Tulsa Students React To ITT Tech Shutting Its Doors

<p>The closure affects thousands of teachers and students, including many at the Tulsa campus near south 129th east avenue and 41st Street.</p>

Tuesday, September 6th 2016, 8:28 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Students React To ITT Tech Shutting Its Doors

The for-profit college chain ITT Educational Services announced Tuesday that it was shutting down all of 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 September 6, 2016 statement, that it is ending academic operations at all of its more than 130 campuses across 38 states. One of those locations is in Tulsa.

The closure affects thousands of teachers and students, including many at the Tulsa campus near south 129th east avenue and 41st Street.

The News On 6 spoke to several students, some who just started school at ITT Tech.

The parking lot is empty and doors locked at Tulsa's ITT Tech campus.

Joseph Crouse was supposed to be in class Monday but received an email telling him the school was shutting down.

"I'm disappointed but there is nothing I can do about it,” said student Joseph Crouse.

Crouse was going to ITT Tech to earn an associate degree in software development.

He recently enrolled, so he's not as upset as some of his classmates who were just a few credit hours away from earning their degree.

“I’d imagine there are some who are really mad at ITT right now because they were more invested in it and closer to graduating,” Crouse said.

The school is blaming the U.S. Department of Education.

Two weeks ago the department banned the for-profit college from enrolling new students who use federal financial aid amid on-going allegations of misconduct.

The school was at risk of losing federal aid, one of its main sources of revenue.

Instead, ITT Tech closed its doors

"It's about time honestly,” said former student Chance Snodgrass. “I'm just glad it happened sooner than later, honestly.”

Snodgrass said he feels sorry for the students who were attending.

“But they aren't going to be in the mess I am and other people like me,” he said.

Chance Snodgrass graduated from the criminal justice program five years ago but quickly found out police departments didn't accept his degree.

"I was out of luck,” he said. “I wasted two years and $40,000 on a degree I couldn't use."