Schools
Abandoned ITT Tech Students Get Federal Help
The United States Department of Education's new website will help ITT Tech students figure out their options after abrupt closings.
Hundreds of Maryland students left stunned by the sudden collapse of ITT Tech, which closed its doors earlier this month, may find help from the federal government. The United States Department of Education on Monday announced a new website: NextStepsEdu.
The site, which is designed to help students not just at ITT but all students whose colleges suddenly close, will match students with experienced financial aid and academic counselors throughout the country who can provide critical guidance as they determine how best to continue their studies.
Campuses in Maryland — in Owings Mills, Hanover, and Bethesda — were among 130 sites in 38 states school. The school has operated for 50 years and serves 43,000 students.
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Last month, the U.S. Education Department banned the school from enrolling new students who receive federal aid after its accrediting agency cited chronic mismanagement of finances and questionable recruiting tactics. Federal aid provided 68 percent of parent company ITT Educational Services Inc.’s $850 million in revenues.
Anne Arundel County Community College held an open house last week to help ITT students transition to the campus, and has set up a website, hotline phone number and email address just to help those students change schools. The college is also offering $150 in textbook coupons as part of a welcome package for former ITT students.
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Prince George's Community College held a similar open house for ITT Tech students last week, and has also set up a process to help those displaced students transfer.
“Here at the Department we won’t stop working to ensure ITT students remain inspired to pursue the promise of a higher education,” said U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell.
The department partnered with Beyond 12 - a not for profit that helps students pursue higher education - and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators to create the site.
ITT Tech had approximately 35,000 students enrolled at campuses in 38 states.
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