— The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) today issued a notice of Intent to Revoke Certificates of Approval for career schools and colleges in Texas owned by ATI Enterprises Inc. (ATI).

The notice of revocation requires ATI to immediately cease enrollment of new students and initiate plans to complete the training programs of current students at all 16 ATI-owned schools in Texas, including eight ATI Career Training Centers, six South Texas Vocational Technical Institutes, the ATI Technical Training Center and Dallas Nursing Institute.

TWC officials said the action comes as the result of ATI’s failure to comply with the Texas Education Code that requires TWC-licensed career schools to submit accurate and verifiable documentation about students’ completion and graduation rates annually.

That information is used by TWC and students to make decisions about the school’s quality and effectiveness in ultimately preparing students for employment in their field of training.

The findings of a third-party review of ATI’s FY 2010 student outcome reports to TWC indicated that ATI failed to place the required 60 percent of its graduates into training-related jobs for the majority of their programs.

Furthermore, the TWC said, ATI failed to accurately report employment outcome information to TWC and prospective students.

The latest findings result from prior TWC action when ATI submitted student outcome reports that TWC found to be inconsistent with TWC-collected wage data.

TWC issued a Notice to Place Conditions on the Certificate of Approval of three ATI schools on March 31, effectively placing all ATI-owned schools on probation.

ATI was then required to hire an approved third-party Certified Public Accountant to verify the graduate employment data for all ATI-owned schools in Texas and submit those findings to TWC.

“Schools that misreport employment information about their programs potentially exploit vulnerable individuals with false hopes for job-placement after completing the program,” TWC Chairman Tom Pauken said. “TWC’s role is to ensure that students who make a decision to attend a career school receive reliable information so they can make an educated choice.”

Effective immediately, TWC requires that ATI suspend enrollment of new students. ATI must immediately provide TWC with information on all currently enrolled students, their program of study and scheduled date of completion.

Subject to TWC’s approval, ATI must provide a plan for students to complete their studies at ATI or through another school offering comparable training for which the students will only pay the outstanding balance on their contract.

“Students invest large amounts of money and time to train for a career,” TWC Commissioner representing labor Ronny Congleton, said. “We must ensure that schools don’t take advantage of them with inaccurate data and claims.”

TWC will determine the effective revocation date of each school’s Certificate of Approval upon review of completion dates for each vocational course currently under way.

“ATI’s students are our first priority in this situation,” TWC Commissioner representing the public Andres Alcantar, said. “TWC will seek to assist ATI students in continuing their education as seamlessly as possible despite ATI’s closure.”

TWC licenses and regulates more than 500 career schools and colleges in Texas, which provide vocational training to more than 150,000 students annually.

TWC makes annual site visits to campuses and monitors the qualifications of faculty, quality of facilities, class size, student completion rates, student employment rates and other criteria.

In addition to monitoring by TWC, certain programs are co-regulated alongside Texas agencies. TWC also investigates student complaints and reports of unlicensed schools.  

TWC encourages anyone considering enrolling in a career school to carefully research all options, including programs at both public and private colleges.

Potential students should explore the type of program that will best help them find employment in the occupations they seek; the quality and reputation of the school; its student graduation and employment rates; and the cost.

TWC also recommends students visit and tour the schools prior to enrollment. Students also should be aware that they have 72 hours after they enroll in a licensed career school or college to withdraw their applications with no penalty and are entitled to a full refund.   

Prospective career school students can access a list of schools with current Certificates of Approval on the TWC Directory of Licensed Career Schools and Colleges at http://csc.twc.state.tx.us or by calling (512) 936-3100.

The directory includes information on the cost, length, enrollment, completion time and employment rates reported by all licensed schools.

Schools with valid exemptions from the requirement for licensure are not listed on the directory, but the exemption status of a school may be determined by contacting TWC.   

Students with complaints are encouraged to use their school’s grievance processes or file complaints with TWC. Advice on filing a complaint and complaint forms are located at the Having Problems with your school? Web page at www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/propschools/problem-school.html.

For more information, contact the TWC Career Schools and Colleges Department by phone at (512) 936-3100 or by email at career.schools@twc.state.tx.us.