Florida Commission for Independent Education
ITT Technical InstituteUpdate
September 8, 2016

  • Background:
  • On September 6, 2016, ITT announced its closure. Currently, all facilities are closed to the public to maintain the security of student records.
  • ITT has 11 institutions licensed by the Commission for Independent Education (CIE)and an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students in Florida. There are ITT campuses throughout the US, with approximately 45,000 students.
  • For over a year, the CIE has been monitoring ITT Technical Institute, along with the United States Department of Education (USDOE). CIE placed the institution on provisional licensure status in May 2015, barred the institution from adding new programs, and required detailed reporting by the institution at each CIE meeting.
  • On August 25, 2016, the USDOE notified the state regulatory agencies that it was imposing conditions on ITT Technical Institute’s continued participation in Federal Financial Aid Title IV programs including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Increased the letter of credit/surety from $94,353,980 to $247,292,364 and required the full amount to be submitted within 30 days from August 25, 2016.
  • Required Title IV program disbursements to be made under the Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 payment method.
  • Restricted the institution from enrolling or beginning classes for any new students who may receive Title IV program funds.
  • Required a notice disclosing to all students the directive from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ITT’s accrediting agency) that the “Council determines that [the] institution is not in compliance with the Accreditation Criteria, and is unlikely to become in compliance.”
  • Current Status:
  • According to an ITT spokesperson, over 8,000 ITT employees nationwide and 240 employees in Florida have lost their jobs due to the closure of this institution.
  • ITT has entered into a contract with a digital credential service to transfer all student records to electronic form. Beginning September 9, 2016, students may visit the ITT website to request transcripts.
  • CIE has maintained close contact with ITT’s corporate office andthe USDOE regarding management of this school closure. As information becomes available, it will be posted on the sites listed below.
  • Next Steps:
  • It is ITT’s obligation to arrange a teach-out for students; institutions willing to assist with the teach-out will work directly with ITT. These teach-out agreements will enable students to complete their degree and graduate.
  • CIE will facilitate the teach-out process to assist students. On September 7, CIE held a conference call to discuss teach-out possibilities with various institutions across the state. Over 100+ schools were in attendance on this call, ready and willing to assist students.
  • Institutions that agree to be teach-out partners must hold institutional accreditation by a USDOE recognized agency in order for students to continue to receive Title IV funds.
  • Options for students:
  • Students can request loan forgiveness of their Title IV Financial Aid
  • Students can transfer to another institution that will accept their credits.
  • ITT will continue on-line operations through October 15, 2016, the end of the semester, which will allow some students to complete their program and graduate.
  • Another institution can manage an ITT location or program and continue to teach-out students (arrangements between ITT and other institutions are on-going and when finalized, information will be posted on ITT’s and CIE’s website).
  • Communication to students:
  • (transcript requests and institutions offering to teach-out students)
  • (ITT information)
  • (USDOE announcements regarding Financial Aid)
  • (links to ITT, ACICS, and Federal Student Aid)