College Allowed to Re-Enroll Students After Federal Investigation
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: February 13, 2013
It has been two years since federal agents raided the American Commercial College campus in Abilene.
Now the college is ready to re-enroll students.
Many people don't know that the college never closed.
They're still giving class to students who were enrolled before the investigation and now they'll be able to have a new class, but it's not without a few changes.
The desks at American commercial college have been emptier than usual.
For almost two years much of this equipment has remained untouched.
That's after a federal investigation revealed faculty there misreported its employment numbers.
Falsified information about admission, attendance records and even grades.
Students were no longer allowed to be enrolled.
That is until now.
They're now ready to take in a new class.
"It obviously took longer than what we wanted," said Brent Sheets, president of ACC, "I believe it took longer than what the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) wanted. We're both in agreement that the Abilene area needs a career school."
But it wont come without a few changes.
According to representatives at the Texas Workforce Commission, the school must now have an account to pay back students should the college be forced to close.
Let students know that there is pending action by the schools accrediting program and submit to a corrective action plan, including new grading procedures and proof of student eligibility for admission.
But faculty reassures they're ready to move on.
"I certainly can't speak to the allegations," said Sheets, "I will just say that sometimes it takes a while for the truth to come out."
Yet not everyone is convinced.
At least not former graduate Richard Bennight.
"I felt pretty bad about that I don't think that kids should be going to that school under the assumptions that they're going to be able to start new careers when they finish and stuff like that," said the 2010 graduate.
He received multiple certifications for his medical related studies.
But he still hasn't gotten a job.
"These employers here in Abilene, they hear about American Commercial College and they turn you down as soon as they see it on your resume," said Bennight.
Regardless of his opinion, many are applying.
"Everything has been cleared up and now they've given us approval.," said Sheets, "They're happy about it, we're happy about it and now it's time to move forward and to move on."
As staff prepare for a new class and a new beginning.
All of the campuses are now re enrolling except for the Lubbock campus and even though the Abilene campus is up and running, they are still under investigation.
Sheets says they expect to begin classes in March.
KTAB has also been told that the school is no longer partnering with the West Texas Workforce Center which used to sponsor people to go to the school for training.
A representative from there tells us they have yet to be informed about the school being allowed to re-enroll.
Now the college is ready to re-enroll students.
Many people don't know that the college never closed.
They're still giving class to students who were enrolled before the investigation and now they'll be able to have a new class, but it's not without a few changes.
The desks at American commercial college have been emptier than usual.
For almost two years much of this equipment has remained untouched.
That's after a federal investigation revealed faculty there misreported its employment numbers.
Falsified information about admission, attendance records and even grades.
Students were no longer allowed to be enrolled.
That is until now.
They're now ready to take in a new class.
"It obviously took longer than what we wanted," said Brent Sheets, president of ACC, "I believe it took longer than what the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) wanted. We're both in agreement that the Abilene area needs a career school."
But it wont come without a few changes.
According to representatives at the Texas Workforce Commission, the school must now have an account to pay back students should the college be forced to close.
Let students know that there is pending action by the schools accrediting program and submit to a corrective action plan, including new grading procedures and proof of student eligibility for admission.
But faculty reassures they're ready to move on.
"I certainly can't speak to the allegations," said Sheets, "I will just say that sometimes it takes a while for the truth to come out."
Yet not everyone is convinced.
At least not former graduate Richard Bennight.
"I felt pretty bad about that I don't think that kids should be going to that school under the assumptions that they're going to be able to start new careers when they finish and stuff like that," said the 2010 graduate.
He received multiple certifications for his medical related studies.
But he still hasn't gotten a job.
"These employers here in Abilene, they hear about American Commercial College and they turn you down as soon as they see it on your resume," said Bennight.
Regardless of his opinion, many are applying.
"Everything has been cleared up and now they've given us approval.," said Sheets, "They're happy about it, we're happy about it and now it's time to move forward and to move on."
As staff prepare for a new class and a new beginning.
All of the campuses are now re enrolling except for the Lubbock campus and even though the Abilene campus is up and running, they are still under investigation.
Sheets says they expect to begin classes in March.
KTAB has also been told that the school is no longer partnering with the West Texas Workforce Center which used to sponsor people to go to the school for training.
A representative from there tells us they have yet to be informed about the school being allowed to re-enroll.
Comments
"It obviously than what we wanted I believe it took longer than what the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) wanted were both in agreement that the Abilene area needs a career school," said Brent Sheets, president of ACC. ENGLISH?????
Bob T.
February 13, 2013 at 1:07 am
