American Commercial College classes resume as federal, state scrutiny continues
A day after federal agents representing the U.S. Department of Education swarmed American Commercial College to execute warrants — with raids taking place at the school’s campus and corporate office in Lubbock as well as in Abilene — classes continued Thursday at the for-profit college, also at serious risk of being shut down by state authorities.
State investigators found evidence the college intentionally falsified student records and misreported the employment of graduates, according to an Oct. 14 letter to the college made public Wednesday by the Texas Workforce Commission, which oversees career schools.
The letter, addressed to Brent Sheets, owner of American Commercial College Inc., gave notice of the state’s plan to revoke certificates of approval for the school’s Abilene and Lubbock campuses.
Without such certificates, the colleges cannot legally operate.
However, the actual revocation has not taken place, commission officials said Thursday. If it does, the college has the right to appeal the revocation.
Paige Griggs, director of the Abilene campus on Butternut Street, issued a lengthy statement Thursday to the Reporter-News.
“American Commercial College has been serving the educational needs of Abilene and the surrounding community for over 50 years, and we will continue to do so with the utmost in integrity and professionalism,” the statement read in part.
Griggs declined a request for an interview.
He also did not answer a written question about the findings of state investigators.
But he addressed the appearance by federal agents at the college Wednesday. Agents arrived early and sent students home before any classes could begin.
“We welcomed them and gave them full access to all files, computers, and any other information they requested,” Griggs wrote.
He added: “I have only been the director for a little over a year here at the Abilene campus, but I can assure you we have nothing to hide. The Department of Education is more than welcome to investigate our school to the fullest.”
Lynette Kirkland, a student in the medical assistant program, said she went to class Thursday.
Griggs spoke at a schoolwide meeting, but the roughly 30 students at the college Thursday were significantly fewer than normally attend, Kirkland said. She said some left after the meeting and did not attend classes.
“I really just don’t know what to believe right now,” Kirkland said. “I’m riding it out.”
State officials confirmed that students currently enrolled at the Abilene campus should be offered a refund by the school.
“TWC is requiring that the school offer students at the Abilene and Lubbock campuses the option of either a full refund or completion of their training. Which one the students choose is up to the students,” wrote Mark Lavergne, deputy director of communications for the Texas Workforce Commission, in an email.
Many of the students use government loans to pay for tuition, with most programs costing between $10,000 and $13,000, according to commission data.
Federal dollars also make up the majority of revenue of American Commercial College. Misrepresentations by some
for-profit colleges have led to increased scrutiny of the industry by federal authorities.
Lavergne said the state inquiry is “a separate, independent investigation” from any federal investigation.
Federal authorities have declined to comment about why they were at the college.
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