Maryland Higher Education Commission

CLOSURE:  On January 9, 2013, the ownership of American Career Institute (Silver Spring), American Career Institute-Baltimore, and American Career Institute-Columbia (all referenced hereafter as "ACI") notified the Maryland Higher Education Commission that the three schools would cease to operate by the end of the day.

As a result of these precipitous closures, Commission staff are: 

1. Completing our physical collection of all hard-copy student records (there are thousands), compile them per student, and have them accessible;

2. Continuing to identify attending and prospective students who had signed contracts for training in any of these schools' programs; and  

3. Communicating with other Maryland institutions to determine teach-out possibilities.

PLEASE NOTE:

• January 15, 2013 email memo distributed to all known ACI student emails.

• The new MHEC email for ACI students is c-pcs@mhec.state.md.us.

• USDE FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions document regarding closed schools from the US Department of Education.  For online information regarding federal student loan discharge (also known as loan forgiveness), visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation#closed-school.

• ACI staff and faculty: We have also had numerous inquiries from ACI staff and faculty.  MHEC is authorized to only work on behalf of students; however, the following links may be of help: “Remedies for Unpaid Wages - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards: (http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wagepay/wpremedies.shtml), and “Assistance to the Unemployed" (http://www.dllr.maryland.gov/employment/uihelp.shtml).

Please continue to visit this web page for updates.

Mr. Dean Kendall

MHEC Associate Director for Career and Workforce Education