Popular For-Profit College Suddenly Shuts Down
DENVER (CBS4) - With just weeks to go until graduation for some students, Heritage College has permanently closed its doors.
The for-profit college occupies a campus at 4704 North Harlan Street in Denver.
A note posted to campus doors on Tuesday states Heritage College and Institute does not have enough cash to continue operating. The note cites declining enrollment as one of the reasons for the school's closure.
After hearing of the closure through teachers and their peers, women enrolled in the college's esthetics program gathered at the campus Tuesday evening. The students tell CBS4 they have no idea whether they will receive the certificates they've earned and paid for. Apart from the note posted on doors, they say they have not received any communication from Heritage about the closure. Many attended class that morning and say they were not warned of the pending shut down.
Rosa Burciaga is supposed to graduate in two months.
"I was crying, I didn't know what to do," Burciaga said. "I'm a single mom, I put work aside to come to school full-time."
Dawn Brown described her anger after finding out about the shutdown.
"I'm really upset because I don't know what's going to happen," Brown said. "I didn't go to school for over a year to have the rug pulled from underneath me like this."
Tammy Trocino, a teacher in the esthetics program, says staff were told of the closure during a meeting Tuesday afternoon. For months, Trocino says supplies were hard to come by and her department did not have a working copy machine. She was told not to expect the full amount owed in her last paycheck.
"I don't understand how somebody could do that to people," Trocino said.
Taylor Diamond tells CBS4 she paid her tuition in full, up front, when she enrolled at Heritage two months ago. No one indicated then the school might shut down.
"I paid all the money that I had for school and it's all gone now," Diamond said, holding in her hand a receipt for $14,595.
Heritage indicated in its note that it has closed all 10 of its campuses across the U.S., after educating students for health care careers over the past 30 years. Attempts to reach officials with the college in Denver for comment have been unsuccessful.
Tuition for the esthetics program at Heritage College costs approximately $16,000 and involves more than a year of classes and externships, according to students.
Lauren DiSpirito reports for CBS4 News at 10 p.m. She covers breaking news and feature stories along Colorado's Front Range. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.
