Oct. 21, 2016
CWU Ready to Help Students Affected by Closure of ITT Technical Institute
Central Washington University is among the higher education stakeholders ready to help students affected by the closure of ITT Technical Institute. In September, the for-profit college chain shut down all 136 locations — including campuses in Everett, Seattle, and Spokane — halting the education of nearly 40,000 students.
“CWU is here to help former ITT students in the wake of the closure," CWU Provost Katherine Frank said. “We know that some students are feeling stranded and that transferring credits can be a challenge.”
CWU's Information Technology and Administrative Management (ITAM) Department is ready to accept unfinished ITT Technical degrees. Since 2004 the Bachelor of Applied Science program in IT Management has welcomed transfer students with applied, technical credits.
“It provides a unique opportunity for ITT Tech students, allowing them to move into a bachelor degree program at a traditional state university," said Professor Robert Lupton, chair of the ITAM department. "We offer this degree online with some courses taught hybrid through our university centers. In addition to the flexible schedule, there's another bonus: CWU doesn't charge out-of-state tuition for online students."
Through the Bachelor of Applied Science program, students can specialize in administrative management, cybersecurity, or information technology. The curriculum layers soft skills such as leadership, team building, and project management over a strong foundation of technical know-how. It creates more career options and helps graduates move into management and leadership roles in their chosen field.
Former ITT Tech student Jacquelyne Morrison was warned her credits might not transfer to other schools. “When I applied to CWU in 2014 I was pleasantly surprised to find the majority of the credits I earned at ITT Tech — 7 years prior — had transferred in some way or another to my ITAM degree,” Morrison said. “This saved me a ton of time and money and I will obtain my bachelor's degree in under two years.”
Morrison continues to work in the IT field while maintaining a 3.96 GPA. And her studies are already paying off. “I was recently promoted to technical support supervisor, overseeing a team of seven technical support specialists in four different states.”
Lupton urges former ITT Tech students to contact CWU to explore their options. Advisors will evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis in order to help students get their education back on track.
Learn more at www.cwu.edu/it-management/itt-options. Contact an ITAM advisor at www.cwu.edu/it-management/itt or call 509-963-2611.
Media contact: Barb Arnott, CWU Public Affairs, 509-963-2841, Barb.Arnott@cwu.edu
October 21, 2016