BCTI Suspended Operations as of March 11, 2005
News Release
For Immediate Release
March 16, 2005
Contact: Gena Wikstrom, Executive Director
Washington Federation of Private Career Schools & Colleges
425-376-0369 office
425-443-9360 cell
exec@nwcareercolleges.org
Federation working to lessen the impact from the closure of seven BCTI locations
Caring for the educational needs of students in two states directly affected when the Business Career Training Institute (BCTI) suspended operations last Friday (March 11) will be the top priority for administrators of the Washington Federation of Private Career Schools and Colleges.
The school did not open on Monday. Approximately 600 students in Washington and 60 more in Oregon are affected by the closure of the 20-year-old private institution. BCTI had four campuses in Washington and two in Northern Oregon.
"Our students must be our No. 1 priority," said LouGena Wikstrom, the executive director of the coalition of private career schools and colleges, on behalf of the Board of Directors. "The system to evaluate criteria for BCTI to continue was in place. But the school is (was) a business. The proprietors made the difficult decision to close the doors.
"We are doing our best to work with agencies to ensure that every student gets recognition for time spent in the classroom and money back for any pre-paid tuition. "
Working with authorizing departments in both states, Wikstrom said the agencies are attempting to personally contact each student to make them aware of their options. The executive director stressed that the U.S. Department of Education has already in-place a process to forgive any federal student loans issued for students enrolled in BCTI anytime during the past 90 days.
"There are a number of mechanisms and procedures in place that provide a safety net for just such an unfortunate occurrence," said Wikstrom. "The system is working. It is regrettable at any time, but the students will be not be left out in the cold without some tuition protection."
The balance of the 72 career schools and colleges that belong to the Federation have been asked to give special consideration to any former BCTI students who may wish to continue and complete their education.
State of Washington
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
March 14, 2005
ATTENTION STUDENTS OF BUSINESS CAREER TRAINING INSTITUTE
This agency licenses private vocational schools in Washington State and is responsible to administer a number of consumer protection provisions on behalf of students enrolled in such schools. Business Career Training Institute has closed its doors. This notice is to advise you of the assistance that this agency can provide.
According to Washington State law, the school must either complete your training or reimburse you for any training you paid for but did not receive.
If the school cannot or will not reimburse you and you are a current student, you may be eligible for assistance. The agency administers a fund to help students who paid for training they did not receive. Students are eligible for refund of tuition paid in advance of their training based on a pro-rata formula. Taken into account when calculating refunds are the tuition costs, length of the training program, student attendance, and the total amount paid by the student toward the cost of tuition.
The agency is taking steps to collect student records. It will determine who is eligible for tuition recovery funds from these records.
Please address questions to:
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
Post Office Box 43105
Olympia WA 98504-3105
Telephone (360) 753-5673
wtecb@wtb.wa.gov
If you were attending school under the GI Bill, please contact the Veterans Administration at
(888) 442-4551.
View original notice >> here. (opens PDF file)
For BCTI Students Enrolled in the State of Oregon
Students enrolled at BCTI at the time of closure are asked to contact the Oregon Department of Education at (503) 378-3600 ext. 2671. Oregon has available a tuition recovery fund that may provide a tuition refund for prepaid, unearned tuition for current students.
BCTI Students who obtained Federal Financial Aid
If you were a current student or a student within 90 days prior to the closure of BCTI, you may be eligible for student loan discharge or cancellation. For more information about repaying your student loan, loan discharge or cancellation, log onto www.studentaid.edu.gov. You are urged to contact the local office of the U.S. Department of Education at (206) 615-2594.
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