The for-profit college chain ITT Educational Services is shutting down its campuses days after the U.S. Department of Education banned it from enrolling new students who use federal financial aid.
The company, which operates vocational schools, announced "with profound regret" in a statement Tuesday that it is ending academic operations at all of its more than 130 campuses across 38 states. That includes the National City and Vista campuses.
Based in Carmel, Indiana, ITT Educational Services said its move will have an impact on hundreds of thousands of students and alumni as well as more than 8,000 employees.
The announcement surprised Oneil Parchment of San Diego, who recently graduated from the National City ITT Tech.
"The instructors that I had were awesome," Parchment told KPBS News. "They were phenomenal instructors. Real knowledgeable. And it's just kind of abrupt and sudden. It's like, still… I figure most people are still trying to process and trying to figure out their next step."
Felicia Depew was about to start working in the school's marketing department in National City. She got word of the closure from a teacher's text.
"(The text said,) 'I'm sorry to inform you that I have been terminated and will no longer be at ITT. But please know that you have influenced my life in such and amazing way. And I will be forever grateful. Please keep my number and stay in touch. I'm a little in shell shock today,'" Depew said. "And everyone just kinda wrote back giving their support. It was a group text."
ITT Educational Services said it was forced to take the action after the U.S. Department of Education issued sanctions Aug. 25, including a ban on enrolling new students who rely on federal financial aid.
