Everest College student hopes Sudbury school will reopen

The association that represents private career colleges in Ontario is reassuring students that the closure of Everest College campuses across the province is not the norm for the sector.

But forLeenaPoxleitnerofSudbury, her decision to enrol in a private career college is feeling like agamble at the moment.

• Everest College students want to finish programs, graduate

The mother of two decided to return to school to become a massage therapist. She hadjust a few months left to finish her program at Everest College when the doors were locked last week.

"For the massage therapy program, we don't have a school to transfer to in English.So in my case,transferring to another city is not an option," she said.

"The sacrifice that my family has made is unbelievable and I am grateful for them to support me through this, but the feeling that the last year and a half being for nothing makes me very discouraged."

Despite the turmoil for the nearly 2,400 Everest College students around the province, Career Colleges Ontario said it doesn't believe the situation will affect the reputation of private career colleges.

There are close to 600 private career college locations in Ontario with about 90,000 students enrolled, saidexecutive director Paul Kitchin.

"The sector has had a history of 140 years in Ontario of providing training to men and women in Ontario. The fortunes of one organization should not impact any of the others," he said.

The province pulled the licence for Everest College on Feb.19,forcing it to suddenly close all 14 of its Ontario campuses.

It sought bankruptcy protection the following day. Everest College has15 days to appeal the licence suspension, but it's unclear if the company plans to do so.

Tuition refunds possible

The tuition came to $26,000 for her program, Poxleitner said.

"It's very, very expensive to attend a privatecollege. If Iwas more informed, maybe I would have thought of it more as a gamble, that this was going to happen," she said.

"If this does not pull through, we have completely used up our savings, we've completely used up our retirement, and now we are at a student loan from the bank."

Despite the financial strain,Poxleitner doesn't want a refund for her tuition at this point.

Instead she's hoping either there will be a buyer for the defunct Everest College, or the provincial government will find another way to reopen the schoolso she and her fellow students who are already enrolled can graduate.

2,400 students affected in Ontario

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities saidthe superintendent was "no longer satisfied that Everest could be expected to be financially responsible in the operation of a private career college and in the offering of its vocational programs."

While the closure of a private career collegeis rare, the province was concerned enough to amend thePrivate Career Colleges Act in 2005 to better protect students and staff.

The legislation now requires private career colleges to pay into a Training Completion Assurance Fund to provide tuition refunds or funding to help students complete their training at another institution.

Everest College was required to post $3 million in financial security, which is now available to assist affected students. However, with nearly 2,400 students enrolledacross the province, that amounts to about $1,250 per student.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities said it is working with students on a case-by-case basis to administer the fund. Affected students can calltoll-free at 1-866-330-3395 for assistance.

Everest College also had about 450 employees at its 14 Ontario locations.