ITT-Owned Daniel Webster College Also In Peril Of Losing Accreditation

Only days after beleaguered ITT Tech ceased enrolling new students over financial concerns and the possible loss of accreditation, another for-profit educator owned by ITT’s parent company has also revealed that its future may be in peril.

ITT Educational Services purchased small, New Hampshire-based Daniel Webster College in 2009, and today the company disclosed in a filing [PDF] with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the school of around 650 students faces the risk of being unaccredited.

According to the filing the school’s accrediting body, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges told Daniel Webster administrators that NEASC has reason to believe that the college may not meet the organization’s standards. The school has until Sept. 14 to explain why it believes NEASC should not withdraw its accreditation for DWC.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education barred ITT Tech from enrolling new students using federal financial aid. Since so many prospective ITT students would need this taxpayer-funded support to pay the school’s tuition, ITT Tech subsequently announced it had ceased enrolling any new students.

The federal ban was made after ITT Tech’s accrediting body, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools determined that ITT was “not in compliance” and is “unlikely to become in compliance” with accreditation criteria.

Even though the Dept. of Education prohibition does not extend to Daniel Webster College, the school says that NEASC board is nevertheless concerned that ITT’s peculiar situation “may put the finances and the continuation of DWC at risk.”

The school contends that it does meet NEASC standards.

In Related News…

Meanwhile, Gizmodo reports that it’s heard from ITT Tech employees who are concerned about possible signs of an imminent collapse.

One tipster says that employees were paid this week — a non-pay week — and that their pay appeared to include additional wages for unused time off, money that would not be paid out at this point of the year.

A rep for the school would only tell Gizmodo that it does not comment on rumors.

by Chris Morran via Consumerist