The Texas Workforce Commission Career Schools and Colleges rules require that a school must report program completion, job placement, and employment data each year for each program approved by TWC. The career schools are required to show that a minimum number of students are being employed in their field upon graduation. If the program cannot meet the minimum requirements the program’s approval is revoked.
Recently, the Texas Workforce Commission concluded an investigation of American Commercial College. American Commercial College has campuses throughout Texas including Lubbock, Abilene, Odessa, and San Angelo. The TWC investigation concluded that ACC’s reported employment rates were highly unreliable and significantly misreported. TWC found that many of the graduates that were reported as employed were not employed as reported. When these graduates were removed from the totals the Abilene and Lubbock campuses failed to meet the minimum employment rate for the past three consecutive years, which requires the revocation of certificates of approval. Additionally, the TWC found that many students that were employed were reported twice in different years. Employees also admitted that they falsified employment information on the reports submitted to the TWC in the direction of ACC management.
Under Texas Education Code §132.065 career schools or colleges that are eligible to receive federal student loans under Title IV, Higher Education Act of 1965 (USC §1070 et seq.) are required to verify each student’s enrollment in the program by documenting the student’s participation in an academically related activity (ARA) of the program at four different times during a semester. The TWC investigation found that ACC forged student signatures on ARA forms.
Unfortunately many career schools and colleges do not follow these requirements. This latest action by the TWC is aimed at protecting students. If you believe that your career school or college is not following requirements you need an advocate. Contact an attorney that is well-versed in consumer fraud. Julie Johnson has devoted her career to fighting these kinds of practices, and she will put her expertise to work for you.