Students Sue Business School
Friday February 15, 2008
A handful of students are suing Iverson Business School (Arlington, TX), claiming they were misled about their likelihood of getting a job after graduation. The students say that the business school's administration exaggerated the school's ability to offer a quality education and transfer credits.
In addition to tuition reimbursement, the lawsuit demands compensation for wasted time and mental anguish.
The school plans to dispute the plaintiffs' claims. Iverson CEO Cecil Porter called the suit "baseless, wrong and insulting" and insisted that many of the school's graduates are employed.
So what's the real deal here?
Well, the school is an accredited institution. Students who apply can get financial aid. Students who graduate can get certification.
Is Iverson a bad school? No. Does it make Iverson the best school for students who want to be competitive in their field? Maybe. Maybe not.
In any regard, it doesn't necessarily mean that the school has done anything wrong or that the students don't have a case, which brings us to the real point of this blog post:
Always check a school's accreditation carefully and know what the accreditation means to your future possibilities. This will save a lot of trouble later on. Also make sure you will have the ability to transfer credits to several other back-up schools before you enroll. If you can't transfer credits you could end up wasting a serious amount of time on a program that probably isn't worth your time.
In addition to tuition reimbursement, the lawsuit demands compensation for wasted time and mental anguish.
The school plans to dispute the plaintiffs' claims. Iverson CEO Cecil Porter called the suit "baseless, wrong and insulting" and insisted that many of the school's graduates are employed.
So what's the real deal here?
Well, the school is an accredited institution. Students who apply can get financial aid. Students who graduate can get certification.
Is Iverson a bad school? No. Does it make Iverson the best school for students who want to be competitive in their field? Maybe. Maybe not.
In any regard, it doesn't necessarily mean that the school has done anything wrong or that the students don't have a case, which brings us to the real point of this blog post:
Always check a school's accreditation carefully and know what the accreditation means to your future possibilities. This will save a lot of trouble later on. Also make sure you will have the ability to transfer credits to several other back-up schools before you enroll. If you can't transfer credits you could end up wasting a serious amount of time on a program that probably isn't worth your time.
Comments
I realize you’re trying to be fair, but you’ve got some facts wrong.
Iverson is nationally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. That accreditor is approved by the United States Dept. of Education, applying the same standards as those applied to regional accreditors. In fact, national accreditation is far superior to regional accreditation for vocational education because proof of outcomes is required to maintain accreditation. The regionals not only don’t track the success of their students, but don’t report it to students. The graduation rate of community colleges is less than 30%, and in vocational education in those colleges, the placement rate is less than 20%. Contrast that to nationally accredited vocational schools, where the minimum graduation rate is never below 70% and the placement rates are typically between 70% and 90%.
An assumption in your post is that students enroll in vocational schools as a basis for additional higher education. This is false. The purpose of the schooling is entry into the workplace in a short period of time. In Texas, they are told this at the time of enrollment, in writing, and that’s true of these students as well. The placement rates are also published to the students, and reported to the Texas Workforce Commission, who audits those numbers. So the idea that these students were misled is untrue.
Iverson has been around for 26 years, and has an excellent reputation in the Dallas community. Thousands of students have graduated from Iverson and started their careers. The employers that hire from Iverson come back over and over, and frequently offer jobs to the students who begin as externs from Iverson. They know the training is effective.
One more comment, please.
You say that Iverson is “definitely not” a place to get the certification that would help a graduate be most competitive in their field.
I suggest that you don’t have any knowledge at all about what certifications are helpful for getting a job in Texas as a surgical techologist. In fact, Iverson graduates can sit for the certification examination, and the school does not lack any accreditation necessary for this to occur.
You are uncritically repeating the allegations put out there by the plaintiffs lawyers. By doing this, you are repeating falsehoods as fact, and adding to the harm being done to the school, its hundreds of graduates and to the employers that hire the graduates.
Perhaps you should clarify that you are just repeating allegations, and that you don’t really know the true facts of the matter.
As a former employee of the now owners of the iverson business school, I feel it should be noted that the suit really is about the fact that the school is misrepresenting themselves regarding what they can and do for the students. This is not the first time that the Mithani brothers and Cecil Porter have been sued. Several years ago, when they were doing business as Silicon Valley Computer Learning Center for the very same types of allegations. Further the school lost due to the lack of veracity of the owners of the “school”. I would bet that they bought the Iverson school to lend legitamacy to their known illegitimate methods. More power to the students for standing up for what they believe in. If only there was a way to warn all of the unsuspecting students in Dallas…
To the former employee of Iverson: We we would very much like to speak with you about Silicon Valley. Please call me at 214-265-7600. Thank you
Iverson is a wonderful school. I have no coplaints about anything or anyone, because whenever there is a problem and no matter who you speak to they will try their best to solve it be for the next day. As for the job placements, they firmly say at the beginning they will ASSIST with job placement but it is your duty to find a job.
Further more you should want that responsibility and not leave it to someone else because you’re the one that knows what your looking for in a job.
In regards to the varıous students and those whom Iverson have employed to lıe on theır behalf. I was the Dırector of the school at the tıme thıs matter was brought before a court of law. I was termınated for reportıng these matters to the state board whıch were ın dırect vıolatıon of Texas law and the educatıon board. It was I (Louıs) was was fıred because I had warn Iverson Admınıstratıon numerous tıme of ıts wrongs. I cannot offer a prodcut that you dont have )here we are speakıng of educatıon course that wıll yıeld state certıfıcatıons so that the student can be qualıfıed,capable, competent to take state exams. Here ıt ıs not the case.
Iverson is a horrible school. I do not have to be diplomatic. They used deceptive trade practices and fraud to get people to pay money to go there. Even though they have made an offer in the case, they have done nothing to make such come about. Look at the WFAA coverage of that school. It is worthless. I am going to get my money or an equal amount body tissue and I am not going to wait long.