She took out a $33,000 loan to attend the school that has several of its programs under scrutiny over accreditation and licensing.
“They are awesome recruiters to get you to sign on the line and get your money,” she said.
Farmer was one of several who spoke to state Reps. Clayton Luckie and Roland Winburn at a public forum for students upset about Miami-Jacobs programs. Surgery technician students are in arbitration with the school, whose nursing and respiratory programs have licensing and accreditation problems.
For-profit career colleges need to be held to the same standards as state schools and should be required to be clear about costs and accreditation, Luckie said. “We’re putting a light on something that’s been in the dark for a long time.”
Parents and students told Luckie, Winburn and officials from the Ohio Attorney General’s office and Board of Regents that they were billed for things like nonexistent room and board, had unqualified teachers and were lied to about program accreditation.
Rachel Nestor, spokeswoman for the college’s parent Delta Career Education Corporation, did not return a request for comment.
Miami-Jacobs President Darlene Waite has said the school’s programs are accredited and the college is working with other approving bodies to address issues.
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