Active students are aggravated because they can't get into classes they need to graduate. They can't get ahold of anyone to get them their transcripts and FA. They aren't showing up to class anymore. EDMC is not giving the campus staff any direction or help. Management at the campus that the students are likely to transfer to seem more interested in the students that didn't start yet than in the ones that are already there. I can't stand it and hope the whole company shuts down.
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My heart goes out to the students and faculty at these campuses. But let's be honest. The company aggressively started campuses that should never have been opened. The overzealous board pushed by Goldman Sacs looked for quick profits, slashing costs, high student enrollments and lost site of its mission to build strong programs that could place our grads. We were one of the best art schools in our area but I have witnessed our campus slowly dismantle all its strengths with these cuts and missteps. AI has always been about small class size, industry active professors, hands-on training and programs that were responsive to employment trends. Now, its about on-line learning, limited class offerings, cut-backs, adjuncts over full-timers and no real clear vision for the future. Decisions come from EDMC corporate and not from the participation of staff and faculty at the college. We have two campuses within 30 minutes of one another and they had talked about opening a third. This move to close smaller satellite schools and campuses with less then 500 students is the right decision for the health of the the Art Institutes. Let's hope this effort is not too late. As Millenials age out, GEN Z will be a smaller group to pursue and they will be a much more educated consumer after watching their older brothers and sisters struggle with a down economy and crushing student debt. We can only hope the new EDMC board made up this time of mostly educators and not money managers will get this company back on track. If not, the FEDs and court system may make the decision for them.
My 2 cents. Said it before...naturally classes will be difficult at the teach out schools. The intent is to drive these students to one of two decisions. Transfer online or commute to the next closest campus. That will provide an opportunity to close the locations much sooner. Close-outs for the leases are already negotiated and have an end date calculated far before the 2 to 3 year window given. If you work for AI you know what the attrition rate is. So, that coupled with dwindling population it is only natural that the campuses will close sooner than later. EDMC will follow the rules for teach out by demonstration they offered online classes or classes at another location. If the student rejects either offer...well it will be on them...EDMC will not be forced to keep a brick and mortar location for the students. They have 2 viable options and that will meet the requirement for teach out.
Oh, this school is gong down sooner than later. I said it before and I will say it again, if you transfer to a real school, your history with Ai will dispensary into the fog of college and you will not be stuck with a junk degree. if you ride out Ai to the end, your degree will be tainted for life. Who wants to hire someone from a school that failed on such a grand scale? That would be like barging you were a successful investor at ENRON.
I'd love to hear from the other teach out campuses!
No idea how other campuses are being (mis)handled.
Looks like EDMC only has an active interest in students at the schools where they can continue to make money. Go figure....
Which AI are you at and do you know if it's like that across other campuses? It would be interesting to know what people think things will be like come October.