TU: Florida State College at Jacksonville to help ITT Technical Institute students
Florida Times-Union
Soon after ITT Educational Services announced it would close all of its more than 130 campuses, Florida State College at Jacksonville started looking for ways to help the school's displaced students.
It formed a transition team and recently announced an information session scheduled for Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Deerwood Center at 9911 Old Baymeadows Road, said Jill Johnson, the college's director of marketing and communications.
Former ITT students will learn what options might help them transfer credits to the college, possibly allowing them start classes Sept. 19 or Oct. 17 when new semesters begin, Johnson said.
“If we can get someone turned around pretty quickly that comes Thursday, it is likely they can start again on the 19th," she said.
The college will waive its $25 application fee for students currently enrolled at ITT Technical Institute, including the Jacksonville location, along with students who withdrew within the last 120 days.
Those who can't attend the meeting Thursday can talk to a recruiter by calling 904-357-8917.
Johnson said the institutes' closings created barriers for both students and the college, which is still unsure how many students it will be able to help.
Though the college contacted the Florida Department of Education and requested a list of everyone enrolled at the schools, it has not received a response, Johnson said.
“We have no way of directly connecting with these students," she said.
Students can transfer up to 45 credits, Johnson said, and advisers will use prior learning assessments – a term that describes several options for transferring classes – to decide how many credits might be recognized.
One option is called credit by examination, in which students can choose from 33 exams throughout five subject areas and earn credits for passing them, according to the College Board website.
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams are usually $30 but students can use discount code "CLEPSEPT" to get $10 off throughout September.
Students can also earn credits by proving they took a course or exam approved by one of several organizations, including the National College Credit Recommendation Service.
Military veterans can also use training records, such as Joint Service Transcripts, to prove they deserve college credits.
A third option is portfolio development, which asks students to describe how a past experience outside of college taught them everything a student would be required to learn in a specific class.
“We’re hopeful that we have a lot of students come to learn about FSCJ, and certainly we’re hopeful that we can best assist them, because I think we all know that this is a trying time for them,” Johnson said.
Korema Brantley recently finished the nursing program at Jacksonville's ITT Technical Institute, but the school closed before some of her peers could finish a handful of classes or exams.
“I’m so happy and I feel so relieved that someone is willing to help them out," she said.