Students left with questions after ITT Tech closes locations nationwide

Wednesday, September 7, 2016
ITT Tech to close before the start of fall semester
ITT Technical institute is shutting down its locations nationwide including its Clovis campus.

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- ITT Technical institute is shutting down its locations nationwide including its Clovis campus. Students and staff showed up to ITT Tech's campus in Clovis Tuesday hoping for answers but instead they left with more questions and a sense of uncertainty.

"Kind of worried. Does that affect our degrees for the people who have gotten them," said Shana Andreotti-Briggs, a former student.

Andreotti-Briggs graduated from ITT Tech several years ago. She showed up to the Clovis campus hoping to get a copy of her transcript. She's concerned about getting all of her educational documents in light of ITT Technical Institute's closure nationwide.

"Kind of sad for the kids and students that are here now that are either a semester away from graduating and will never get anything, and the ones who just started because they have to start all over again."

Students we talked to are concerned because they said a lot of the classes here won't transfer to a junior college or four-year university. The institution released a statement announcing the closure after serving students for roughly 50 years. The statement said, "With what we believe is a complete disregard by the U.S. Department of Education for due process to the company, hundreds of thousands of current students and alumni and more than 8,000 employees will be negatively affected."

According to Niche.com, the Clovis campus served nearly 500 students.

"Very upset. It should have never gotten this far. They should have paid more attention to what's going on in their own business and what's going on with the students," said Ricardo Lara, ITT Tech student.

The US Department of Education reports ITT Tech has been under state and federal investigation and has made irresponsible decisions when it comes to money. Last week it banned ITT Tech from enrolling new students who relied on federal aid. While students in Clovis grapple with the news they're forced to try to look to the future.

"Right now, I'm probably going to hit the job market, but at the same time continue to further my education," said Alex Cruz, ITT Tech student.

For ITT Tech students relying on federal aid, the US Department of Education said it will forgive loans if students decide to discharge from ITT Tech and start their education over.

Click here to read a letter from the US Education Secretary regarding the closure.

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