Predictor.  Mr. Robinson did not inform us of this verbally at orientation or at the beginning of each quarter when our LPN Handbooks were passed out or at any other time until approximately two weeks before his early termination of the program.

 The Commission for Independent Education and Courtney Robinson will not answer our questions or complaints about the elimination of crucial hospital clinical experience or a give reason or explanation why we were charged so many undisclosed fees, including the costs for clock hours we did not receive, and made to pay these fees or be dismissed from the program. We have not received a response as to why Mr. Robinson is allowed to enforce his verbal requirement for graduation regarding the ATI Comprehensive Predictor. He has gotten angry and raised his voice to any student who questioned his authority to verbally enforce what is not on our contract.  It is unethical, immoral and what we believe is criminal for us, paying consumers and students, to pay for services not rendered and be treated with such disrespect making us feel helpless and hopeless by the CEO of Horizon Healthcare Institute.

The HHI Port Charlotte Payment Plan Agreement states that students who pay 8 consecutive payments on time will receive $1000 scholarship.   Mr. Robinson has refused to give students this scholarship and is refusing the release our diplomas as well.  Under 6E-1.0032 Fair Consumer Practices (7) he is violating the Florida Administrative Code by offering a reduction in tuition to students that pay in a timely manner.  Does this not put into question the other actions that we are alleging?

 An exit exam is mentioned in the same Payment Plan Agreement that the illegal $1000 scholarship is written yet there is no definition or disclosure as to what an “exit exam” actually is.  Since Mr. Robinson has now made the ATI Comprehensive Predictor the most crucial requirement for graduation, he is not following the criteria of the Commission for Independent Education Index according to Florida Administrative Code Ruling 6E-1.0032, Fair Consumer Practices (6) (b), Educational programs and curricula: The curricula shall be published in the catalog and shall state objectives specific to each curriculum and the requirements to be met for successful completion of each curriculum or program. Information relating to course availability and prerequisites shall be available for students. The catalog shall also contain brief course descriptions for each course offered.  Horizon Healthcare Institute did not offer and we never received or signed any type of document at any time informing us that we would be required to pay ($75.00 each attempt) to take the ATI Practice Predictor.  As a matter of fact, there is no information regarding the ATI Comprehensive Predictor as a requirement for graduation and for the release of diplomas, period.

All fee’s and requirements for graduation must be included in writing and confirmed with the students signature before enrolling, not a week, a month or a year after enrollment or just prior to the final exam.

In the first quarter’s LPN Handbook 2013-2014 students received on the first day of class, after signing the Student Enrollment Agreement, on the page after the cover page (the Handbook is not numbered) it states under PN Program Objectives:   

 This states nothing about the ATI Comprehensive Predictor and does not explain the definition of the ATI Comprehensive Predictor nor does it contain any fees associated with the ATI Comprehensive Predictor.

The LPN Handbook is not numbered or signed by either student or faculty member.  Horizon Healthcare Institute failed to notify me or any students of the schools definition of “Exit exam.” It is an elusive and non-specific statement that vastly benefits the school’s student NCLEX pass rate ratio but punishes the students as it is very costly to the students, not only in money but stress, anxiety and depression for the vast majority of students. So many students just “give up” after paying over $9,000 for and putting great effort into the program because the school will not release their diplomas.  If it’s not already, this should be criminal.  It certainly is a scam that allows For-Profit Institutions to benefit financially while they are (seemingly) allowed by the Commission for Independent Education to eliminate educational clock hours and practice substandard performance in teaching students the Practical Nurse Standard Curriculum required by the Florida Department of Education.

We have successfully completed all class hours and the clinical hours that Courtney Robinson required students to complete in the 2013-2014 part-time evening Practical Nursing Program that began on June 24, 2013 and ended on July 23, 2014. It baffles us that he offered students whom have already successfully completed the 3^rd and 4^th quarter classes as well as the same 4^th quarter clinical hours to retake them all “for free”.  Why would the Commission for Independent Education let Horizon Healthcare Institute get away with eliminating over 300 clock hours of critical clinical experience?  Where do the limitations end for private for-profit post-secondary education institutes? So called “Diploma Mills” are illegal yet what Horizon Healthcare Institute is doing by drastically cutting education requirements, charging students for a full education and more and not be penalized is an open avenue for the next generation of “Diploma Mills”.   Please let us know your opinion of this in your response.

 Under Standard 11: Publications and Advertising (b) 2. Of the F.A.C.

s. A complete explanation of the standards of satisfactory academic progress. This policy shall include, at a minimum: Minimum grades and standards considered satisfactory; conditions for interruption due to unsatisfactory grades or progress; a description of the probationary period, if applicable; and conditions of re-entrance for those students suspended for unsatisfactory progress;

t. A description of all diplomas or degrees awarded, together with a statement of the requirements to be met for satisfactory completion of each;

u. A detailed description of the charges for tuition, fees, books, supplies, tools, equipment, student activities, service charges, rentals, deposits and any other applicable charges. All nonrefundable charges shall be clearly indicated as such;

 The above rulings and standards are set by the Commission for Independent Education yet have not been followed by Horizon Healthcare Institute.

