WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the revocation of Antonelli College’s accreditation by the Ohio Board of Nursing, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called on the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to investigate the Cincinnati-based for-profit college. Because Antonelli College lost its accreditation just weeks before students were expected to graduate and did not warn students, nursing students at the school are unable to take board certification tests so that they can become licensed nurses. In his letter to ED Chief Enforcement Officer Robert Kaye, Brown asked Kaye to fully investigate these allegations to identify any potential misconduct by Antonelli College, and to examine whether the institution’s actions would potentially allow students to have their federal students loans discharged.

“Antonelli College’s actions have left its nursing student with burdensome loans for a degree they’re legally unable to use,” Brown said. “For-profit colleges need to be held to the same standards as other higher education institutions and act with their students’ best interests in mind. I urge the Department of Education to fully investigate this matter to see what relief is available to students as a result of Antonelli College’s fraudulent actions.”

The Ohio Board of Nursing revoked Antonelli College after ruling the program, "committed acts in violation of [Ohio's] Nurse Practice Act."  According to a 2014 inspection, Antonelli College “did not demonstrate that it was maintaining resources, including but not limited to classroom and skills laboratory equipment and supplies necessary for students to successfully complete the program” and that the college had moved students forward in the program without requiring them to complete the necessary prerequisites.

Full text of the letter is below.

 

April 7, 2016

 

Robert Kaye
Chief Enforcement Officer
Student Aid Enforcement Unit
Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

 

Dear Mr. Kaye:

Last week Antonelli College, a for-profit college based in Cincinnati, had its accreditation revoked by the Ohio Board of Nursing. This occurred just weeks before students were expected to graduate.  As a result, Antonelli College’s students will be unable to take board certification tests so that they can become licensed nurses. I ask that you investigate Antonelli’s Cincinnati-based nursing program as well as its other programs to ensure that no other students are being harmed and that no any additional wrongdoing is occurring at this institution.  

Despite Antonelli’s Cincinnati-based nursing program being at risk of losing its accreditation since last fall, students were not informed of the situation until the program’s accreditation had been revoked for committing “acts in violation of the Nurse Practice Act.” The Ohio Board of Nursing ruled the program "committed acts in violation of (Ohio's) Nurse Practice Act."  According to a 2014 inspection, Antonelli “did not demonstrate that it was maintaining resources, including but not limited to classroom and skills laboratory equipment and supplies necessary for students to successfully complete the program” and that the college had moved students forward in the program without requiring them to complete the necessary prerequisites.

The Department of Education formed its Student Aid Enforcement Unit in order “to respond more quickly and efficiently to allegations of illegal actions by higher education institutions.”   Accordingly, I urge you to fully investigate these allegations to identify any potential misconduct by Antonelli College and to examine whether the institution’s actions would potentially implicate borrower defense to repayment. I further ask that you conduct a full audit of all of Antonelli College’s practices to ensure that they are full compliance with the law. 

According to federally-mandated disclosures, the cost of the 13 month nursing program at Antonelli College is $25,968 with a median amount of debt of $14,250 for students enrolled in this program. All of Antontelli College’s Cincinnati-based nursing student used loans to help finance their education.  Absent further action by regulators, students who have entered this program and who have taken out federal loans to do so have now been left with a degree that will not even allow them to pursue their field of choice. Furthermore should Antonelli College have used binding arbitration clauses in its enrollment agreements, as is standard throughout the for-profit college industry, students will be denied their day in court should they attempt to seek relief for the wrongdoing Antonelli’s actions that have denied them the chance to further their education.  

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.  I look forward to discussing this matter with you.

 

Sincerely,

 

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