Marinello School of Beauty to Close All Connecticut Locations

The Marinello School of Beauty will close all six of its Connecticut locations tomorrow, Feb. 5, as it grapples with a federal investigation into alleged financial improprieties.

Most of the chain’s locations are closing today, Feb. 4, but Connecticut and Kansas sites are gaining an extra day, according to a letter to students posted on the cosmetology school’s website. Marinello’s Connecticut locations are in Niantic, Fairfied, East Hartford, Meriden, Willimantic and Hamden.

“We know that this has been a hard week with a lot of rumors circulating and we want you to know that we truly care about you and your future. We continue to make our best effort to help in this difficult time,” the company wrote. “However, it is with great sadness and regret that we must inform you that effective Thursday, February 4 (CA, NV, and UT) / Friday February 5 (CT and KS), Marinello Schools of Beauty will cease operations and that your campus will be closed.

“We want you to know that we did everything in our power to avoid this unfortunate conclusion and keep your school open. Unfortunately, the Department of Education’s unprecedented and unfounded actions left us with no other option except to close our schools.”

Among the accusations made by federal officials against the schools are withholding financial aid from from students, billing excessive overtime and falsifying diplomas.

School officials said meetings will be held next week to allow students to receive their transcripts and other paperwork, and officials with the Connecticut Office of Higher Education are expected to be on hand to discuss options for the students going forward.

NBC Connecticut News reports that the state has set up a webpage for Marinello students to enter their information in case the company’s promises fall through.

“We understand that Marinello has asked its schools to remain open next week so that students may obtain paperwork and information on their options,” said Jane A. Ciarleglio, executive director of the Office of Higher Education in a statement, as reported by NBC Connecticut News. “As a precaution, however, we urge students to register on our website to provide us with complete information on the status of their coursework. In the event that students are unable to deal with Marinello directly, we can provide them with copies of their transcripts, process tuition reimbursements, and facilitate transfer to other schools once we have records in hand. We are currently working with school officials to obtain electronic and paper copies of student records.”

Click here to read the full story on the NBC Connecticut News website.

Patch file photo of the Niantic location of Marinello School of Beauty.