 There is not a statement of all of the requirements to be met for a satisfactory completion of the program in order to be awarded a diploma that is being followed.

 There is not a detailed description for fees, service charges or other applicable charges that Courtney Robinson of Horizon Healthcare Institute verbally instituted and made mandatory for students to pay money for late homework, the ATI Comprehensive Predictor or remedial courses as a requirement for graduation and receipt of a diploma.

The below quotation is directly from the LPN Handbook 2013-2014 yet an exit exam is not included in this statement:

“A Diploma is presented to each student that has:

1.  Successfully completed all required components.
2.  Attended all class hours.
3.  Fulfilled all monetary obligations to the school.

Students will not be allowed to graduate if all the requirements above is not satisfied.

REQUIRED COMPONENTS & OTHER ASSIGNMENTS

EXAMINATIONS:

There will be a final written exam for PN for each quarter that will cover assigned readings.  Students will be permitted to take a make-up exam if they have notified the instructor in advance.   Students who do not give an advanced notice will not be allowed to take a make-up. Failure to complete the exam within the grace period will result in a filing grade for that exam.

LEARNING PORTFOLIO

Students are required to turn in the two packet folder which contains the quizzes and assignments. This folder is due at the end of the program. If you do not turn in your folder you will not receive your certificate!!  Students are allowed to make copies which are $0.15 per copy in the business office.”

Please notify us of the laws or rulings that allow an institution under your regulatory jurisdiction to add additional requirement(s) for graduation in a separate clause, on a separate page or not at all in their Catalog or Student Enrollment Agreement.  And please notify us of how a private for-profit institution can charge the undisclosed fees as stated in this letter without the consent of the Commission for Independent Education.  If Horizon Healthcare Institute is not exempt from the Florida Statutes and F.A.C. Rulings then what action will be taken to stop them from continuing to harm students and what recourse will be taken for previous students that have suffered from the actions of HHI?

We would like to add that Mr. Robinson created many if not all of the tests our group took during the program and he taught class on several occasions when our instructor was absent.   Even our Instructor, Ms. Dawn Evancho Garofalo (XXX-XXX-XXXX) was unable to answer some of the questions Courtney Robinson made up for the tests. He even gave us a test on one occasion when our instructor was absent yet he told the CIE he never taught class and they did not question any other students.   He is not allowed to teach students or create tests for students as he is not legally qualified to do so as stated in Standard (7) 2. F.A.C.:

2. Faculty Qualifications. These standards shall apply to all full-time, part-time and adjunct faculty.

a. Institutions whose graduates must pass state, federal or other licensing examinations before being licensed to practice their vocation, technology, trade or business must provide evidence that each instructor teaching in that field holds a current and valid Florida occupational license in the occupation being taught.

The only way we can think of that you can verify this is to contact students of Horizon Healthcare Institute and ask them.  Every student, at least in my class, knows this is a fact.  Are you willing to put forth the effort to do this in order to protect the citizens of our state?

Or are you going to allow a previous PIP paralegal to teach future LPN’s of Florida?  Would you want to

be the patient of a practical nurse that was trained by an unregistered Personal Injury Protection Paralegal?  If you knew about it, would you recommend a friend to attend a nursing institution WITHOUT A PROGRAM DIRECTOR?  Yes, HHI has a licensed program director on paper with the FBON but not one in the school campus managing instructors or teaching students.  Mr. Robinson has even falsely informed, in writing, to the Commission for Independent Education that there have been three different Program Directors at the Port Charlotte campus since it opened and none of them is the person who is on file with the Florida Board of Nursing. We strongly urge you to check with students to see if they know of a Qualified Licensed Program Director in person at each campus, not Courtney Robinson who is acting as Program Director including maintaining the persona of an attorney (of which he is not yet many students and faculty think he is because our campus’ Student Advisor, Erin Powell, has told many people in our school he is an attorney).

We know I have made you aware of a plethora of very disturbing actions committed by Horizon Healthcare Institute and Courtney Robinson.  And we know many students from our class have filed formal complaints to the CIE. We strongly urge you to investigate our complaints.  Even Sean XXXXXX (941-XXX-XXXX), the ONLY student to graduate and receive a diploma from this class, said he will be honest with the authorities if contacted regarding what happened during our program. 

Please review and investigate our complaints so we and the other students of our class at Horizon Healthcare Institute can finally take the required Hospital based pediatric, maternity and surgical clinical training we have been cheated out of and can graduate from the program we paid for and put so much effort into completing.  All of us could have potentially been working in a new career for many months if we had not been swindled by Courtney Robinson.  We ask you with all sincerity, not only for us yet for all of the students of Horizon Healthcare Institute and especially the students who are afraid to come forward or have given up, to see this as the crime it is and take the appropriate actions to stop this institute and it’s CEO from harming more citizens and consumers of our great state of Florida.

 Sincerely,

STUDENTS NAMES & EMAIL ADDERESS NOT ALLOWED ON RIPOFF REPORT