Harrison Career Institute told it's students every thing was "wonderful" after hearing rumors of a federal investigation. Even though Director Thelma Castelow at Vineland Campus told them that she had to come to school while they were break to "fix the program and change the hours" Oddly enough August 25, students saw an article related to a federal investigation and the mishandling of funds.
Even though the school had been shut down Wednesday, Director Thelma Castelo and Dana Backhaus (Regional), were in the building after graduation Thursday August 26. Students are still uncertain of their future. As you will see in the article, President Jim Mannion sites 1800 students at Harrison, while Federal Investigator report almost 4,000. So where is all this loan money going? Students in various classes have teachers that are admittedly unqualified to teach courses such as a multi skilled technician with no cardiac experience teaching a Cardiovascular Technology class for $10,000. Thelma Catelow the Director, just got her GED in Decmber used to be a teaher for 3 years at Harrison Career Institutefor medical assiting class but never finished her extern or got her GED until 2004. She was allowed to teach students day and evening for three years without being certified in phlebotomy (drawing blood) or medical assiting or without a GED, but she became director. You have to have a GED or diploma to get certified. But what does HCI care, as long as you sign on the dotted line.
Read articles on HCI posted below on its Federal investigation
U.S.: School mishandled loans
RELATED STORIES
More oversight needed for vocational schools
Harrison to reopen Aug. 31
GET HELP
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will take calls from HCI students at (609) 984-5262.
The state also plans to set up a Web site for student comments. Watch for the feedback section coming to www.njtrainingsystems.org
The U.S. Department of Education is planning to use part of its Web site for information for HCI students. The department's home page is www.ed. Gov.
Thursday, August 25
By JEANNE RIDGWAY
Courier-Post Staff
VOORHEES
Thousands of students in New Jersey and neighboring states have been coerced and cheated, according to federal allegations that a vocational school based in Voorhees mishandled student loan money and failed to deliver on contracted courses.
The president of Harrison Career Institute, also known as HCI, vigorously denies the accusations detailed in a Department of Education "emergency action letter" and says the school will appeal by the Sept. 8 deadline.
The U.S. Department of Education plans to fine HCI $3.64 million on findings of fraud and improprieties involving the school's participation in federal student loan programs.
Harrison Commisso, owner and CEO of Voorhees-based HCI, was notified about the department's intentions in an Aug. 18 letter from the department. The 15-campus institute has schools in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Allentown, Pa., Wilmington, Del., Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
The Courier-Post obtained a copy late Wednesday.
HCI has filed an appeal of the department's actions, including the termination of HCI's eligibility for student loan programs, according to Jim Mannion, HCI president. He called the department's findings "distorted and out of context."
"We believe the government is 100 percent absolutely wrong, " said Mannion. "I absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, think we will prevail. It's unfortunate I can't give you more information."
Mannion insisted that the school would not close, despite student rumors to the contrary.
HCI's actions have hit students hard, according to Mary E. Gust, author of the Aug. 18 letter.
Gust listed the department's case against the post-secondary vocational school, including findings that the school coerced students to sign up for loans that they did not need, sold them computers for double their actual value, and failed to deliver on courses as contracted. The letter alleges the school mishandled student loan money dating back to 2001.
"Harrison's conduct is extremely egregious considering the underprivileged nature of much of the student population attending the institution, " wrote Gust, director of the federal student aid section at the Education Department.
The document also alleges the school:
Falsified the school's Title IV loan eligibility records and student eligibility documents.
Illegally retained federal tuition money that students did not earn.
Did not release "in a timely manner" credit balances that students were permitted to use for critical needs, such as child care and transportation.
The department also claims HCI enticed students to obtain loans from Access Financial Group, another company owned by HCI's Commisso. The loans were written to replace federal loans that students had already received, the letter alleges.
"In some cases, the students were not told that their accounts were already paid in full, " Gust wrote.
In business since 1979, HCI opened with one school in Cinnaminson. Today, the company has grown to 15 schools.
In South Jersey, HCI operates campuses in Deptford, Delran and Vineland. HCI opened a new corporate office on Evesham Road in Voorhees within the past year.
Students train for a variety of business and health careers such as small-business management, paralegal, medical and dental assistant and practical nursing.
About 1,800 students are enrolled, said Mannion. Federal records show nearly 4,000 students enrolled in the past academic year.
On the Vineland campus, student rumor has it that HCI will close for good, said Millville student Christine Lugo, 21. The school is on summer recess until Sept. 12, said Mannion.
"The worst thing that could happen for me is them not reopening, " said Lugo, who has taken $10,000 in student loans and is studying dialysis. "I put eight months into my education here, and it's like eight months down the drain."
Another student said she is worried about finding a job and paying back the money she owes for her education.
"If they do shut down, then I'm stuck with $5,000 worth of loans, " said Keyanna Jones, 26, of Gouldtown, Cumberland County.
The U.S. Department of Education is still developing a Web site that will provide students with information about the situation and what they may do.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will conduct its own assessment of HCI and its training, said department spokesman Kevin Smith.
"We will work with local work force investment boards and other training providers to make sure our clients have other places where they can complete the training they have started at HCI, " said Smith.
Lindenwold resident Naomi Silver, 30, who graduated from HCI in said she thinks the school deserves to be fined. Silver couldn't find a job because, she said, HCI failed to come through with a promised externship.
Silver said she is still paying back $6,000 in student loans.
"They cheated a lot of us out of a lot of money. I think it's justified. They didn't follow through on their end of the contract, " said Silver. Gannett New Jersey contributed to this report. Reach Jeanne Ridgway at (856) 486-2479 or jridgwayat courierpostonline.com
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