WRIGHT COLLEGE’S ACCREDITING AGENCY WAS UNDER FIRE
The embattled Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools was the accrediting agency for the now-defunct Wright Career College. Officials from multiple states are seeking to shut down the agency.
The private for-profit vocational school that abruptly closed its campuses in Oklahoma and elsewhere last week was accredited by an organization that officials from multiple states are seeking to shut down.
The embattled Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools was the accrediting agency for the now-defunct Wright Career College, Nora House confirmed Tuesday.
House is director of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools, which oversees the 100-plus such institutions operating in the state.
Kansas-based Wright Career College filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Friday in Kansas City, Kan. The school closed its five campuses, in Overland Park and Wichita, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
The Chronicle for Higher Education reported Monday that the ACICS president for the past seven years, Al Gray, resigned shortly after the attorneys general for 12 states and the District of Columbia sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education opposing the renewal of recognition for ACICS.
“ACICS’s accreditation failures are both systemic and extreme. Its decisions to accredit low-quality for-profit schools have ruined the lives of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable students whom it was charged to protect. It has enabled a great fraud upon our students and taxpayers,” the letter states.
A teacher who worked at Wright’s Oklahoma City campus for several months in 2014, but asked that he not be named, said it appeared the administration misused government student loans. He said many students learned nothing while he was there.
House said it is up to the private schools to seek accreditation from a thirdparty accrediting agency if they want it.
Her staff of three people makes site visits periodically, she said, and do so if they receive a complaint.
The board received two complaints about Wright in 11 years, she said.
Legislation is pending that would require her staff to inspect any new private vocational schools before they are licensed to operate in Oklahoma, she said.
Another private vocational school operating in Oklahoma announced Tuesday it would consider credit transfers for students from Wright.
St. Louis-based Vatterott College has 20 locations across eight states and online programming. Locations in Oklahoma are at 5537 Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City and at 4343 S 118th E Ave. in Tulsa.
House said Vatterott is licensed in Oklahoma and in good standing.
“We are saddened to see the impact of Wright Career College’s closure on its students,” Vatterott CEO Rene Crosswhite said in the announcement. “We are eager to assist former Wright students in meeting their goals and completing their education.”
Vatterott College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Students interested in learning more can call 2343600 in Oklahoma City or (918) 835-8288 in Tulsa or can go to www.vatterott.edu.
Meetings for students
The nonprofit Sunbeam Family Services will host an informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at its offices, NW 14 and Classen Drive. CEO Jim Priest said students will be asked to fill out some paperwork to assess their needs. They will be connected with individuals or groups that may be able to assist them, including educational institutions, Legal Aid and other nonprofits. For more information, email Priest at jpriest@sunbeamfamilyservices.org or call 5287721.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center — a part of Oklahoma’s public CareerTech system — has scheduled a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Francis Tuttle’s Reno campus, 7301 W Reno Ave. Francis Tuttle advisers and representatives from other area schools will be available to discuss possible future plans for Wright students. Those interested in attending are asked to refer to francistuttle.edu/wrightstudents for developing details.