Students were blindsided after a college with a campus in South Florida abruptly announced that it's closing its doors.
City College, a for-profit institution with campuses in Hollywood and Altamonte Springs, trains students for careers in health care. Students got an email Monday letting them know that they decided to cease enrollment and "teach out" its existing programs.
“City College student, please, I need some answers,” shouted Joe Caldas as he knocked on the administration office door, which no one answered.
Like his classmates, Caldas just wants to know what’s happening and why. The students feel like the ground is giving way beneath their feet.
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“Anger isn’t even the right word, it’s every other emotion in the book, because this is somebody that’s sitting behind a desk that’s never looked us in the face once that’s signed these papers and said yeah, we’re gonna ruin all these health care students’ education now, we’re gonna steal all their money, we’re gonna waste a year of their time and maybe more,” Caldas said.
“Suddenly being informed three days ago that the institution is closing down, it was shocking, everyone was blindsided by this,” said one student who only wanted her first name, Huda, to be used.
“This is a shock to us and they’re just closing us out completely right now,” said Andrea Silva, another student.
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The City College website doesn’t mention any problems at all, and it’s still recruiting students for various healthcare professions.
"I spent close to $15,000 into my education with this institution and all of that goes down the drain, studying, clinicals, my mental health, money," Huda said, wondering why there’s no communication between the administration and the students.
"They're not even telling us why the institution is closing down, like we have no information, we want answers and we're not getting that," she said.
Meanwhile, Caldas spotted someone taping up papers to cover an office window.
“You literally put these papers up just as we were walking down, I saw your hand put this tape up, I know you’re listening to all my words right now, all these students are in the hallway all looking for answers and you guys can’t give one,” he said, without receiving a response.
"This decision does not lessen the commitment to you as a currently enrolled student, and City College will actively continue to identify the best academic path forward for all students," the school's email read. "At this time, City College anticipates remaining open for the Fall and Winter terms to provide students who have less than 25% of the total credits needed to graduate with the ability to complete their education at City College."
The email said that the college is collaborating with other neighboring educational institutions to create teach-out plan agreements, where students who have more than 25% of the total credits needed to graduate, may transfer their credits to complete their education at those institutions.
NBC6 knocked on the administration office door but no one answered, and we also left numerous messages on the phone line but did not get a reply.
“I don’t know how any of y’all are happy or can even sleep nice at night knowing you are just ruining so many students’ lives,” Caldas said to the closed door.
