Information for Students Disclosure Pamphlet
Schools are required to give this disclosure pamphlet to individuals interested
in enrolling in their school.
What You Should Know about Licensed Private Schools and Registered Business Schools
in New York State
What is the purpose of this pamphlet?
All prospective and enrolled students in a non-degree granting proprietary school
are required to receive this pamphlet. This pamphlet provides an overview of
students' rights with regard to filing a complaint against a school and accessing
the tuition reimbursement fund if they are a victim of certain violations by
the school.
Trade schools which are licensed by the New York State Education Department and
business schools which are registered by this Department are required to meet
very specific standards under the Education Law and Commissioner's Regulations.
These standards are designed to help insure the educational appropriateness of
the programs which schools offer. It is important for you to realize that the
New York State Education Department's Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
closely monitors and regulates all non-degree granting proprietary schools. The
schools are required to have their teachers meet standards in order to be licensed
by the Department. Schools are also required to have their curriculum approved
by the New York State Education Department every three years, thereby helping
to insure that all curriculum offered in the schools are educationally sound.
In addition, staff members of the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision are
often in the school buildings monitoring the educational programs being offered.
The interest of the New York State Education Department is to insure that the
educational program being offered meets your needs and that your financial investment
is protected.
The New York State Education Department's Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
wishes you success in your continued efforts to obtain the necessary skill training
in order to secure meaningful employment. In addition, Bureau staff will continue
to work with all the schools to help insure that a quality educational program
is provided to you.
Who can file a complaint?
If you are or were a student or an employee of a Licensed Private or Registered
Business School in the State of New York and you believe that the school or anyone
representing the school has acted unlawfully, you have the right to file a complaint
with the New York State Education Department.
What can a student or employee complain about?
You may make complaints about the conduct of the school, advertising, standards
and methods of instruction, equipment, facilities, qualifications of teaching
and management personnel, enrollment agreement, methods of collecting tuition
and other charges, school license or registration, school and student records,
and private school agents.
How can a complaint be filed by a student or employee?
You should try to resolve
your complaint directly with the school unless you believe that the school
would penalize you for your complaint. Use the school's internal grievance
procedure or discuss your problems with teachers, department heads, or the
school director. We suggest that you do so in writing and that you keep copies
of all correspondence to the school. However, the school cannot require you
to do this before you file a complaint with the New York State Education Department.
If you do file a complaint with the Department, please advise the Bureau of
any action that you have taken to attempt to resolve your complaint.
The steps you must take to file a complaint with the New York State Education
Department are:
Department at 116 West 32nd Street, 5th Floor, New York, New York 10001, or
telephone the Department at (212) 643-4760, requesting an interview for the
purpose of filing a written complaint. Bring all relevant documents with you
to the interview, including an enrollment agreement, financial aid application,
transcripts, etc. An investigator from the Department will meet with you and
go through your complaint in detail.
2. If you cannot come for an interview, send a letter or call the office to
request a complaint form. You must complete and sign this form and mail it
to the office. Please include with it copies of all relevant documents. You
should keep the originals. You must file a complaint within
two years after the alleged illegal conduct took place. The Bureau cannot investigate any complaint
made more than two years after the date of the occurrence.
3. The investigator will attempt to resolve the complaint as quickly as possible
and may contact you in the future with follow-up questions. You should provide
all information requested as quickly as possible; delay may affect the investigation
of your complaint. When appropriate, the investigator will try to negotiate
with the school informally. If the Department determines that violations of
law have been committed and the school fails to take satisfactory and appropriate
action then the Department may proceed with formal disciplinary charges.
What is the Tuition Reimbursement Fund?
The Tuition Reimbursement Fund is designed to protect the financial interest
of students attending proprietary schools. If a school closes while you are
in attendance, prior to the completion of your educational program, then you
may be eligible for a refund of all tuition expenses which you have paid. If
you drop out of school prior to completion and you file a complaint against
the school with the 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 to determine that there was a violation
of Education 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 included in this pamphlet. The staff of the State Education Department
will assist you in the preparation of a tuition reimbursement form (a sample
of this form should have been provided to you upon enrollment).
What is the 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 the enrollment agreement. If you do not understand it, or are
confused by the school's explanation, get help before you sign. You may ask
for assistance from the Department at the address included in this pamphlet.
What should students know about "private school agents?"
Private School Agents are employed by schools for the purpose of recruiting
or enrolling students in the school; they are not school counselors. Private
school agents cannot require a student to pay a placement or referral fee.
Each school agent must be licensed by the New York State Education Department,
must have an Agent identification card and must be a salaried employee of the
school. School agents who cannot show an Agent Identification Card are breaking
the law if they try to interest students in enrolling in a particular school
or group of schools. The name(s) of the agent(s) who enrolled a student must
appear on that student's enrollment agreement. Therefore, you should write
down the name of the agent who talked to you. Each student will be required to
confirm the name(s) of the agent(s) when signing the enrollment agreement. A
full refund shall be made to any student recruited by an unlicensed private school
agent or even by a licensed agent if there is evidence that the agent made fraudulent
or improper claims. To find out if you are eligible to receive a refund, you
must follow the complaint procedures included in this page.
What should students know about "grants and guaranteed student loans"?
A grant is awarded to a student based on income eligibility, and it does not
need to be repaid (for example, New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
grants or Pell grants provided by the federal government).
Guaranteed student loans are low interest loans provided under the Federal
Guaranteed Student Loan Program. The decision to apply for such a loan is yours--the
school cannot require that you apply for a loan. You should understand that
if you pay school tuition with money loaned to you from a lender you are responsible
for repaying the loan in full, with interest, in accordance with the terms
of the loan agreement. A failure to repay the loan can hurt your credit rating
and result in legal action against you. Even if you fail to complete your educational
program, you are still responsible for repaying all of the money loaned to
you.
It is your right to select a lender for a guaranteed student loan. The school
cannot require you to apply to a particular lender or lending institution.
However, the school can recommend a lender, but if it does, the school must
also provide you with a statement about your right and ability to obtain a
loan from another lender and the insurance premiums charged on these loans.
Read and understand all the information and applications for financial aid
grants and loans before signing.
Where can students file a complaint, file a claim to the tuition reimbursement
fund, or get additional information?
Contact the New York State Education Department at:
New York State Education Department
116 West 32nd Street, 5th Floor
New York,
New York 10001
Attention: Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
(212) 643-4760
This pamphlet is provided to you by the New York State Education
Department (NYSED). The NYSED regulates the operation of Licensed Private Schools
and Registered Business Schools/ Computer Training Facilities.
