Licensing and Accreditation

What should you know about Licensed Private Schools

1. Students are encouraged to bring their complaints to the attention of the Director, either by telephone, e-mail, or in writing. Many potential problems can be resolved by early discussion with the School’s staff.
2. Students not satisfied with this informal resolution should formally notify the Director, in writing, with appropriate documentation, of any unresolved problem or complaint. The Director will research the problem and will respond to the student in writing.
3. The School is accredited by the nationally recognized and internationally certified Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) as meeting and maintaining certain standards of quality. It is the mutual goal of the school and ACCET to ensure that educational training programs of quality are provided. When problems arise, students should make every attempt through the formal complaint procedure within the School to find a fair and reasonable solution.
   However, in the event that a student has exercised the channels available within the School to resolve the problem(s) by way of the School’s formal complaint procedure, and the problem(s) have not been resolved, the student has the right and is encouraged to take the following steps:
4. The student should contact the ACCET in writing by mail, fax, or e-mail. Complaints received by phone will be logged, along with a request for a written follow-up; an initial letter speeds up this process.
5. The letter of complaint must contain the following:
   a. The nature of the problem(s);
   b. The approximate dates the problem(s) occurred;
   c. The name(s) of the individual(s) involved in the problem(s), including both  institutional staff and/or other students who were involved;
   d. Copies of important information regarding the problem(s) (facts, not rumors, lead to solutions);
   
   e. Evidence demonstrating the institution’s complaint procedure was followed prior to contacting ACCET;
   f. All complaints should be signed. Complaints will receive acknowledgement of receipt within 15 days.
   
6. Send to: ACCET Chair, Complaint Review Committee 1722 N Street NW Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202.955.1113 Fax: 202.955.1118 or 202.955.5306 Web site: www.accet.org
7. The student may also file a written complaint to the state licensing agency, the NY State Education Department’s Bureau of School Supervision at 116 West 32nd Street, 5th Floor, NY, NY 10001, or via telephone at 212.643.4760. The Bureau cannot investigate any complaint made more than two years after the date of occurrence.
   

Tuition Reimbursement Fund

The Tuition Reimbursement Fund is designed to protect the financial interest of students attending proprietary schools. If a school closes whole you are in attendance, prior to the completion of your educational program, then you may be eligible for a refund of all the tuition expenses you have paid. If you drop out of school prior to completion and you file a complaint against the school with the N.Y. State Education Department, you may be eligible to receive a tuition refund if the State Education Department is able to provide factual support that your complaint is valid and determine that there was a violation of Educational Law or the Commissioner’s regulations as specified in Section 126.17 of the Commissioner’s Regulations. To file a claim to the Tuition Reimbursement Fund you must first file a complaint with the State Education Department at the address indicated above.

Tuition Refund and Cancellation Policy

All schools must have a tuition refund and cancellation policy for each program included in the catalog and in the student enrollment agreement. Read and understand the school’s policy regarding tuition refund and cancellation before you sign an enrollment agreement. If you do not understand it, or are confused by the school’s explanation, get help before you sign.